How hard is it to become an orthopedic surgeon?

It is very hard to become an orthopedic surgeon. The career path to becoming an orthopedic surgeon is long and challenging, taking anywhere between 13 to 15 years to complete. Not only that, but the competition can be fierce for both orthopedic surgery residency positions and job positions in the field.

Orthopedist vs Physical Therapist

An orthopedist is a doctor who specializes in the prevention or correction of deformities, disorders, or injuries of a patient's skeleton, while a physical therapist is a medical professional who helps patients recover from injuries or surgeries with the goal of reacclimating their bodies to normal usage.

What degree do you need to be an orthopedic surgeon?

You need a bachelor's degree related to orthopedics and a four-year medical degree to be an orthopedic surgeon. In addition to education, you must also complete a five-year residency program to enter the profession. A residency will include hands-on patient contact, general surgical practice, subspecialty knowledge, and research.

What is an orthopedic surgeon and how to become one

Q: What are the pros and cons of being an orthopedic surgeon?

The pros and cons of being an orthopedic surgeon relate to making an impact on people's lives, high compensation, and long work hours. Here are the top pros and cons of being an orthopedic surgeon:

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

John Colclough

An orthopedic surgeon is a person who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. This may include conditions such as arthritis, bone fractures, ligament tears, and spinal deformities. They use both surgical and non-surgical techniques to restore function to the affected area. They work closely with other medical professionals to develop comprehensive treatment plans for patients. Overall, an orthopedic surgeon is an individual who helps patients overcome many orthopedic conditions and injuries.

What general advice would you give to an Orthopedic Surgeon?

John Colclough

Professor, Marshall University

Be patient and stay informed. Many performers think their career is about the work in the rehearsal hall or in performance-not so, the real work is in the management of your business. Being an authority of WHO, WHAT and WHERE is key. WHO are the players in your market? The directors, actors, casting people, producing organizations, etc...these are who you need to know-your network. WHAT opportunities exist in your market? The theatres, video companies, universities (if you have an MFA you may be able to teach a class or two), Improvisation groups, any opportunity that allows you to grow your brand is worth your attention. And finally, WHERE are the opportunities-knowing your community and having a sense of how each company fits into the fabric of the community. Having a sense of where the company resides both geographically and virtually (web sites) and having a solid knowledge base of details of each company can inform your marketing tactics as well as provide you with specific details unique to each organization. Careers develop over time and keeping expectations realistic over the first year can be challenging. Be practical and methodical in your approach: save money (there's never enough), find a place to live (the best you can afford), find a side hustle (you're going to need money and routine), find out the lay of the land (WHO, WHAT, and WHERE), develop your skill set (take a class and meet colleagues), go to productions, screenings, workshops, document your growth (keep a journal or calendar to track your progress), celebrate your successes and be patient with your stumbles-Hard knocks are the best teachers!

ScoreOrthopedic SurgeonUS Average

Salary

8.6

Avg. Salary $137,571

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

10.0

Growth Rate 7%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

1.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.14%

Asian 12.67%

Black or African American 1.81%

Hispanic or Latino 5.01%

Unknown 3.76%

White 76.60%

Gender

female 65.91%

male 34.09%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress Level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

3.4

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an Orthopedic Surgeon?

Pros

High earning potential
Ability to improve patients' quality of life
Challenging and intellectually stimulating work
High demand for orthopedic surgeons
Rewarding career that provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment

Cons

Long hours and demanding work schedule
High levels of stress and pressure
Significant educational and training requirements
Risk of malpractice lawsuits
Limited work-life balance, especially during residency and early career years

Key steps to become an orthopedic surgeon

Explore orthopedic surgeon education requirements

Most common orthopedic surgeon degrees

Bachelor's

38.9 %

Associate

14.7 %

Doctorate

12.2 %

Start to develop specific orthopedic surgeon skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	30.95%
Spine	14.54%
EMR	10.74%
Sports Medicine	9.76%
Patient Care	7.87%

Research orthopedic surgeon duties and responsibilities

Manage insurance authorization and hospital bookings for surgery.
Handle medical billing, medical transcription, and medical billing.
Perform surgical procedures of the foot and ankle in both a hospital and surgery center setting.
Provide conservative and surgical care of foot and ankle relate medical conditions for children and adults.

Prepare your orthopedic surgeon resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your orthopedic surgeon resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an orthopedic surgeon resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Orthopedic Surgeon Resume templates

Build a professional Orthopedic Surgeon resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Orthopedic Surgeon resume.

Apply for orthopedic surgeon jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an orthopedic surgeon job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do orthopedic surgeons rate their job?

What is an orthopedic surgeon and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an Orthopedic Surgeon?

What are the pros and cons of being an Orthopedic Surgeon?

Orthopedic Surgeon career paths

Key steps to become an orthopedic surgeon

Explore orthopedic surgeon education requirements

Most common orthopedic surgeon degrees

Start to develop specific orthopedic surgeon skills

Research orthopedic surgeon duties and responsibilities

Prepare your orthopedic surgeon resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Orthopedic Surgeon Resume templates

Apply for orthopedic surgeon jobs

How Did You Land Your First Orthopedic Surgeon Job

Average orthopedic surgeon salary

How do orthopedic surgeons rate their job?

Orthopedic Surgeon FAQs

How hard is it to become an orthopedic surgeon?

Orthopedist vs Physical Therapist

What are the pros and cons of being an orthopedic surgeon?

What degree do you need to be an orthopedic surgeon?

Search for orthopedic surgeon jobs

Orthopedic Surgeon jobs by state