Pediatric Surgeons: Career Overview
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat fetal abnormalities and birth defects, diseases, and injuries in fetuses, premature and newborn infants, children, and adolescents. Includes all pediatric surgical specialties and subspecialties.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Pediatric Surgeons Perform?
The core tasks performed by pediatric surgeons cover:
- Analyze patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure.
- Conduct research to develop and test surgical techniques that can improve operating procedures and outcomes.
- Consult with patient's other medical care specialists, such as cardiologist and endocrinologist, to determine if surgery is necessary.
- Describe preoperative and postoperative treatments and procedures, such as sedatives, diets, antibiotics, or preparation and treatment of the patient's operative area, to parents or guardians of the patient.
- Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff.
- Examine fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents, and diagnose health issues to determine need for intervention, such as surgery.
- Examine instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility.
- Examine patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk.
Other Pediatric Surgeons Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Brain Surgeon
- Cardiac Surgeon
- Cardiothoracic Surgeon
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician
- Cardiovascular Surgeon
- Cardiovascular Surgery Physician
- Colon and Rectal Surgeon
- Colorectal Surgeon
How Many Pediatric Surgeons Are There?
There are about 1,188,665 pediatric surgeons working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +10.5% over the projection horizon.
Pediatric Surgeons Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $71,888 |
| Hourly median | $34.56 |
| 10th percentile | $42,806 |
| 25th percentile | $57,347 |
| 75th percentile | $86,429 |
| 90th percentile | $100,971 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Pediatric Surgeons Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $89,450 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for pediatric surgeons differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes | $89,450 | 15.0% | 0.77 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Pediatric Surgeons
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $89,450 | 30 |
Which Industries Hire Pediatric Surgeons
Most pediatric surgeons are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,040 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
How to Become Pediatric Surgeons
The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Chiropractors (Supplemental)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Primary-Long)
- Physician Assistants (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Primary-Short)
- Cardiologists (Primary-Long)
- Dermatologists (Primary-Short)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for pediatric surgeons commonly pursue programs in:
11 programs across 5 majors
- Orthopedic Surgery Residency/Fellowship Programs
- Otolaryngology Residency/Fellowship Programs
- Plastic Surgery Residency/Fellowship Programs
- Surgery Residency/Fellowship Programs
- Urology Residency/Fellowship Programs
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1243.00 (Pediatric Surgeons).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.