Surgeons in the U.S. make roughly $252,910 per year, with an hourly wage of $121.59, according to 2016 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
However, surgeons in New Jersey make a mean annual salary of $286,710 — almost $34,000 more than the average surgeon's salary, and the highest salary for the profession nationwide. States that come close to providing surgeons with similar salaries include Nebraska ($285,640), Minnesota ($285,060) and Rhode Island ($284,010). BLS calculated annual wages by multiplying the hourly mean wage by 2,080 hours.
The BLS was not able to gather data for several states, including Alaska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Here is how 42 states and Washington, D.C., stacked up in terms of surgeons' mean annual salary and hourly mean wage in 2016. States are listed in alphabetical order.
Alabama
Mean annual salary: $279,970
Hourly mean wage: $134.50
Arizona
Mean annual salary: $282,080
Hourly mean wage: $135.62
Arkansas
Mean annual salary: $260,950
Hourly mean wage: $125.45
California
Mean annual salary: $232,300
Hourly mean wage: $111.68
Colorado
Mean annual salary: $261,320
Hourly mean wage: $125.63
Connecticut
Mean annual salary: $256,330
Hourly mean wage: $123.24
Delaware
Mean annual salary: $269,170
Hourly mean wage: $129.41
District of Columbia
Mean annual salary: $176,880
Hourly mean wage: $85.04
Florida
Mean annual salary: $255,010
Hourly mean wage: $122.60
Georgia
Mean annual salary: $271,160
Hourly mean wage: $130.37
Hawaii
Mean annual salary: $270,240
Hourly mean wage: $129.93
Idaho
Mean annual salary: $280,790
Hourly mean wage: $135.00
Illinois
Mean annual salary: $244,100
Hourly mean wage: $117.36
Indiana
Mean annual salary: $271,630
Hourly mean wage: $130.59
Iowa
Mean annual salary: $268,560
Hourly mean wage: $129.12
Kansas
Mean annual salary: $279,390
Hourly mean wage: $134.32
Kentucky
Mean annual salary: $278,080
Hourly mean wage: $133.69
Louisiana
Mean annual salary: $260,210
Hourly mean wage: $125.10
Maine
Mean annual salary: $271,570
Hourly mean wage: $130.56
Maryland
Mean annual salary: $275,640
Hourly mean wage: $132.52
Massachusetts
Mean annual salary: $247,790
Hourly mean wage: $119.13
Michigan
Mean annual salary: $244,640
Hourly mean wage: $117.61
Minnesota
Mean annual salary: $285,060
Hourly mean wage: $137.05
Mississippi
Mean annual salary: $269,100
Hourly mean wage: $129.37
Missouri
Mean annual salary: $220,190
Hourly mean wage: $105.86
Montana
Mean annual salary: $238,930
Hourly mean wage: $114.87
Nebraska
Mean annual salary: $285,640
Hourly mean wage: $137.33
New Jersey
Mean annual salary: $286,710
Hourly mean wage: $137.84
New Mexico
Mean annual salary: $281,150
Hourly mean wage: $135.17
New York
Mean annual salary: $238,580
Hourly mean wage: $114.70
North Carolina
Mean annual salary: $283,170
Hourly mean wage: $136.14
North Dakota
Mean annual salary: $212,770
Hourly mean wage: $102.29
Ohio
Mean annual salary: $227,660
Hourly mean wage: $109.45
Oklahoma
Mean annual salary: $283,500
Hourly mean wage: $136.30
Pennsylvania
Mean annual salary: $206,170
Hourly mean wage: $99.12
Rhode Island
Mean annual salary: $284,010
Hourly mean wage: $136.54
South Carolina
Mean annual salary: $264,930
Hourly mean wage: $127.37
Tennessee
Mean annual salary: $260,870
Hourly mean wage: $125.42
Texas
Mean annual salary: $236,300
Hourly mean wage: $113.61
Vermont
Mean annual salary: $263,540
Hourly mean wage: $126.70
Virginia
Mean annual salary: $253,690
Hourly mean wage: $121.97
Washington
Mean annual salary: $251,560
Hourly mean wage: $120.94
Wisconsin
Mean annual salary: $272,020
Hourly mean wage: $130.78