25:["$","$L26",null,{"category":"$27","relatedArticles":[{"id":"cG9zdDozNTY3NQ==","databaseId":35675,"postId":35675,"author":{"node":{"id":"dXNlcjo0OA==","databaseId":48,"userId":48,"avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/50102d5e35f225d865b5245a2521bb14?s=96&d=mm&r=g","size":96,"__typename":"Avatar"},"description":"Nick Wallace studied Economics at the University of Washington. He enjoys getting people thinking about finances by looking a the numbers. Nick is a freelance journalist and data analyst living in Michigan. He still lends his economic and analytic expertise for SmartAsset's studies.","additionalMeta":{"expertise":null,"__typename":"User_Additionalmeta"},"email":null,"firstName":"Nick","fullName":"Nick Wallace","lastName":"Wallace","name":"Nick Wallace","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":112,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnection"},"slug":"nwallace","__typename":"User"},"__typename":"NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge"},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTo4OQ==","children":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"CategoryToCategoryConnection"},"databaseId":89,"categoryId":89,"link":"https://smartasset.com/career/articles","name":"Career","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":38,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnection"},"slug":"career","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"}],"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnection"},"content":"$28","date":"2015-07-15T10:00:53","excerpt":"

Jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) represent some of the best opportunities for workers in today’s economy. The work can be rewarding as well as coming with high pay and good benefits (like a 401(k) and health insurance). Diversity in STEM, however is a problem, one that has captured the attention of CEOs like Jeff Bezos […]

\n","featuredImage":{"id":"cG9zdDozNTY3OQ==","databaseId":35679,"altText":"The Best Cities for Diversity in STEM","date":"2015-06-22T18:47:30","fileSize":105377,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","modified":"2015-06-22T18:47:30","sourceUrl":"https://smartasset.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/06/STEMDiversity.jpg","__typename":"MediaItem"},"modified":{"datetime":"2023-9-1","readable":"September 1, 2023"},"multipleBylinesByRole":{"editedBy":null,"reviewedBy":null,"writtenBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null,"hideAuthor":null,"__typename":"Post_Multiplebylinesbyrole"},"adTargetingOverrides":{"fieldGroupName":"adTargetingOverrides","pageGroupNewKey":null,"__typename":"Post_Adtargetingoverrides"},"seo":{"canonical":"https://smartasset.com/career/the-best-cities-for-diversity-in-stem","metaDesc":"The lack of diversity in STEM is a big issue. At a national level, the STEM workforce is 76% male and 69% White. But some cities buck the trend. Memphis...","metaKeywords":"","metaRobotsNofollow":"follow","metaRobotsNoindex":"index","readingTime":7,"title":"The Best Cities for Diversity in STEM - SmartAsset","__typename":"PostTypeSEO"},"slug":"the-best-cities-for-diversity-in-stem","status":"publish","title":"The Best Cities for Diversity in STEM in 2015","uri":"/career/the-best-cities-for-diversity-in-stem","tags":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"PostToTagConnection"},"__typename":"Post","adPageGroupOverride":null,"bylines":{"writtenBy":{"id":"dXNlcjo0OA==","databaseId":48,"userId":48,"avatar":"$29","description":"Nick Wallace studied Economics at the University of Washington. He enjoys getting people thinking about finances by looking a the numbers. Nick is a freelance journalist and data analyst living in Michigan. He still lends his economic and analytic expertise for SmartAsset's studies.","additionalMeta":"$2a","email":null,"firstName":"Nick","fullName":"Nick Wallace","lastName":"Wallace","name":"Nick Wallace","postCount":"$2b","slug":"nick-wallace","__typename":"User"},"editedBy":null,"reviewedBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null},"category":{"id":"dGVybTo4OQ==","children":"$2e","databaseId":89,"categoryId":89,"link":"https://smartasset.com/career/articles","name":"Career","postCount":38,"slug":"career","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"},"isModifiedBeforePublished":false,"contentBlocks":["

","

\nThis is the 2015 version of our Study. Read the 2016 version here

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The solutions pursued in both the public and private sectors are varied – from companies enacting inclusive hiring policies to federal programs like “Educate to Innovate,” which among other things has aimed to increase the number of minorities pursuing a STEM education. However, while STEM diversity is a national problem, it isn’t equally severe in all parts of the country.

