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[Sean Connery]

Why do you suppose the highest paid medical specialists are orthopedic surgeons? All the lists of medical specialist salaries show orthopedic doctors at the top of the medical field, and it probably doesn't even count anything extra that a doctor would get by taking on cosmetic patients. Just wondering why out of all the types of doctors there are, the bone docs are the ones with the highest salaries. Not knocking the work an orthopedic doctor has to do, but wondering what separates it from the rest that gives them the higher pay.


These salaries are based upon 2011 earnings as reported by the Medical Group Management Association, a professional association for healthcare administrators and medical practice managers.

In descending order of maximum salary compensation, here are the top-paying physician specialties:

Orthopedic surgery, specializing in spine, joint replacement, trauma, sports medicine, general orthopedics, pediatrics, hand or foot and ankle: $469,000-$714,000
Neurological surgery: $702,000
Cardiovascular surgery: $681,000
Neurological surgery, specifically pediatric: $656,000
Cardiology, specifically electrophysiology, invasive-interventional or invasive cardiology: $314,000-$601,000
Dermatology, specifically general dermatology or Mohs surgery: $283,000-$586,000
Surgery: cardiovascular, pediatric, thoracic or plastic surgery $270,000-$567,000
Radiology, specifically diagnostic-invasive, diagnostic-noninvasive or radiation oncology: $315,000-$513,000
Anesthesiology, specifically pain management and pediatrics: $482,000-$502,000
Obstetrics and gynecology, specifically maternal and fetal medicine: $473,000
Urology: $461,000

It is important to note that orthopedic surgeons dominate many of the top salary slots. They are ranked according to a precise area of expertise like spine, joint replacement, trauma, sports medicine, general orthopedics or pediatrics.


http://www.hospitaljobsonline.com/career-center/healthcare-careers/the-highest-paid-md-specialties.html

[KiloKAHN]

A number of factors would influence average salary. Orthopedic surgery is probably the most competitive medical field there is. There's also a very high amount of schooling you have to do beforehand - 4 year BA degree in bio or pre-med, additional 4 years of med school, another 4 years residency in a hospital on top of that. Then if you want to be a specialist like an Ilizarov surgeon you would need to do a fellowship or something, and maybe additional years of specialty training. That's a ton of debt once you're done with everything, and many years that you aren't going to be making any money at all. Orthopedic surgery is also very complex and requires long hours in the OR, I imagine you're on call at ridiculous hours. Plus there's a big demand for orthopedic doctors and it's just going to get higher with an aging population. Orthopedic problems also often require many repeat visits and follow up surgeries, and they get paid for each visit.

There's probably other factors involved but that's what I'd guess contributes to the high salaries they can start out with