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Pediatric surgeon: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$559,030median pay per year, or $268.76 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $215,410lowest 10% earn less
  2. $336,38025th percentile
  3. $559,030median
  4. $583,20075th percentile
  5. $726,660top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A pediatric surgeon earned a median of $559,030 a year in May 2025, far above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. The path needs a doctoral or professional degree plus residency training[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2%[5]
Openings per year
0[6]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[3]

How much do pediatric surgeons make?

The median wage for pediatric surgeons was $559,030 a year, or $268.76 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $502,050 a year, or $241.37 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980 a year[2].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $215,410 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $726,660[4]. The 25th percentile was $336,380 and the 75th was $583,200[4]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $103.56 and the 90th was $349.35[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

BLS published pay for only 4 states[11]. Ohio had the highest median, at $488,160 a year[11]. New York followed at $378,110, then New Jersey at $288,930[11]. Texas was listed at $239,200 or more[11].

Texas had the most jobs, with 300, and New York had 90[12]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area was the only metro area listed, with a median of $293,440 and 110 jobs[13][14].

Show median pay in 4 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Ohio[11]$488,160n/a
New York$378,11090
New Jersey$288,930n/a
Texas$239,200+300

How to become a pediatric surgeon

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education, with internship or residency as the typical on-the-job training[3]. The training details below come from an OOH profile that covers physicians and surgeons as a wider group, not only pediatric surgeons[15].

All states require physicians and surgeons to be licensed. A license requires graduating from an accredited medical school, finishing residency and passing national exams[20][21]. Board certification is not required, but it may improve job options[22].

What pediatric surgeons do

Pediatric surgeons diagnose and operate on fetuses, newborns, children and teenagers with birth defects, diseases and injuries[23]. Common tasks include:

The OOH names communication and compassion as important qualities for physicians and surgeons[25][26].

Where they work

The OOH profile for the wider group says physicians and surgeons work in clinical settings such as offices and hospitals, and in nonclinical settings such as government agencies[27]. Surgeons usually work in a sterile environment during procedures[28]. Most work full time, some work more than 40 hours a week, and shifts can include overnight hours or being on call[29]. In 2025, 5.2% of pediatric surgeons were self-employed[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, with the count staying at about 1,300 jobs[5]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[31]. That count includes self-employed workers[5]. In May 2025, OEWS counted about 1,190 wage and salary jobs[32].

Each year, 1.6% of workers leave the labor force and 0.4% move to a different occupation[33]. BLS names one factor, a declining child population that reduces demand for pediatric surgery[34].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is far above the all-occupations median[1][2]. The training path is long. The wider OOH profile lists 4 years of medical school and 3 to 9 years of residency, with an optional fellowship of 1 to 3 years[17][19]. This is a very small occupation, and projected growth is below the 3.5% rate for all occupations[32][5][31]. The facts here do not cover training costs or how hard it is to get into a residency.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a pediatric surgeon make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $268.76 in May 2025[1]. The average was $241.37[7].
What degree do you need to be a pediatric surgeon?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education, with internship or residency training[3].
How long does it take to become a pediatric surgeon?
The wider OOH profile lists 4 years of medical school after a bachelor's degree and residency of 3 to 9 years, depending on specialty[17][19]. A fellowship adds 1 to 3 years[19].
Is pediatric surgery in demand?
BLS projects 2% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[5][31]. It points to a declining child population as a factor[34].
What is the highest paying state for pediatric surgeons?
Among the 4 states with published data, Ohio had the highest median, at $488,160 a year[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Pediatric Surgeons in the US was $559,030 per year and $268.76 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Pediatric Surgeons: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Pediatric Surgeons: 10th percentile $215,410, 25th percentile $336,380, 75th percentile $583,200, 90th percentile $726,660. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Pediatric Surgeons is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,300 to 1,300 jobs (a change of +0). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 0 openings for Pediatric Surgeons are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Pediatric Surgeons was $502,050 per year and $241.37 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Pediatric Surgeons: 10th percentile $103.56, 25th percentile $161.72, 75th percentile $280.38, 90th percentile $349.35. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Pediatric Surgeons in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Pediatric Surgeons jobs: Texas 300; New York 90. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Pediatric Surgeons (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $293,440. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Pediatric Surgeons jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 110 (median $293,440). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Physicians and Surgeons" covers Pediatric Surgeons together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of Pediatric Surgeons. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Pediatric Surgeons. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections: 5.2% of Pediatric Surgeons were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,190 people were employed as Pediatric Surgeons in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Pediatric Surgeons: 1.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 0.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Pediatric Surgeons: Demand change - share decreases as the child population declines, reducing demand for pediatric surgery. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.