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Methodology

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To find the cities with the most diverse STEM workforces, we looked at U.S. Census data on the demographics of STEM employment in the 210 U.S. cities with the largest STEM workforces.¹First, we looked at the racial and ethnic makeup of a city’s STEM workforce.

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For each city, we calculated an index score based on the distribution of the workforce among the eight primary racial and ethnic groups tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau.² The more evenly spread a city’s workforce was among these eight groups, the higher the score.³

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The city with the most racial and ethnic diversity was Fresno, California. It received a 100. Any city with 100% of its STEM workforce concentrated in a single racial or ethnic group scored a zero.

","

Find out now: How much house can I afford?

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Next, we calculated a similar score based on gender diversity. A city with a STEM workforce equally split between men and women would receive a 100 for this score, while a city in which women made up 10% or less of the STEM workforce scored a zero.

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Lastly, we averaged these two scores. A higher score reflects higher racial, ethnic and gender diversity.

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Key Findings

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Nine of the top ten cities are in either the mid-Atlantic region or California. Missing are typical STEM hubs such as San Francisco (ranked 29^th overall), Austin (58^th overall), San Jose (61^st overall), Denver (89^th overall) and Seattle (95^th overall). The STEM workforce in each of these cities were more than 70% male and less than 5% Black.
Memphis leads the way for STEM diversity. The city’s STEM workforce had the second highest level of racial and ethnic diversity of any in our study. It also rated well for gender diversity, with women composing 39% of its STEM workforce. This compares to a national average of 26%.
STEM diversity is truly a national issue. Census data reflects that the U.S. STEM workforce is 74% male and 69% White.

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$\"Top$

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1. Memphis, Tennessee

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According to the U.S. Census data SmartAsset analyzed, women make up just 26% of the national STEM workforce (there are 5.6 million men holding STEM jobs in the U.S. compared with 1.95 million women). In Memphis, the gap is far smaller, with women making up 39% of the city’s STEM workforce, 7^th highest in our study. Memphis likewise scored well for racial diversity. The city’s STEM workforce is 52% White, 33% Black, 12% Asian and 3% Latino or Hispanic.

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2. Stockton, California

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Just 80 miles east of Oakland, Stockton is rarely discussed as a destination city for STEM workers. It doesn’t have the big name employers that have made the Bay Area the tech capital of the world. Yet it does offer STEM workers one thing many Bay Area cities do not: diversity in the workplace.

","

No single racial or ethnic group comprises more than 40% of the STEM workforce in Stockton. Compare that with San Francisco where White people fill nearly 60% of all STEM jobs or San Jose where the STEM workforce is 58% Asian and 29% White. Overall, Stockton had the second highest level of racial and ethnic diversity of any city in our study.

","

3. Sacramento, California

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California’s capital city has the third most diverse STEM workforce in the U.S. Women fill 35% of STEM jobs in Sacramento (compared with a national average of 26%) and no single racial or ethnic group comprises a majority of the STEM workforce. That type of diversity means a more inclusive atmosphere for all STEM workers and it means a greater range of perspectives – and ideas – at STEM employers. That’s not just good for the workforce, studies show it’s good for business too.

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4. Washington, D.C.

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As SmartAsset covered earlier this year, Washington, D.C. is the nation’s top city for women in technology, with women filling a greater proportion of tech jobs in the District than in any other U.S. city. What’s true for technology appears to be true in science, engineering, and mathematics as well. 42% of STEM jobs in D.C. are held by women, compared with a national average of 26%.

","

Related Article: The Best Cities for Women in Tech

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5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Like Washington, D.C., Philadelphia ranked among the best cities for women in tech and has a far higher level of gender diversity in its STEM workforce than most U.S. cities. The same is true of Philly’s racial and ethnic diversity in STEM. For example, while Black Americans make up just 6% of the national STEM workforce, in Philadelphia they hold 18% of STEM jobs.

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6. Baltimore, Maryland

","

Baltimore’s STEM workforce rated well for gender diversity as well as racial and ethnic diversity. 38% of STEM professionals in Baltimore are women, 13^th highest of any city in our study and well above the national percentage.

