Physician Demographics

Practice, Payment, and Income Information about Orthopaedic Surgeons

Orthopaedic Surgeon Income Information

There is a variety of income information available on-line related to orthopaedic surgeons' income and how it compares to other specialties.

Orthopaedic Practice in the US 2006 (PDF 694 Kb).

AAOS Sources: Non-AAOS Sources:

Practice Related Expenses

Orthopaedic Surgeons' Median Practice Expenses and Practice Expenses as a Percent of Gross by Type of Expense, 2003

Type of Expense Median Payment Percent of Receipts
Nonphysician Staff Salaries $143,996 18.9%
Staff Benefits $16,703 2.2%
Clerical Supplies $14,866 2.0%
Clinical Supplies $29,796 3.9%
Rent $39,356 5.2%
Utilities $5,469 0.7%
Telephone $7,211 0.9%
Advertising $6,589 0.9%
Insurance:
Malpractice $33,247 4.4%
Business $5,613 0.7%
Equipment:
Rental $4,675 0.6%
Maintenance $5,223 0.7%
Depreciation $17,025 2.2%
Dues, Journals $4,492 0.6%
Conventions, Seminars $4,430 0.6%
Professional Promotion $2,540 0.3%
Payroll Taxes $18,599 2.4%
Other Taxes $3,739 0.5%
Automobile $5,870 0.8%
Other Expenses $12,275 1.5%
Total: $381,714 50.0%
Source: Medical Economics, Jan 1 2005, P. 58-61.

Orthopaedic Surgeon Working Conditions

  • The median hours worked per orthopaedic surgeon is 60.
  • The median number of patient visits per week is 103.
  • During a typical week, an orthopaedic surgeons in full time clinical practice sees 22 new patients, provides 67 follow-up office visits, and delivers 13 hospital emergency visits.

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Orthopaedic Surgeon Work Tasks

  • Typically, an orthopaedic surgeon spends almost 50% of his or her time in office visits.
  • About one-third of the orthopaedic surgeons' time is spent doing surgery.
  • Nearly one-tenth of the orthpaedic surgeons' time is teaching and doing administrative work.

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For the most recent information, please see the 2006 report (PDF 694 Kb).

Source: Orthopaedic Practice in the US 2004.