Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric Salary

Yes — at the median salary of $253K, rent takes 17.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.

The 10th-percentile wage — what new orthopedic surgeons, except pediatrics typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,840/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.

Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $253K here vs. $359K nationally.

California pays $253K median vs. the U.S. average of $359K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $239K — below the national median.

The median is $253,430 a year, that works out to about $122 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,660, and experienced orthopedic surgeons, except pediatrics can clear $457,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $13,774/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 17.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.

California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric salary is worth about $238,770 in national-average purchasing power.

The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.