","

7. Oakland, California

","

The only Bay Area city with a STEM workforce that ranks among the top 25 for its diversity, Oakland serves as a stark contrast to both San Francisco and San Jose. For example, while Black Americans hold 9% of STEM jobs in Oakland, they constitute just 2% of the STEM workforce in San Francisco a mere 15 miles away. Likewise, women fill 35% of STEM jobs in Oakland but just 23% of the STEM jobs in San Jose are held by women.

","

8. New York, New York

","

With a STEM workforce of over 160,000 people, New York is home to the highest number of STEM professionals of any U.S. city. It is one of just a handful of cities in which four different racial or ethnic groups comprise at least 10% of the STEM workforce. It also offers more opportunities for women in STEM than most U.S. cities, with women holding 32% of STEM jobs in NYC.

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Moving to NYC? Find out if you’re better off renting or buying.

","

9. Los Angeles, California

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Los Angeles is one of the most diverse cities in the world, a fact reflected in its STEM workforce. Of LA’s 76,500 STEM workers, about 36,000 are White, 18,000 are Asian, 11,000 are Latino or Hispanic and 3,600 are Black. Overall, Los Angeles ranked eighth in SmartAsset’s study for the racial and ethnic diversity of its STEM workforce.

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10. Chula Vista, California

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Located south of San Diego just miles from the Mexican border, Chula Vista was one of a handful of cities in our study in which no single racial or ethnic group comprised a majority of the STEM workforce. Latinos form the largest single demographic group of STEM professionals in Chula Vista, accounting for 37% percent of the city’s scientists, engineers, mathematicians and technologists.

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$\"By$

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Read the 2016 version of SmartAsset’s study of the best cities for diversity in STEM.
\n
\nQuestions about our study? Contact us at blog@smartasset.com

","

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Izabela Habur

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1. We only considered cities with a large enough STEM workforce to have statistically reliable Census survey results. That included every U.S. city with a population of over 250,000 except for Toledo, Ohio and Newark, New Jersey.

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2. While we included the eight primary racial and ethnic groups tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau in our analysis, our tables show only the four largest.

","

3. To calculate spread, we took the sum of squares of each group’s share of the overall population. We then indexed that number to 100.

"],"experts":null,"link":"/career/the-best-cities-for-diversity-in-stem","published":{"datetime":"2015-7-15","readable":"July 15, 2015"},"shareInfo":{"title":"The Best Cities for Diversity in STEM in 2015","origin":"/career/the-best-cities-for-diversity-in-stem"},"isNewsArticle":false},{"id":"cG9zdDo1NzkyOQ==","databaseId":57929,"postId":57929,"author":{"node":{"id":"dXNlcjo1MA==","databaseId":50,"userId":50,"avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10ca58872f36412ceff58616bb971c22?s=96&d=mm&r=g","size":96,"__typename":"Avatar"},"description":"Amelia Josephson is a writer passionate about covering financial literacy topics. Her areas of expertise include retirement and home buying. Amelia's work has appeared across the web, including on AOL, CBS News and The Simple Dollar. She holds degrees from Columbia and Oxford. Originally from Alaska, Amelia now calls Brooklyn home.","additionalMeta":{"expertise":null,"__typename":"User_Additionalmeta"},"email":null,"firstName":"Amelia","fullName":"Amelia Josephson","lastName":"Josephson","name":"Amelia Josephson","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":334,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnection"},"slug":"ajosephson","__typename":"User"},"__typename":"NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge"},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTo4OQ==","children":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"CategoryToCategoryConnection"},"databaseId":89,"categoryId":89,"link":"https://smartasset.com/career/articles","name":"Career","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":38,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnection"},"slug":"career","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"}],"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnection"},"content":"$30","date":"2016-12-21T10:00:54","excerpt":"

