What is a pediatric surgeon and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

Pediatric surgeons are medical professionals specialized in treating children of various ages, from newborns to teenagers, who suffer from injuries or diseases. They go through extensive education through medical school and surgeon residencies to gain competency in diagnosing illnesses and creating effective treatment plans.

As a pediatric surgeon, you will examine children and run diagnostic tests. You will carry out surgeries to cure birth defects, deformities, injuries, and other acute medical issues. You will perform endoscopies, screen for tumors, perform operations for transplants, and many more.

Apart from displaying excellent knowledge in your subject matter, you also have to love children and understand how they communicate. You have to know how to make children feel at ease and cooperate with you. Going down this career path is deeply rewarding if you have what it takes but requires dedication, patience, and passion to follow through.

ScorePediatric SurgeonUS Average
Salary
10.0

Avg. Salary $417,737

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 78.95%

male 21.05%

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

Key steps to become a pediatric surgeon

  1. Explore pediatric surgeon education requirements

    Most common pediatric surgeon degrees

    Bachelor's

    30.8 %

    Doctorate

    19.2 %

    Certificate

    15.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific pediatric surgeon skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    General Surgery99.25%
    General Hospital0.39%
    CPT0.37%
  3. Research pediatric surgeon duties and responsibilities

    • Manage all incoming medical records requests (ensuring office is within HIPPA guidelines).
    • Coordinate with patients and medical staff at civilian and military treatment facilities to schedule medical appointments and retrieve medical documentation.
    • Generate billing and conduct follow-up calls.
  4. Apply for pediatric surgeon jobs

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

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

How Did You Land Your First Pediatric Surgeon Job

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Average pediatric surgeon salary

The average Pediatric Surgeon salary in the United States is $417,737 per year or $201 per hour. Pediatric surgeon salaries range between $209,000 and $834,000 per year.

Average Pediatric Surgeon Salary
$417,737 Yearly
$200.84 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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