Occupation · SOC 29-1243
Pediatric Surgeons
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat fetal abnormalities and birth defects, diseases, and injuries in fetuses, premature and newborn infants, children, and adolescents. Includes all pediatric surgical specialties and subspecialties.
Median wage
$239,200
$189,720–$239,200
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
1,050
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
57 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingWriting
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageBiologyPsychology
Technology & tools
Computer imaging softwareElectronic medical record EMR softwareEpic SystemsHuman resources management system HRMSImage-guided surgery softwareIntegra Radionics NeuroSight ArcMEDITECH softwareMedical laser control softwareMicrosoft WindowsPractice management software PMSRobotic surgery softwareThree-dimensional 3D virtual surgery software
Representative tasks
Evaluate the functioning of the neuromuscularskeletal system and the spine using systems of chiropraDiagnose health problems by reviewing patients' health and medical histories, questioning, observingPerform a series of manual adjustments to the spine or other articulations of the body to correct th
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Patient medical histories — collect and document under direct attending supervision in a pediatric surgical unit.Pediatric anatomy and developmental physiology — demonstrate foundational knowledge when preparing pre-operative assessments under faculty guidance.Diagnostic imaging and lab results — review and summarize findings for senior surgeons during morning rounds in a children's hospital setting.Health and medical histories — obtain from patients and caregivers using structured intake protocols under attending oversight.Surgical instrumentation and sterile technique — identify and handle correctly in the operating room under direct scrub-team supervision.Clinical observations and physical examination findings — record accurately in the electronic medical record under attending direction in an inpatient ward.Pediatric patient and family communication — practice using age-appropriate, plain-language explanations under supervision during pre-operative consultations.Post-operative monitoring parameters — recognize and report deviations from expected values to the supervising surgeon in an ICU environment.Evidence-based surgical protocols — read and apply standard guidelines under direction during simulated and real case preparation.Medical software and imaging platforms — navigate and retrieve patient data under instruction within hospital information systems.
developing
Pediatric surgical diagnoses — formulate independently for routine cases by integrating history, physical findings, and diagnostic studies in a general pediatric surgery clinic.Patient medical histories — obtain, interpret, and synthesize with reduced oversight to inform surgical planning across common pediatric conditions.Pre-operative care plans — develop and coordinate for elective pediatric procedures with minimal attending intervention in an ambulatory surgical setting.Intraoperative decision-making — execute standard maneuvers and adapt to expected anatomical variations during routine procedures in a pediatric OR.Post-operative complication monitoring — monitor patients and implement first-line interventions independently in a pediatric surgical ward.Neuromusculoskeletal and developmental assessments — perform structured evaluations and document findings for pediatric patients in a multidisciplinary clinic.Caregiver and patient education — deliver consistent discharge instructions and follow-up guidance using clear verbal and written communication.Critical thinking in case review — analyze outcomes and contribute substantive observations during morbidity and mortality conferences.Electronic medical record documentation — produce complete, accurate operative notes and progress notes routinely without peer review in a hospital system.Interdisciplinary collaboration — coordinate care plans with pediatric anesthesiology, nursing, and ancillary teams in a hospital surgical unit.
proficient
Complex pediatric surgical diagnoses — evaluate and determine management independently for non-routine and rare conditions across the full scope of pediatric surgery.Operative strategy — design and execute advanced minimally invasive and open surgical procedures autonomously in a high-volume children's hospital.Intraoperative complications — identify, problem-solve, and resolve unexpected findings without escalation during complex pediatric cases.Comprehensive health and medical history integration — synthesize multi-system patient histories and external records to guide nuanced surgical decision-making in tertiary care.Neuromusculoskeletal and spine pathology — assess functional status and direct evidence-based surgical or non-surgical management across the pediatric age spectrum.Judgment and decision making under uncertainty — weigh surgical risks and benefits for critically ill neonates and pediatric patients in an intensive care unit.Research literature and clinical evidence — critically appraise and apply current surgical evidence to individualize patient care plans in a subspecialty practice.Multidisciplinary care leadership — lead case conferences and coordinate complex care pathways involving oncology, radiology, and critical care teams.Patient and family counseling — conduct high-stakes informed consent discussions for high-risk procedures with clarity, empathy, and ethical rigor.Quality and outcomes monitoring — analyze departmental outcome data and implement process improvements within a pediatric surgical program.
advanced
Pediatric surgical program strategy — set clinical and operational direction for a division of pediatric surgery across multiple hospital sites and service lines.Surgical curriculum design — develop and oversee residency and fellowship training programs, establishing competency benchmarks for the next generation of pediatric surgeons.Institutional standards of care — author and champion evidence-based clinical protocols and safety guidelines adopted across a health system or national professional body.Organizational workforce development — mentor, evaluate, and promote junior surgeons and trainees, shaping culture and professional identity within a surgical department.Health system decision-making — advise executive leadership on surgical service investment, technology adoption, and resource allocation for pediatric populations.Research enterprise leadership — secure extramural funding, direct multi-site clinical trials, and translate findings into improved pediatric surgical practice nationally.Complex ethical and legal judgment — guide institutional ethics consultations and policy decisions involving high-risk pediatric surgical cases and end-of-life considerations.Interdisciplinary innovation — lead cross-specialty task forces integrating emerging surgical technology, imaging platforms, and informatics into pediatric surgical workflows.National and international advocacy — represent institutional and professional interests at regulatory bodies, surgical societies, and health policy forums.Outcomes and quality stewardship — design and oversee enterprise-wide quality improvement initiatives, benchmarking pediatric surgical outcomes against national registries.
Also known as
46 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Brain SurgeonCardiac SurgeonCardiothoracic SurgeonCardiothoracic Surgery PhysicianCardiovascular SurgeonCardiovascular Surgery PhysicianColon and Rectal SurgeonColorectal SurgeonCosmetic SurgeonDermatologistDoctorEye SurgeonGeneral SurgeonHand SurgeonHeart DoctorHeart SurgeonInternal Medicine PhysicianMedical Doctor (MD)Neurological SurgeonNeurosurgeonOphthalmic SurgeonOphthalmologistPediatric HospitalistPediatric NeurosurgeonPediatric Orthopedic SurgeonPediatric SurgeonPediatric Surgery PhysicianPediatric Vascular SurgeonPhysicianPhysician SurgeonPlastic SurgeonPodiatric Foot and Ankle SpecialistReconstructive SurgeonSpinal SurgeonSurgeonSurgical EndoscopistSurgical OncologistThoracic SurgeonTransplant SurgeonTransverse Abdominal Muscle Surgeon (TRAM Surgeon)