\n","featuredImage":{"id":"cG9zdDoxNzI3Mzg=","databaseId":172738,"altText":"The Average Salary of a Dentist","date":"2022-11-08T17:44:32","fileSize":38015,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","modified":"2022-11-08T17:44:32","sourceUrl":"https://smartasset.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/12/average_salary_dentist_1-1.jpg","__typename":"MediaItem"},"modified":{"datetime":"2023-3-21","readable":"March 21, 2023"},"multipleBylinesByRole":{"editedBy":null,"reviewedBy":null,"writtenBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null,"hideAuthor":null,"__typename":"Post_Multiplebylinesbyrole"},"adTargetingOverrides":{"fieldGroupName":"adTargetingOverrides","pageGroupNewKey":null,"__typename":"Post_Adtargetingoverrides"},"seo":{"canonical":"https://smartasset.com/career/the-average-salary-of-a-dentist","metaDesc":"The average salary of a dentist is $158,310 per year, but becoming a dentist is a long road and, for most people, involves taking on six-figure debt.","metaKeywords":"","metaRobotsNofollow":"follow","metaRobotsNoindex":"index","readingTime":4,"title":"The Average Salary of a Dentist - SmartAsset","__typename":"PostTypeSEO"},"slug":"the-average-salary-of-a-dentist","status":"publish","title":"The Average Salary of a Dentist","uri":"/career/the-average-salary-of-a-dentist","tags":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"PostToTagConnection"},"__typename":"Post","adPageGroupOverride":null,"bylines":{"writtenBy":{"id":"dXNlcjo1MA==","databaseId":50,"userId":50,"avatar":"$31","description":"Amelia Josephson is a writer passionate about covering financial literacy topics. Her areas of expertise include retirement and home buying. Amelia's work has appeared across the web, including on AOL, CBS News and The Simple Dollar. She holds degrees from Columbia and Oxford. Originally from Alaska, Amelia now calls Brooklyn home.","additionalMeta":"$32","email":null,"firstName":"Amelia","fullName":"Amelia Josephson","lastName":"Josephson","name":"Amelia Josephson","postCount":"$33","slug":"amelia-josephson","__typename":"User"},"editedBy":null,"reviewedBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null},"category":{"id":"dGVybTo4OQ==","children":"$36","databaseId":89,"categoryId":89,"link":"https://smartasset.com/career/articles","name":"Career","postCount":38,"slug":"career","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"},"isModifiedBeforePublished":false,"contentBlocks":["

There are more than 113,000 dentists in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That’s not surprising given that most Americans are visiting the dentist at least once a year: The CDC found in 2014 that 62% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 64 had visited a dentist in the past year. That’s close to the percentage (64%) of Americans who have dental benefits.

","

That means a steady stream of business for dentists, and it also contributes to the profession’s high salaries. Let’s take a closer look at the job landscape for dentists and the average salary of a dentist.

","

The Average Salary of a Dentist: The Basics

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According to the BLS, the 2018 mean annual salary for dentists was $175,840 per year. The number of dentists is projected to grow by 19% between 2016 and 2026. That’s much higher than the 7% projected growth rate for all fields.

","

The top-paying state for dentists is Delaware, where the annual mean wage for dentists is $264,440. Other high-paying states for dentists are Alaska, Rhode Island, Minnesota and New Hampshire. The top-paying metro area for dentists is Amarillo, TX, with a mean annual wage of $279,580. Other high-paying metro areas for dentists are Longview, TX; Fond Du Lac, WI; Reno, NV; Sebring, FL; and New Haven, CT.

","

Dentists enjoy a high salary and can feel confident that their field will grow in the years to come. But becoming a dentist is no walk in the park. According to the American Student Dental Association, the average student debt for all indebted dental school graduates in 2016 was $285,185. Roughly four out of five 2018 dental school graduates reported debt levels of more than $100,000. Since 1990, the amount of debt that dental students take on has increased fourfold.

","

The Average Salary of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

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Not surprisingly, oral surgeons tend to earn higher salaries than non-surgeon dentists. The mean annual salary of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon is $242,370 per year, $116.52 per hour. Among the highest-paying states for oral surgeons are California, Nebraska, Indiana and Maryland. Among the highest-paying metro areas are Washington-Arlington-Alexandria; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim; and Grand Rapids-Wyoming.

