Hiring guide · Healthcare
How to Hire a Pediatric Surgeon
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring pediatric surgeons, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $559,030), recruit through community college and vocational program career centers, verify ABS pediatric surgery 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 pediatric surgeons
There are about 1,300 pediatric surgeons employed in the U.S., with roughly 0 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +2.0% from 2025–35 (slower than 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) | $215,410–$336,380 | $103.56–$161.72 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $559,030 | $268.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $583,200 | $280.38 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $726,660 | $349.36 |
*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
- Pediatric surgery
- Compassion
Nice-to-haves
- ABS pediatric surgery certification
- General surgery board certification
- State medical license
- Experience with pediatric surgical instruments
Where to find pediatric 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: Children’s Surgeon, Pediatric General Surgeon, Neonatal Surgeon, Pediatric Trauma 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 pediatric surgery?”
What a strong answer includes: Share motivation.
2. “How do you talk with families?”
What a strong answer includes: Show compassion.
3. “Describe your surgical training.”
What a strong answer includes: Be specific.
4. “How do you handle emotional cases?”
What a strong answer includes: Be honest.
5. “How do you work with NICU teams?”
What a strong answer includes: Show teamwork.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Explain Surgery to Parents (see the steps)
- Evaluate a Child with Abdominal Pain (see the steps)
- Prepare for a Newborn Surgery (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 Congenital defect, NICU, Appendectomy
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Pediatric Surgeon 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Pediatric Surgeon training. Show them the path forward: Surgery Resident → Pediatric Surgery Fellow → Pediatric Surgeon → Surgeon-in-Chief.
Hiring pediatric surgeons: FAQ
How much should I pay a pediatric surgeon?
The U.S. median wage for pediatric surgeons is $559,030 per year ($268.76/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($336,380), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($583,200). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a pediatric surgeon have?
BLS lists “doctoral or professional degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for ABS pediatric surgery certification and General surgery board certification where relevant, plus skills such as pediatric surgery, neonatal surgery, and laparoscopy.
How long does it take to train a new pediatric surgeon?
Becoming qualified typically takes 15+ 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.”