Hiring guide · Healthcare
How to Hire an Orthopedic Surgeon
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring orthopedic surgeons, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $358,550), recruit through community college and vocational program career centers, verify ABOS board certification where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for orthopedic surgeons
There are about 15,500 orthopedic surgeons employed in the U.S., with roughly 400 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +4.0% from 2025–35 (about as fast as average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $84,170–$180,610 | $40.47–$86.83 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $358,550 | $172.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $530,700 | $255.14 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $659,290 | $316.97 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Doctoral or professional degree (typical entry level)
- Licensing or certification required in your state
- Orthopedic surgery
- Decisiveness
Nice-to-haves
- ABOS board certification
- State medical license
- Sports medicine subspecialty certification
- Experience with surgical power tools
Where to find orthopedic surgeons
- Community college and vocational program career centers
- Clinical externship and student-placement partnerships
- State nurse aide registries and healthcare job boards
- Employee referral programs
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Bone Surgeon, Sports Medicine Surgeon, Joint Replacement Surgeon
Screening checklist
- Verify certifications and state registry or license status with the issuing body
- Background checks and federal exclusion-list (OIG LEIE) screening as required for your organization
- Immunization records, TB testing and drug screening according to policy and law
- Current BLS/CPR certification
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Why orthopedics?”
What a strong answer includes: Share motivation.
2. “Describe your surgical skills.”
What a strong answer includes: Be specific.
3. “How do you set patient expectations?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
4. “What subspecialty interests you?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
5. “How do you handle trauma call?”
What a strong answer includes: Be honest.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Evaluate a Knee Injury (see the steps)
- Splint a Fracture (see the steps)
- Plan Joint Replacement Recovery (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Arthroscopy, ACL, Total joint replacement
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Orthopedic Surgeon 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Orthopedic Surgeon training. Show them the path forward: Orthopedic Resident → Fellow → Orthopedic Surgeon → Department Chief.
Hiring orthopedic surgeons: FAQ
How much should I pay an orthopedic surgeon?
The U.S. median wage for orthopedic surgeons is $358,550 per year ($172.38/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($180,610), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($530,700). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should an orthopedic surgeon have?
BLS lists “doctoral or professional degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for ABOS board certification and State medical license where relevant, plus skills such as orthopedic surgery, arthroscopy, and joint replacement.
How long does it take to train a new orthopedic surgeon?
Becoming qualified typically takes 14 years after high school. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “internship/residency.”