U.S. General Surgeon Salary 2026: $515K Median
The median general surgeon salary in the United States is $515,000 per year, based on 138 approved salary reports on SalaryDr through . The middle 50% of reports fall between $450,000 and $610,000; the 10th to 90th percentile range is $388,000 to $700,000.
- Median
- $515,000
- Middle 50% (25th–75th)
- $450K–$610K
- Approved reports
- 138
- As of
Source: SalaryDr salary reports — anonymous, self-reported and approved before publication. Total compensation includes base salary, bonuses and incentives. Outlier reports beyond 1.5×IQR are excluded from the median, average and percentiles. Figures from 24 or fewer reports are rounded to protect privacy. Methodology
General Surgery Bonus & Incentive Pay (2026)
Based on 138 approved salary reports. 80% of them include bonus or incentive compensation.
Bonus Compensation Overview
- Average Bonus
- $106,196
- Median Bonus
- $80,000
- Bonus Range (IQR)
- $60,000 - $110,000
- Bonus as % of Total Comp
- 18%
- Physicians with Bonus
- 110 of 138 (80%)
New Graduate Offer Package
- Early Career Physicians
- N=23
- % Receiving Bonus
- 43%
- Median Bonus (0-3 yrs)
- $40,000
General Surgery Salaries by State
Browse All Specialties →Explore general surgery salary data across different states. Click on any state to view detailed compensation information for that location.
View all General Surgery salary reports by location →
General Surgeon Salary FAQ
Answers are computed from the 138 approved salary reports on this page.
How much does a general surgeon make in 2026?
The median general surgeon salary in the United States is $515,000 per year, based on 138 approved salary reports on SalaryDr through October 5, 2026. The average is $531,305. At the average reported workweek of 55 hours, the median works out to about $180 per hour.
What is the salary range for a general surgeon?
The middle 50% of reported general surgeon salaries fall between $450,000 (25th percentile) and $610,000 (75th percentile). The 10th to 90th percentile range is $388,000 to $700,000. Based on 138 reports.
Which states pay general surgeons the most?
Among states with at least 3 approved reports, the highest median general surgeon pay on SalaryDr is in Texas ($805,000 median, 4 reports), California ($600,000 median, 26 reports), and Iowa ($600,000 median, 4 reports). State medians built from a handful of reports can move as new reports arrive.
Do private practice general surgeons earn more than hospital-employed general surgeons?
In SalaryDr's reports, yes: private practice general surgeons ($589,654 across 44 reports) report a higher average total compensation than hospital-employed general surgeons ($565,056 across 60 reports).
How many hours does a general surgeon work per week?
General surgeons who reported their schedule average 55 hours per week (136 reports).
How does experience affect general surgeon pay?
Average total compensation by years of experience in SalaryDr's general surgeon reports: 0–2 years, $425,000 (23 reports); 3–5 years, $508,238 (28 reports); 6–10 years, $562,653 (29 reports); 11–15 years, $622,475 (39 reports); 16+ years, $660,000 (19 reports).
How much bonus pay do general surgeons receive?
80% of approved general surgeon reports include bonus or incentive pay. Among those 110 reports, the median bonus is $80,000 and the average is $106,196.
How satisfied are general surgeons with their jobs?
General surgeons who rated their job gave it an average of 4.1 out of 5 (137 reports). 80% of the 130 reports that answered say they would choose the specialty again.
Where does this general surgeon salary data come from?
These figures come from 138 reports that general surgeons submitted anonymously to SalaryDr and that were approved before publication; the most recent is from October 5, 2026. Reports are self-reported: approval means a report passed SalaryDr's review checks, not that the submitter's pay was independently verified. Outlier reports beyond 1.5×IQR are excluded from the median, average and percentiles.
Reports are anonymous and self-reported. How SalaryDr calculates these figures.