Median Salary

• According to the the American Medical Group Association's 2009 Physician Compensation Survey, the median salary for orthopedic spinal surgeons was $641,728 per year. Median salaries vary by region, according to the AMGA. For example, the median salary for orthopedic spinal surgeons in the northern portion of the United States was $608,286 per year, while the median salary for those working in the western portion of the country was $661,978.
  
  

Orthopedic Comparisons

• Orthopedic surgeons are some of the highest-paid surgeons among all surgeons nationwide. According to Becker's Orthopedic, Spine & Pain Management Review, spinal surgeons were the highest paid among all orthopedic specialists. In 2009, the average salary of an ORS surgeon was $710,055 per year. Only sports medicine surgeons were close to orthopedic spinal surgeons in terms of average salary, earning substantially less at an average of $653,642 per year. All other orthopedic surgeons earned average salaries of less than $600,000 per year.
  
  

Spinal Surgeon Specialties

• Within the field of orthopedic spinal surgery, it is possible to specialize in more than one type of spinal surgery practice. Becker's Orthopedic, Spine & Pain Management Review indicates that spinal surgeons with multiple specializations could expect to make more than those that only specialized in one area. Single specialty surgeons earned an average of $605,139 as compared to the $622,568 salary earned by those with multiple areas of specialty. Becker's Review also indicates that spinal surgeons could expect to make more working in urban settings rather than rural settings.
  
  

Job Outlook

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects above average job growth for physicians in all fields of specialization in the period from 2008 to 2018. According to the bureau, the number of new jobs should increase by about 22 percent during that period of time. The average salary of surgeons in all medical specialties was $225,390 in 2010, according to the bureau; therefore, those aspiring to become surgeons may want to consider orthopedic spinal surgery for its earning potential.