How much does a General Surgery make in California?
As of April 25, 2025, a General Surgery in California earns an average of $610,000 per year ($50,833 monthly). Based on an average 57-hour work week, this translates to approximately $191 per hour.
Local Salary Range and Market Analysis
Based on 17 verified physician salary submissions in California, SalaryDr is seeing total compensation ranging from $515,000 to $610,000, with top performers (90th percentile) earning up to $630,000 annually. Compared to the national median of $600,000,General Surgery salaries in California are higher by $10,000(2%).
Career Growth and Local Market Trends
In California, the salary progression for General Surgery physicians shows significant growth potential. Entry-level positions start at $533,750, while those with 14+ years of experience earn an average of $601,667 - a 13% increase.
Local Practice Settings and Employers
Base salary makes up 84% of total compensation ($480,882), with the remainder coming from bonuses, profit sharing, and other incentives.
Work-Life Balance in California
Local General Surgery physicians report 4.6/5 career satisfaction, with 76% saying they would choose this specialty again.
Salary Distribution
Distribution based on 17 verified physician salary submissions.
Median Salary: $610,000
Physician Satisfaction
Would Choose Again
Percentage of General Surgery physicians who would choose this specialty again if starting their career over.
Satisfaction Rating
Average satisfaction rating reported by General Surgery physicians (1-5 scale).
Career Satisfaction
Physicians cite the variety of cases and patient relationships as most rewarding aspects of this specialty.
Primary Challenges
On-call demands, administrative burden, and work-life balance are cited as the top challenges.
Salary Comparison
Location Statistics
Average Salary
$569,706
Median Salary
$610,000
Salary Range
$515,000 - $610,000
National Comparison
National Average
$579,944
Difference
-2% vs National Average
Sample Size
17 local / 66 national reports
Salary by Practice Type
| Practice Type | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| Private Practice | $591,667 | 6 submissions |
| Hospital-employed | $582,222 | 9 submissions |
* Practice types with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Salary by Experience Level
| Years of Experience | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 years | $400,000 | 1 submissions |
| 3-5 years | $445,000 | 1 submissions |
| 6-10 years | $490,000 | 1 submissions |
| 11-15 years | $596,429 | 14 submissions |
* Experience levels with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Take-Home Pay Calculator
Popular Locations
New York City, NY
Average Salary: $400,000
Based on 150 reports
Los Angeles, CA
Average Salary: $380,000
Based on 120 reports
Chicago, IL
Average Salary: $350,000
Based on 100 reports
Houston, TX
Average Salary: $340,000
Based on 90 reports
Miami, FL
Average Salary: $360,000
Based on 80 reports
Boston, MA
Average Salary: $370,000
Based on 70 reports
* Showing locations with the most reported salaries.
* Some locations may be omitted if they have fewer than 3 reports.
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About Our Data
Our salary data is based on anonymous submissions from practicing physicians across the United States. We verify and clean the data to ensure accuracy and remove outliers.
Last updated: April 25, 2025