A general surgeon’s average compensation in 2025 was $501,003, according to Doximity’s 2026 Physician Compensation Report. This is a survey average, not a guaranteed offer, starting salary, or take-home pay. Your actual compensation depends on the practice, location, workload, experience, and contract.
Doximity says its 2026 report analyzed nearly 23,000 U.S. physician compensation surveys collected in 2025. Respondents were full-time physicians practicing at least 40 hours a week. The report’s specialty table lists General Surgery at $501,003; the figure is useful as a benchmark, not a promise of what every surgeon earns. Read the report’s methodology and sources before comparing it with another dataset.
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How Much Does a General Surgeon Make in 2026?
If you are searching for a simple annual figure, use $501,003 as the Doximity-reported 2025 average for General Surgery. It is not an entry-level salary or a national median. Averages can be pulled upward by higher earners and do not describe an individual contract.
2025 Pay Benchmarks: Doximity and BLS
| Benchmark | 2025 figure | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Doximity 2026 report | $501,003 | Average compensation reported for General Surgery in 2025; specialty-specific survey figure. |
| Bureau of Labor Statistics | $275,930 | May 2025 median for the broad Physicians and Surgeons occupation group, not general surgery alone. |
These figures are not directly comparable. Doximity reports a specialty-level survey average; the BLS reports a median for a broader occupational group. The BLS number is useful context for the physician workforce, but it is not a general-surgeon salary estimate.
Why Salary Estimates Differ
Salary pages can show different numbers because they may report different years, respondent groups, and measures. One source may show an average, another a median, and another only a posted base salary. Some include incentive pay in the compensation figure; others describe a job-posting estimate. Check the year, population, and definition before treating two numbers as a trend.
Location also needs care: a metropolitan average for all physicians is not the same as a general-surgeon average in that city. Compare location figures only when the source identifies both the specialty and the measurement method.
What Affects General Surgeon Compensation?
A general surgeon’s offer can change with the work and the contract. Review these details alongside the headline number:
- Practice setting: hospital employment, a single- or multispecialty group, academic medicine, or private practice.
- Workload: expected clinical hours, patient volume, operating-room schedule, and call frequency.
- Compensation formula: guaranteed base, productivity or work-RVU thresholds, quality incentives, and how bonuses are paid.
- Geography: local recruiting market, cost of living, and whether the role requires relocation.
- Experience and responsibilities: years in practice, leadership duties, and any additional scope or coverage.
How to Compare General-Surgery Job Offers
Ask the employer to put the complete compensation structure in writing. Compare guaranteed base pay, the formula and threshold for incentives, call pay, signing or relocation bonuses and any repayment terms, benefits, malpractice coverage, time off, and schedule. A higher advertised total can be less attractive if it depends on an unrealistic volume target or includes one-time payments.
If you are still evaluating the training path, read our guides to how to become a surgeon and how long surgeon training takes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is $501,003 a starting salary for a general surgeon?
No. It is the average compensation shown for General Surgery in Doximity’s 2026 report, based on 2025 survey data. The report does not label this figure as a starting salary.
Why does the BLS show a lower number?
The BLS figure is the May 2025 median for physicians and surgeons as a broad occupation group. It is not specific to general surgeons, while Doximity’s table breaks compensation out by specialty.
Does the Doximity figure mean take-home pay?
No. It is reported average compensation, not after-tax income. Use an offer letter and your own tax and benefit details to estimate take-home pay.
Rodrigo Durães is the founder and editor of CareersForge, where he publishes career-development resources on career planning, resumes, interviews, and job search. His professional experience and education are listed on his LinkedIn profile, including his role as Global CEO of VisionCorp International from 2011 to 2023. View Rodrigo’s LinkedIn profile.
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