Median orthopedic surgeon pay jumped 5.5% in the last year, according to an AMGA report.
Orthopedic surgeons were the highest compensated specialists surveyed by AMGA, reporting a median salary of $723,421 last year. Orthopedic surgeons reported a bigger pay leap than OB/GYN's and general surgeons as well.
Along with the pay increase, orthopedic surgeons were also more productive last year; their work relative value units increased 7.4% to 9,750. Median compensation per wRVU was flat year over year, at $76.81.
Fred Horton, president of AMGA Consulting, cautioned organizations against pushing much harder for increased productivity to cover the gap between expenses and reimbursement. Organizations have been asking physicians to see more patients, which could lead to poor work-life balance and burnout.
"The big challenge is how to maintain a provider supply when you continually ask providers to do more to fund increases rather than funding such increases with collections that keep pace with inflation," said Mr. Horton. "This trend of production driving increases in compensation is not sustainable."
Primary care physicians, who reported large pay gains in the last few years, reported just 3.6% pay bump in 2024, down from 6% year over year increase in 2023.
The survey includes data from 459 medical groups representing 189,000 providers.