","

The Average Salary of a Orthodontist

","

Orthodontists, too, earn higher salaries than dentists. The average salary of an orthodontist is $225,760 per year, $108.54 per hour. The highest paying state for orthodontists is Massachusetts. Other high-paying states are South Carolina, North Carolina, New Jersey and Iowa. The top-paying metro area for orthodontists is Boston-Cambridge-Nashua. Other high-paying metro areas are North Port-Sarasota-Bradento (Florida); Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade; New York-Newark-Jersey City; and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria.

","

The Average Salary of a Prosthodontist

","

The average salary of a prosthodontist is $191,400 per year, $92.02 per hour. The BLS lacks state- and metro-specific data on prosthodontist pay. Prosthodontists construct oral prostheses that fill in gaps in patients’ teeth or jaws.

","

The Average Salary of a Dental Hygienist

","

","

The average salary of a dental hygienist is $75,500 per year (or about $35 per hour, assuming a 40-hour work week). The top-paying state for dental hygienists is Alaska, where dental hygienists make an annual mean wage of $114,320. Other high-paying states for dental hygienists are California, Washington, Arizona and New Jersey. The top-paying metro area for dental hygienists is Fairbanks, AK, where the annual mean wage in the profession is $113,190. Other high-paying metro areas are San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA; Anchorage, AK; San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA; and Santa Rosa, CA.

","

The Average Salary of a Dental Assistant

","

The average salary of a dental assistant is $39,770 per year, $19.12 per hour. The top-paying state for dental assistants is Minnesota, where the annual mean wage is $49,880. Other high-paying states for dental assistants are the District of Columbia, New Hampshire, Alaska and North Dakota. The top-paying metro area for dental assistants is Santa Rosa, CA, where the annual mean wage in the profession is $53,190. Other high-paying metro areas for dental assistants are Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI; Napa, CA; Rochester, MN and Fargo, ND-MN.

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Bottom Line

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Dentists tend to have a good work-life balance and earn high salaries. However, becoming a dentist involves a considerable investment of time and money. Those who train to become specialists such as oral surgeons and orthodontists stand to earn over $200,000 per year.

","

Tips for Managing Your Money

","$38","

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/RapidEye, ©iStock.com/Tempura

"],"experts":null,"link":"/career/the-average-salary-of-a-dentist","published":{"datetime":"2016-12-21","readable":"December 21, 2016"},"shareInfo":{"title":"The Average Salary of a Dentist","origin":"/career/the-average-salary-of-a-dentist"},"isNewsArticle":false},{"id":"cG9zdDo1ODU5Mg==","databaseId":58592,"postId":58592,"author":{"node":{"id":"dXNlcjo1MA==","databaseId":50,"userId":50,"avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10ca58872f36412ceff58616bb971c22?s=96&d=mm&r=g","size":96,"__typename":"Avatar"},"description":"Amelia Josephson is a writer passionate about covering financial literacy topics. Her areas of expertise include retirement and home buying. Amelia's work has appeared across the web, including on AOL, CBS News and The Simple Dollar. She holds degrees from Columbia and Oxford. Originally from Alaska, Amelia now calls Brooklyn home.","additionalMeta":{"expertise":null,"__typename":"User_Additionalmeta"},"email":null,"firstName":"Amelia","fullName":"Amelia Josephson","lastName":"Josephson","name":"Amelia Josephson","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":334,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnection"},"slug":"ajosephson","__typename":"User"},"__typename":"NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge"},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTo4OQ==","children":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"CategoryToCategoryConnection"},"databaseId":89,"categoryId":89,"link":"https://smartasset.com/career/articles","name":"Career","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":38,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnection"},"slug":"career","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"}],"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnection"},"content":"$39","date":"2017-01-04T10:00:37","excerpt":"

