Pediatric Surgeons
SOC code 29-1243 · O*NET-SOC 29-1243.00 · Extensive preparation needed · Healthcare
Pediatric Surgeons pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$559,030
a year
Hourly
$268.76
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$502,050
$241.37 per hour
Middle 50%
$336,380 – $583,200
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$215,410 – $726,660
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
1,190
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $215,410
- $103.56/hr
- 25th percentile
- $336,380
- $161.72/hr
- Median percentile
- $559,030
- $268.76/hr
- 75th percentile
- $583,200
- $280.38/hr
- 90th percentile
- $726,660
- $349.35/hr
What does a pediatric surgeon do?
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat fetal abnormalities and birth defects, diseases, and injuries in fetuses, premature and newborn infants, children, and adolescents. Includes all pediatric surgical specialties and subspecialties.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Analyze patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure.
- Conduct research to develop and test surgical techniques that can improve operating procedures and outcomes.
- Consult with patient's other medical care specialists, such as cardiologist and endocrinologist, to determine if surgery is necessary.
- Describe preoperative and postoperative treatments and procedures, such as sedatives, diets, antibiotics, or preparation and treatment of the patient's operative area, to parents or guardians of the patient.
- Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff.
- Examine fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents, and diagnose health issues to determine need for intervention, such as surgery.
- Examine instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility.
- Examine patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk.
How to become a pediatric surgeon
Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a pediatric surgeon earn?
The national median is $559,030 a year. The full range runs from $215,410 at the 10th percentile to $726,660 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a pediatric surgeon without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.