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      Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric

      Description: what do they do?
      Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and prevent rheumatic and other diseases in the musculoskeletal system.
      Also known as:
      General Surgeon, Hand Surgeon, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Orthopedic Surgeon, Physician, Surgeon

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        What does this information tell me?

        This description is a quick overview of what workers in this career might do.

        "Also known as" shows other common names for this career.

        What is the source of this information?

        This information comes from an O*NET database. Learn more on the Help page.
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      Career video
      https://cdn.careeronestop.org/OccVids/OccupationVideos/29-1242.00.mp4
        Transcript: Repairing injuries… preventing disease… even transplanting organs: surgeons are literally on the “cutting edge” of medicine. Unless it’s an emergency situation, the surgeon meets with the patient and listens to the problem. The doctor does an examination and considers medical history, lab work and other possible treatments before deciding on the need for surgery. Possessing that famous "good bedside manner" can help in explaining the diagnosis, the risks of the operation, and the patient's responsibilities before and after the procedure. In the operating room, the surgeon is assisted by an entire team. They handle preparation, monitoring and other tasks, so that the surgeon can concentrate on the delicate work involved in operating. Besides extensive medical knowledge, being a surgeon requires exacting precision, dexterity and stamina. Some procedures take hours to perform. After the surgery is over, the surgeon checks patients to see how they are recovering. Emergencies may result in the surgeon being called at any hour of the day or night. Surgeons may manage a busy private practice, or conduct research. They keep detailed records on patients and often write reports. Some develop new surgical techniques that they teach to other surgeons or students. This career requires a significant investment of education. Surgeons tackle a four year bachelor’s degree, followed by four years of medical school, then 5-8 years post-medical school training depending on the surgical specialty. Surgeons make up America's single largest group of medical specialists. Few people come closer to actually holding someone's life in their hands than surgeons do.
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      Outlook: will there be jobs?
      Image. Employment outlook for this occupation
      New job opportunities are likely in the future.


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        What does this information tell me?

        Outlook information can tell you whether a career is expected to be in demand in the future—that is, whether there are likely to be job openings if you choose this career.

        Careers can have one of three outlooks:

        • A Bright outlook means new job opportunities are very likely in the future
        • An Average outlook means that a small number of new job opportunities are likely in the future (less than an 8 percent increase)
        • A Below Average outlook means new job opportunities are less likely in the future

        You can also view local job listings in this field by clicking "Find job openings". This can help you see if local businesses are hiring—another way of looking at demand.

        What is the source of this information?

        This information comes from O*NET Bright Outlook occupations and My Next Move career outlook designations (based on Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2023-33). Note this information is only available at a national level, so even if you selected a state, you’ll see this information for the whole country.
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      Projected employment
      United States
      16,000
      2023 Employment
      16,600
      2033 Employment
      4%
      Percent change
      400
      Annual projected job openings

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        What does this information tell me?

        Projected employment shows how much employment is expected to grow in this occupation over a 10-year period. This can help you decide if this career is a good choice for future job opportunities. You can look at projected employment in your state, or in other states where you might consider living.

        You can see the total number of people employed in this occupation in 2022 (for states) or 2023 (for national), the number expected to be employed in 2032 (for states) or 2033 (for national), and the rate of growth over those years.

        The projections are based on assumptions of unemployment rates and labor productivity growth rates.  While the projected numbers may not be exact, they are helpful to compare one career to another, or one location to another.

        What is the source of this information?

        State-level data come from Projections Central and State Labor Market Information offices, 2022-32.

        National-level data come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2023-33.
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      Typical wages
      Hourly Wages

      Annual wages for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric in United States
      This graph displays wage data. Find details by selecting the table view.

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        What does this information tell me?

        This chart shows you a range of how much most workers in this occupation earn per hour, in the location that you selected.

        You can select from three views of this data:

        • The Graph shows you wages at the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles. Note that the lowest (10th %ile) wage shown is not necessarily a "starting wage." Instead it means that 10 percent of all workers in this career earn less that this amount, and 90 percent earn more. However, you can assume that you might earn close to the 10th or 25th %ile wages when you start out in most careers.
        • Select "Chart" to see a visual comparison between national wages and wages in the location you selected.
        • Select "Table" to see more wage data the national and local level.

        Please note that wage data are not available at the city or ZIP code level. If you select a city or ZIP code, you will see wage data for the regional area.

        You can learn more about wages for this and other occupations by clicking “See more wages” above.

        What is the source of this information?

        The wage information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Program, May 2023 estimates. For more detailed state wage data, please find the link to your state's wage data program in the Other Resources box.
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      Education and experience: to get started
      People starting in this career usually have:
      • Doctoral or professional degree
      • No work experience
      • Internship/residency

      Programs that can prepare you:
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        What does this information tell me?

        This shows you the typical level of education, work experience, and on-the-job training that most people have when they start in this career. Note that these are not requirements for entering this field, but the information can help you understand how qualified you might be.

        Interested in starting in this career? You can search for education programs in your local area by clicking “Find local training” above.

        What is the source of this information?

        The educational program data come from the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), 2020, from the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

        The employment information comes from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, Education and training assignments by detailed occupation, 2023.

        The crosswalk between education and occupation data is from the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
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      Typical education
      How much education do most people in this career have?
      Chart. Percent of workers in this field by education level attained

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        What does this information tell me?

        This chart shows you the range of education levels that people who currently work in this field have. You can use this to see if you fit in this range. Note that this includes ALL people who work in this field and not just those getting started.

        Interested in getting qualified for this career? You can search for programs that lead to the education needed, in your local area, by clicking “Find local training” above.

        What is the source of this information?

        This information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, Educational attainment for workers 25 years and older by detailed occupation, 2021-22.
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      Certifications: show your skills
      Let employers know you have the skills to do well at this job.
      Earning a certification can help you:
      • Get a job
      • Get a promotion

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        What does this information tell me?

        When you click "Find certifications" you'll see a list of national certifications that are related to this career. From there, you can learn how to achieve one of these certifications to help you enter or get ahead in this field.

        What is the source of this information?

        This collection of occupational certifications is collected and regularly updated by CareerOneStop. Learn more at Certification Finder Help.
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      Licenses: do you need one?
      Some states require an occupational license to work in this career.

      Find license details for your state
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        What does this information tell me?

        When you click "Find license details in your state" you'll see the license name and contact information for the agency in your state that oversees licensing for this field. If you have not selected a location, you'll see a list of all state licenses for this occupation.

        What is the source of this information?

        Information on licensed occupations is gathered in each state by Labor Market Information units under a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. Learn more at License Finder Help.
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      Apprenticeships: learn on the job
      Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job-training with classroom lessons.

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