\n","featuredImage":{"id":"cG9zdDoxOTY1ODM=","databaseId":196583,"altText":"The Average Salary of a Surgeon","date":"2023-05-06T22:14:54","fileSize":29828,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","modified":"2023-05-06T22:14:54","sourceUrl":"https://smartasset.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/01/average_salary_of_a_surgeon_1.jpg","__typename":"MediaItem"},"modified":{"datetime":"2023-5-7","readable":"May 7, 2023"},"multipleBylinesByRole":{"editedBy":null,"reviewedBy":null,"writtenBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null,"hideAuthor":null,"__typename":"Post_Multiplebylinesbyrole"},"adTargetingOverrides":{"fieldGroupName":"adTargetingOverrides","pageGroupNewKey":null,"__typename":"Post_Adtargetingoverrides"},"seo":{"canonical":"https://smartasset.com/career/the-average-salary-of-a-surgeon","metaDesc":"The average salary of a surgeon is solidly in the six figures, even among the lowest-paid surgeons. Here's how much you can expect to earn.","metaKeywords":"","metaRobotsNofollow":"follow","metaRobotsNoindex":"index","readingTime":4,"title":"The Average Salary of a Surgeon - SmartAsset","__typename":"PostTypeSEO"},"slug":"the-average-salary-of-a-surgeon","status":"publish","title":"The Average Salary of a Surgeon","uri":"/career/the-average-salary-of-a-surgeon","tags":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"PostToTagConnection"},"__typename":"Post","adPageGroupOverride":null,"bylines":{"writtenBy":{"id":"dXNlcjo1MA==","databaseId":50,"userId":50,"avatar":"$3a","description":"Amelia Josephson is a writer passionate about covering financial literacy topics. Her areas of expertise include retirement and home buying. Amelia's work has appeared across the web, including on AOL, CBS News and The Simple Dollar. She holds degrees from Columbia and Oxford. Originally from Alaska, Amelia now calls Brooklyn home.","additionalMeta":"$3b","email":null,"firstName":"Amelia","fullName":"Amelia Josephson","lastName":"Josephson","name":"Amelia Josephson","postCount":"$3c","slug":"amelia-josephson","__typename":"User"},"editedBy":null,"reviewedBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null},"category":{"id":"dGVybTo4OQ==","children":"$3f","databaseId":89,"categoryId":89,"link":"https://smartasset.com/career/articles","name":"Career","postCount":38,"slug":"career","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"},"isModifiedBeforePublished":false,"contentBlocks":["

Surgery is a prestigious field that requires a high degree of skill, dedication and hard work of its members. Not surprisingly, surgeons’ compensation reflects this fact, as the average salary of a surgeon was $255,110 in 2018. This figure can vary slightly depending on where you live and the type of institution at which you work. Moreover, the path to becoming a surgeon is long and involves a substantial amount of schooling, which might result in student loan debt.

","

Average Salary of a Surgeon: The Basics

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary of a surgeon was $255,110 per year in 2018. That comes out to an hourly wage of $122.65 per hour assuming a 40-hour work week – though the typical surgeon works longer hours than that. Even the lowest-paid 10% of surgeons earn $94,960 per year, so the chances are high that becoming a surgeon will result in a six-figure salary. The average salary of a surgeon is higher than the average salary of other doctors, with the exception of anesthesiologists, who earn roughly as much as surgeons.

","

The top-paying state for surgeons is Nebraska, with a mean annual salary of $287,890. Following Nebraska is Maine, New Jersey, Maryland and Kansas. Top-paying metro area for surgeons include Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN; Winchester, WV-VA; Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY; New Orleans-Metairie, LA; and Bowling Green, KY.

","

Where Surgeons Work

","

","

According to BLS data, most of the surgeons in the U.S. work in physicians’ offices, where the mean annual wage for surgeons is $265,920. Second to physicians’ offices for the highest concentration of surgeons are General Medical and Surgical Hospitals, where the mean annual wage for surgeons is $225,700. Colleges, universities and professional schools are next up. There, surgeons earn an annual mean wage of $175,410. A smaller number of surgeons are employed in outpatient Care Centers, where the mean annual wage for surgeons is $277,670. Last up are special hospitals. There, the mean annual wage for surgeons is $235,770.

","

Becoming a Surgeon

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You may have heard that the cost of becoming a doctor, including the cost of medical school and other expenses, has soared. Aspiring surgeons must first get a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, preferably in a scientific field like biology.

","

Then comes the Medical College Acceptance Test (MCAT) and applications to medical schools. The application process can get expensive quickly, as many schools require in-person interviews without reimbursing applicants for travel expenses.

