Career comparison
Orthopedic Surgeon vs. Pediatric Surgeon
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Pediatric surgeons earn more at the median ($559,030 vs. $358,550), while orthopedic surgeons usually get to work faster (14 years after high school of training). Orthopedic surgeons repair bones, joints, ligaments and tendons with surgery and treatment. Pediatric surgeons perform surgery on infants, children and teens.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Pediatric Surgeon | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $358,550 ($172.38/hr) | $559,030 ($268.76/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $84,170 – $659,290 | $215,410 – $726,660 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.0% (about as fast as average) | +2.0% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 400 | 0 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 14 years after high school | 15+ years after high school |
| Key credential | ABOS board certification | ABS pediatric surgery certification |
| Work setting | Orthopedic surgeons work in hospitals, surgery centers and clinics.. | Pediatric surgeons work in children’s hospitals and academic medical centers.. |
What each job does
Orthopedic Surgeon
- Diagnose musculoskeletal problems
- Repair fractures
- Replace joints
- Reconstruct ligaments and tendons
- Treat arthritis and sports injuries
Pediatric Surgeon
- Evaluate children for surgery
- Repair congenital defects
- Perform appendectomies and hernia repairs
- Operate on newborns
- Treat childhood tumors
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, hands-on work, high responsibility, and teamwork. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose orthopedic surgeon if…
- I love surgery
- I’m interested in sports and movement
- I have physical stamina
Choose pediatric surgeon if…
- I want to operate on children
- I stay calm in emergencies
- I can comfort worried families
Still torn? Take the Orthopedic Surgeon fit quiz and the Pediatric Surgeon fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, orthopedic surgeon or pediatric surgeon?
Pediatric Surgeons earn more at the median: $559,030 versus $358,550 for orthopedic surgeons, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Orthopedic Surgeons typically train faster (14 years after high school) than pediatric surgeons (15+ years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects orthopedic surgeons to grow +4.0% from 2025–35, compared with +2.0% for pediatric surgeons.