Prevailing Wage for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
Prevailing wage requirements for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric are set by the DOL and apply to every sponsored position, whether the offer is for an Orthopedic Surgeon, a Hand Surgeon, or a General Surgeon role. DOL calculates four experience-based wage levels, and the floor varies significantly by worksite city.
See all jobs for this roleLook up your work address
Level 1 applies to entry-level orthopedic surgeons completing residency or early fellowship training, working under direct supervision with limited independent caseload. DOL expects minimal post-training experience and a narrowly defined scope of surgical practice at this level.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for orthopedic surgeons. It covers qualified practitioners with independent surgical privileges, a defined subspecialty focus, and several years of post-residency experience who perform standard procedures without routine supervision.
Level 3 applies to experienced orthopedic surgeons who manage complex cases, supervise residents or fellows, and contribute to protocol development. DOL associates this level with demonstrated subspecialty expertise and a track record of independent clinical leadership.
Level 4 covers fully competent orthopedic surgeons in senior attending, department chief, or program director roles. These practitioners set clinical standards, lead surgical teams, and are recognized as authoritative within their subspecialty at an institutional or regional level.
Prevailing Wage for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for this role
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
Verify your subspecialty aligns with the filed SOC
Hand surgeons and spine surgeons are sometimes filed under general surgery SOC codes rather than SOC 29-1242, which changes the prevailing wage floor. Confirm your LCA lists the orthopedic surgery SOC before accepting an offer.
Exclude signing bonuses from your wage compliance check
Orthopedic surgery offers frequently include large signing bonuses and productivity bonuses. DOL counts only the guaranteed base salary toward prevailing wage compliance; bonuses and RVU-based incentives do not count toward the floor.
Compare wages across high-concentration metros before negotiating
Orthopedic surgeon prevailing wages vary substantially between markets like Dallas and Portland versus lower-wage metros. The DOL worksite-on-LCA rule means the prevailing wage is tied to your actual practice location, not your employer's headquarters.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with orthopedic sponsorship history
Hospital systems and surgical groups vary widely in H-1B sponsorship activity for orthopedic roles. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored orthopedic surgeons before, so you can prioritize outreach to groups with a proven track record.
Jobs for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-1242.00 alongside Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
General Surgeon Prevailing Wage
General Surgeon Prevailing Wage
General Surgeon positions fall under SOC 29-1242.00 (Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Hand Surgeon Prevailing Wage
Hand Surgeon Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Hand Surgeon for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1242.00 (Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Orthopaedic Surgeon Prevailing Wage
Orthopaedic Surgeon Prevailing Wage
Orthopaedic Surgeon is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1242.00 (Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Orthopedic Surgeon Prevailing Wage
Orthopedic Surgeon Prevailing Wage
Orthopedic Surgeon positions fall under SOC 29-1242.00 (Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Physician Prevailing Wage
Physician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Physician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1242.00 (Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Surgeon Prevailing Wage
Surgeon Prevailing Wage
Surgeon is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1242.00 (Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for orthopedic surgeons?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data, collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to calculate prevailing wages for SOC 29-1242 in each metropolitan area. The OFLC then assigns one of four wage levels based on experience and supervision requirements. Employers must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties, and the applicable wage is drawn from the worksite's geographic area.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL's four levels reflect experience and supervision: Level 1 is entry-level with close oversight, Level 2 is independent practice with a defined subspecialty, Level 3 is experienced with supervisory or leadership duties, and Level 4 is senior or department-lead scope. Your level is determined by the duties described in the LCA, not your title. Review the job description carefully and compare it against OFLC's published level definitions to identify where your offer falls.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same orthopedic surgeon role differ so much by city?
DOL conducts regional OES surveys through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, so prevailing wages reflect local labor market conditions for each metropolitan area. A high-demand market like Dallas will have a different wage floor than a smaller market. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, so the controlling wage is tied to where you practice, not where the hospital system is headquartered. Dense employer markets and regional cost-of-living differences both drive the variation.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored orthopedic surgery position?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other sponsored visa petition if the LCA wage does not meet or exceed the DOL prevailing wage for the filed level and worksite location. The employer must either increase the offered salary to meet the floor or refile under a lower wage level that accurately reflects the position's duties. Filing at a level that understates actual responsibilities to access a lower wage threshold creates compliance risk for the employer.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an orthopedic surgeon role at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 29-1242 in any metropolitan area where you have an offer. Enter the occupation code and the worksite metro area to see all four wage levels. Cross-reference with recent LCA disclosure data published by OFLC to see what wages employers have actually filed for comparable positions. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have a history of sponsoring orthopedic surgeons, giving you useful context for evaluating any offer.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric right now.
Search Jobs for this role