","

If accepted, you’ll then spend four years in medical school earning your M.D. Once you’ve accomplished that, you’ll almost certainly enter a residency program at a hospital. According to a 2018 survey by Medscape, the average medical resident earns a salary of $59,300, up $2,100 from the previous year. General surgery residents earned slightly less ($58,800), but more specialized residents like those practicing neurological surgery earned more ($61,800).

","

According to the American College of Surgeons, surgical residency programs last five years for general surgery. But some residency programs are longer than five years. For example, thoracic surgery and pediatric surgery both require residents to complete the five-year general surgery residency, plus two additional years of field-specific surgical residency.

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Surgeons must also be licensed and certified. The fees for the licensing exam are the same regardless as specialty, but the application and exam fees for board certification vary by specialty. Maintenance of certification is also required. It’s not a set-it-and-forget-it qualification. The American Board of Surgery requires continuing education, as well as an exam at 10-year intervals.

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Bottom Line

","

","

Surgeons earn some of the highest salaries in the country. However, the costs associated with becoming a surgeon are high, and student debt may eat into surgeons’ high salaries for years. The costs of maintaining certification and professional insurance are significant ongoing costs associated with being a surgeon.

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Tips for Forging a Career Path

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Now is the time of year for graduate school application deadlines. There can be many benefits to returning to school. Obtaining your graduate degree can help open doors for you in your current career or help if you are considering changing careers, seeking greater financial rewards, or even just wanting personal growth. However, as we all are well aware, graduate school can be a major financial investment, but below are five major reasons going for your graduate degree could be helpful.

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1. Your Employer Pays for It.

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There are a number of companies and organizations that will pay, at least in part, to have their employees return to school to obtain a graduate degree. These companies will likely have stipulations. Sometimes you must receive a B+ or better in a course in order for the course to be paid for or once you receive your degree you will often be required to remain with the company for a certain period of time.

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Of course, this is to ensure the company reaps the benefits of its investment. So if you are happy with the business you work for and looking to advance within the company, this is a great opportunity. Check with your human resources department to find out the specific requirements for your company. And remember there may be additional costs that you should prepare for before starting graduate school.

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2. You Are Looking for a Career Change.

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Returning to school to get a graduate degree is a way to move into another career. We are living in the generation of employees who realized they did not have to remain with their first job or career for 30-plus years until retirement.

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Graduate school gives you exposure to people who have worked or are currently working in the career you want to go into, which allows you to ask questions and get information beyond the regular textbook information. Furthermore, being in graduate school can help obtain internships and greater career connections upon completion of graduate school. If you are looking to change careers, graduate school is a good place to start.

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3. Greater Financial Potential.

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It’s no secret higher education often affords one the opportunity to seek higher paying jobs. Whether you are looking to move up at your current employer or at a better paying position elsewhere, a graduate degree can help you meet your income goals.

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It is important to look at the field you are in or want to go into and the expected income for a person in the position you are seeking. This will help you gauge whether or not the cost of graduate school is worth the investment. If you are thinking of returning to graduate school mainly for the financial gain, it is important to do a cost-benefit analysis to help decide if your time, money, and effort will get you the rewards you are seeking.

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4. Personal Growth.

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Not all graduate school education is for the purpose of gaining financial reward or upward mobility in one’s career. Many of us have a love of learning, even outside of a career that we may love and enjoy.

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In this case, graduate school can help further our knowledge in a field we have an interest in, but not necessarily want to make it into a career. There are plenty of part-time programs one can attend while working full-time. If you have a love of learning there are many options for graduate school for personal growth reasons.

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5. You Have the Time.

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If you have raised your family and are going through an empty nest situation, graduate school may be the perfect opportunity to occupy your time. Many in the middle of their professional careers or even retirees find themselves with a great deal of extra time on their hands. Graduate school can help keep you intellectually stimulated while you enjoy your retirement or more relaxed lifestyle.

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Returning to graduate school is a great opportunity to further your growth in a number of different ways. It is important to understand your reasons for wanting to return to graduate school. If your goals for graduate school meet one or more of the above, it may be worth it to turn in that application and get the process started.

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Student Loan Debt Tips

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