Orthopedic surgery physician salary in Iowa
BLS OEWS May 2025 places the annual median employee wage for orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric in Iowa at $189,410; its separately published annual mean is $294,930. These salary and pay benchmarks are wage estimates, not a promised offer or total compensation. This BLS source category is orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (SOC 29-1242); pediatric orthopedics is excluded.
Orthopedic surgery physicians · May 2025
View official Iowa wage dataIowa wage snapshot
| Measure | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $294,930 |
| Median annual wage | $189,410 |
| Employment estimate | 260 |
| Wage relative standard error | 28.9% |
Employee wages annualized at 2,080 hours. Not total compensation, guaranteed pay or a salary range. RSE measures estimate uncertainty, not your pay spread.
How to read the wage estimate
Annualized wages: BLS multiplies hourly wage rates by 2,080. These are not observed yearly earnings or total compensation.
The mean is the average and the median is the midpoint. Their ordering does not establish the cause of a difference; do not treat the pair as a salary range.
Employee wages, not all physician income or guaranteed base. Employment estimate: 260.
28.9% Wage relative standard error, not a pay percentile
What the Iowa orthopedic surgery wage row can tell you
The wage relative standard error is 28.9%. RSE describes estimate precision, not the spread between individual offers. In the Iowa row for orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric, $189,410 is the median annual employee wage and $294,930 is the mean. The employment estimate is 260 employee jobs, not current vacancies. Mean and median are different measures, not the ends of a salary range. These are employee wage estimates, not offers or total compensation.
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National compensation
Doximity: U.S. Orthopaedic Surgery
Doximity 2026 report2026 report · 2025 national compensation. Not state wages.
Who was surveyed
National full-time U.S. physician compensation from 2025 responses. The report population and compensation basis differ from BLS covered employee wages.
Medscape: U.S. Orthopedics & Orthopedic Surgery
Medscape 2026 report2026 report · 2025 national compensation. Not state wages.
Who was surveyed
National full-time U.S. physician compensation reported for 2025, including salary and incentive income. Its population and compensation basis differ from Doximity and BLS employee wages.
AMGA: U.S. Orthopedic Surgery
AMGA 2026 survey table · page 3Orthopedic Surgery · 2026 survey, 2025 compensation data. Median, not mean; not state wages.
Who was surveyed
AMGA’s participating medical groups report physician compensation. This Orthopedic Surgery median uses a different population and compensation basis from BLS employee wages and the other national surveys.
National orthopedic surgery compensation and BLS state employee wages use separate populations and pay definitions. Doximity and Medscape report means; AMGA reports a median. Do not blend these three national surveys with state wages or call the figures a salary range.
Why the sources differ
Doximity, Medscape and AMGA use distinct national survey populations and compensation bases. AMGA reports a median, not a mean. Keep each as a separate reference; do not average them together.
The 2026 reports describe 2025 compensation, not this state’s average wage. Their populations and compensation definitions differ from BLS state employee wages, so the figures are separate context, not directly comparable endpoints of a salary range.
Licensing and first-shift checks in Iowa
Iowa's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing says staff review physician applications in the order received and that incomplete applications or applications with errors take longer. Applicants can log in to their Online Services account to see a list of outstanding items and submit amendments. The department says applicants who have not practiced in the U.S. or Canada within the past three years, or who have had difficulties during education, training or career, may need review by the Board's Licensure Committee, which meets on set months. For an Iowa offer, assign an owner to each outstanding item, confirm the license is issued, and confirm facility privileges and onboarding separately. A pending application is not a confirmed first-shift date.
Build an orthopedic surgery offer checklist
Use the actual job description to check the work that sits behind the pay number. These are questions for the hiring team, not claims about available Saile jobs.
- Define subspecialty, clinic and operative duties, trauma coverage and call. Do not use one broad employee-wage estimate as a rate for each service.
- Compare scheduled clinic, operating room and call time with follow-up, documentation and incentives. Ask about the actual access to operating time and support staff.
- Verify site privileges for the planned procedures, equipment and backup, malpractice coverage and any restrictive or repayment terms before committing.
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Orthopedic surgery salary questions in Iowa
What is the average orthopedic surgery doctor salary in Iowa?
BLS May 2025 estimates a mean annual employee wage of $294,930 and a median of $189,410 for orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric in Iowa under SOC 29-1242, Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric. The mean is the average; the median is the midpoint. These are covered employee wages, not total compensation, a guaranteed offer or a salary range.
What is the hourly pay equivalent in Iowa?
Dividing the annual wage estimates by 2,080 hours gives about $141.79 per hour for the mean and $91.06 for the median, rounded to cents. This is an arithmetic equivalent, not a quoted locums, per-diem or telemedicine rate. Contract hours and benefits differ.
How does Iowa orthopedic surgery pay compare nationally?
The Iowa BLS figures cover employee wages. The three national orthopedic surgery cards report $696,852 mean annual compensation from Doximity’s 2026 Orthopaedic Surgery report, $611,000 mean total compensation from Medscape’s 2026 Orthopedics & Orthopedic Surgery report and $751,350 median compensation for Orthopedic Surgery from AMGA’s 2026 survey. AMGA reports a median, not a mean. The 2026 reports describe 2025 compensation, not state wages. These surveys use separate populations and compensation bases, which also differ from BLS employee wages. Keep the figures as separate context, not a combined salary range or a direct state comparison.
What should I verify before starting orthopedic surgery work in Iowa?
Iowa's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing says staff review physician applications in the order received and that incomplete applications or applications with errors take longer. Applicants can log in to their Online Services account to see a list of outstanding items and submit amendments. The department says applicants who have not practiced in the U.S. or Canada within the past three years, or who have had difficulties during education, training or career, may need review by the Board's Licensure Committee, which meets on set months. For an Iowa offer, assign an owner to each outstanding item, confirm the license is issued, and confirm facility privileges and onboarding separately. A pending application is not a confirmed first-shift date.
How can I find higher-paying or part-time orthopedic surgery work?
Compare written offers with the same hours, duties and benefits. Use the Saile app to explore part-time, per-diem, locums, telemedicine and full-time work through the existing search. Matching depends on specialty, credentials and location; these wage estimates do not prove current openings or guarantee higher pay.
Source definitions
BLS May 2025 OEWS reports Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric (SOC 29-1242): pediatric orthopedics is excluded. It combines six survey panels over three years. It covers wage and salary employees, not self-employed physicians or unincorporated owners. Wages include straight-time gross pay and certain incentives, but exclude benefits, overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. The relative standard error describes estimate uncertainty, not your pay spread.
BLS methods · State data · National survey methods and specialty table
Iowa DIAL: what to expect with the licensure process · HHS: licensing across state lines
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