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Chief of Surgery Salary in the United States

How much does a Chief of Surgery make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chief of Surgery in the United States is $474,280 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $228.

However, a Chief of Surgery's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $579,689
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $433,431 to $529,455
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $396,240
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Chief of Surgery Salaries

A Chief of Surgery's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Chief of Surgery Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chief of Surgery's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $449,283
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $452,941
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $455,989
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $460,867
  • Expert (over 8 years): $466,964
Levels Salary
Entry Level Chief of Surgery$449,283
Intermediate Level Chief of Surgery$452,941
Senior Level Chief of Surgery$455,989
Specialist Level Chief of Surgery$460,867
Expert Level Chief of Surgery$466,964
View as Graph

How Do Chief of Surgeries Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Chief of Surgeries. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $525,123.
  • California: $523,131.
  • Massachusetts: $516,159.

Top Paying Cities for Chief of Surgery

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $598,209
  • San Francisco: $591,660
  • Oakland: $579,191

What Skills Can Increase a Chief of Surgery's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.21% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 4.65% Job Postings): Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. In medical terms, care for acute health conditions is the opposite from chronic care, or longer term care. Acute care services are generally delivered by teams of health care professionals from a range of medical and surgical specialties. Acute care may require a stay in a hospital emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care centre or other short-term stay facility, along with the assistance of diagnostic services, surgery, or follow-up outpatient care in the community. Hospital-based acute inpatient care typically has the goal of discharging patients as soon as they are deemed healthy and stable. Acute care settings include emergency department, intensive care, coronary care, cardiology, neonatal intensive care, and many general areas where the patient could become acutely unwell and require stabilization and transfer to another higher dependency unit for further treatment.
  • Medical Education (Mentioned in 2.6% Job Postings): Medical education is a course of study directed toward imparting knowledge and skills required for the prevention and treatment of diseases to persons seeking to become physicians.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.21%
Acute Care 4.65%
Medical Education 2.6%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Chief of Surgery's salary.

  • Internal Medicine: Can increase your salary by up to 35%.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Geriatrics: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Internal Medicine $640,278
35%
Coaching $507,480
7%
Geriatrics $502,737
6%
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Chief of Surgery Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chief of Surgery salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $503,079. While startup companies pay approximate $428,695.

Chief of Surgery Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $428,695
Growth Stage 51~500 $452,545
Established 501~5000 $486,628
Enterprise 5000+ $503,079

Chief of Surgery Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chief of Surgery roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Chief of Surgery positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Chief of Surgery as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Chief of Surgery

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$569,136$274.020%

How Education impacts an Chief of Surgery's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Chief of Surgery enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Chief of Surgery with a Bachelor's Degree is between $0 and $0.

Chief of Surgery Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Chief of Surgery
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.7%
High School 6.7%
Associates 6.7%
Bachelors 6.7%
Masters 6.7%
Doctorate 73.3%
View as Graph

Chief of Surgery Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chief of Surgery's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$433,431
Average $474,280/year
$529,455
$36,119
Average $39,523/month
$44,121
$8,335
Average $9,121/week
$10,182
$208
Average $228/hour
$255
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $529,455 $44,121 $10,182 $255
Average $474,280 $39,523 $9,121 $228
25th Percentile $433,431 $36,119 $8,335 $208

Most common benefits for Chief of Surgery

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Chief of Surgery

Here are companies hiring for Chief of Surgery and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Chief of Surgery

1. Where can a Chief of Surgery earn the most?

A Chief of Surgery's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Chief of Surgery earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Chief of Surgery is $598,209.

2. What is the highest pay for Chief of Surgery?

The highest pay for Chief of Surgery is $579,689.

3. What is the lowest pay for Chief of Surgery?

The lowest pay for Chief of Surgery is $396,240.

4. What are the responsibilities of Chief of Surgery?

Directs the staff and programs of the surgical department. Works closely with hospital staff, department directors, and physicians to ensure that the highest standards of quality and service are maintained. Requires a MD degree from an accredited school. Requires a valid state license to practice. Require extensive clinical experience. Typically reports to top management. Manages a departmental function within a broader corporate function. Develops major goals to support broad functional objectives. Approves policies developed within various sub-functions and departments. Comprehensive knowledge of the overall departmental function. Typically requires 8+ years of managerial experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Chief of Surgery?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Chief of Surgery roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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