Surgeons, All Other Salary
The median pay for a surgeons, all other in California is $131,990/year ($63.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $89K at the entry level to $475K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $256K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $124,355 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 31.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $132K get you in California?
About surgeons, all others
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What this looks like in California
Pay for surgeons, all other in California runs about 68% below the U.S. median of $414K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level surgeons, all others (10th percentile) start around $89K. Mid-career wages sit at $132K. Top earners bring in $475K or more, a $387K spread from bottom to top.
Surgeons, All Other salary by metro in California
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $536K | +306% | N/A |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $81K | -39% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track surgeons, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surgeons, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $132K, rent takes 32% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgeons, all others in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgeons, all others typically earn — is $89K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,324/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is surgeons, all other a high-paying job in California?
Local pay runs 68% below the national median — $132K here vs. $414K nationally.
How does California compare to the national average for surgeons, all others?
California pays $132K median vs. the U.S. average of $414K — that’s -68%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $124K — below the national median.
How much do surgeons, all others make in California?
The median is $131,990 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $88,730, and experienced surgeons, all others can clear $475,310. The mean (average) is $255,620, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $132K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,713/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 32% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a surgeons, all other salary go in California?
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 surgeons, all other salary is worth about $124,355 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do surgeons, all others get paid the most?
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.