Sports Medicine Surgeon: The Outlook of a Fast Growing Career

The fast growing field of sports medicine involves the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect physical fitness and injuries related to sports and exercise. Let's take a look at one might expect when pursuing a career as a sports medicine surgeon.

Overview

Sports medicine surgeons are orthopedic surgeons who specialize in the treatment of sports-related injuries, and will mostly find themselves working on athletes. Orthopedic surgeons across all specialties are likely to see a continued increase in demand.

Education

Prior to medical school, most surgeons-to-be will pursue a bachelors degree while simultaneously working positions shadowing physicians or volunteering at a local hospital. All orthopedic sports medicine surgeons are required to get a medical degree and must complete additional training in the form of a residency and a fellowship. They have the additional option of earning a board certification in orthopedic surgery.

Salary

Orthopedic sports medicine surgeons typically make more than orthopedic surgeons not specializing in sports medicine. According to data from 2009, the average sports medicine salary of nearly $600,000 was over $100,000 more than non sports medicine specialized surgeons. The median salary for all orthopedic surgeons in 2017 is $459,426. The top 10%
earn over $700,000 while the bottom 10% earn less than $270,000 per year. There are many factors adding to the higher median salary for sports medicine surgeons including fast procedure times and minimal follow-up requirements.

Outlook

As public opinions about the definition of "health" continue to change it will likely have positive impacts on job growth for orthopedic surgeons specializing in sports medicine. The growth rate for all physicians and surgeons is expected to grow at a rate of 14% between now and 2024, much faster than average.