Orthopedic Surgeon salary
From 104 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 29-1242: Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 32% of Orthopedic Surgeon filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: University of Pittsburgh Physicians. 12 filings (12% of the total), median $83,054.
- Median up 68% since FY2021. From $208,000 in FY2021 to $350,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Orthopedic Surgeon H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 104 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Orthopedic Surgeon jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 29-1242, Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric). The median base salary is $400,000, 226% above the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $222,266 and $554,750. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 32% of filings. New York, NY has the most filings (12), and University of Pittsburgh Physicians is the employer that files the most (12).
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Orthopedic Surgeon
Employers with the most Orthopedic Surgeon filings. Bar: share of all Orthopedic Surgeon filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 32% of filings
Mid-level · 29% of filings
Senior · 13% of filings
Expert · 26% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $84,281 | 25 |
| Level II · Qualified | $400,000 | 23 |
| Level III · Experienced | $402,765 | 10 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $530,000 | 20 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Orthopedic Surgeon pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 2 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $374,992 | 12 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $81,826 | 11 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Orthopedic Surgeon does
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and prevent rheumatic and other diseases in the musculoskeletal system.
Preparation
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
O*NET occupation: Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric (29-1242.00). This section 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.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric), the median annual wage was $239,200+ in May 2025, with 14,100 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $400,000, 12% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $79,831 | $84,170 |
| 25th percentile | $222,266 | $180,610 |
| Median | $400,000 | $239,200+ |
| 75th percentile | $554,750 | $239,200+ |
| 90th percentile | $669,112 | $239,200+ |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $79,831 |
| 25th | $222,266 |
| 50th (median) | $400,000 |
| 75th | $554,750 |
| 90th | $669,112 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2021 | $208,000 | $74,880 | $375,000 | 13 |
| FY2022 | $360,000 | $73,819 | $495,000 | 17 |
| FY2023 | $369,750 | $208,822 | $508,994 | 38 |
| FY2024 | $325,000 | $121,338 | $576,250 | 42 |
| FY2025 | $449,000 | $250,000 | $600,000 | 65 |
| FY2026 | $350,000 | $84,690 | $499,463 | 39 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Orthopedic Surgeon make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Orthopedic Surgeon jobs is $400,000 (104 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $222,266 and $554,750.
What does an entry-level Orthopedic Surgeon earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $84,281. Level I accounts for 32% of Orthopedic Surgeon filings.
Do H-1B Orthopedic Surgeons earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($400,000) is 12% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($239,200+, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.