Career comparison
Orthopedic Surgeon vs. Physical Therapist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Orthopedic surgeons earn more at the median ($358,550 vs. $102,760), while physical therapists usually get to work faster (7 years after high school of training). Orthopedic surgeons repair bones, joints, ligaments and tendons with surgery and treatment. Physical therapists help people recover movement and manage pain after injury or illness.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Physical Therapist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $358,550 ($172.38/hr) | $102,760 ($49.40/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $84,170 – $659,290 | $77,140 – $135,140 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.0% (about as fast as average) | +11.9% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 400 | 13,400 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 14 years after high school | 7 years after high school |
| Key credential | ABOS board certification | NPTE |
| Work setting | Orthopedic surgeons work in hospitals, surgery centers and clinics.. | PTs work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, nursing facilities, homes, schools and sports settings.. |
What each job does
Orthopedic Surgeon
- Diagnose musculoskeletal problems
- Repair fractures
- Replace joints
- Reconstruct ligaments and tendons
- Treat arthritis and sports injuries
Physical Therapist
- Examine and evaluate patients
- Diagnose movement problems
- Design treatment plans
- Guide therapeutic exercise
- Provide manual therapy
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, hands-on work, and physical work. 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 physical therapist if…
- I love anatomy and exercise
- I enjoy motivating people
- I like hands-on work
Still torn? Take the Orthopedic Surgeon fit quiz and the Physical Therapist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, orthopedic surgeon or physical therapist?
Orthopedic Surgeons earn more at the median: $358,550 versus $102,760 for physical therapists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Physical Therapists typically train faster (7 years after high school) than orthopedic surgeons (14 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects physical therapists to grow +11.9% from 2025–35, compared with +4.0% for orthopedic surgeons.