Occupation · SOC 29-1249
Surgeons, All Other
All surgeons not listed separately.
Median wage
$239,200
$77,290–$239,200
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
24,080
Job Zone —
Core skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingWriting
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageBiologyPsychology
Technology & tools
Spreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwareWord processing softwareMedical software
Representative tasks
Evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs and priority of treatment.Perform emergency resuscitations on patients.Perform such medical procedures as emergent cricothyrotomy, endotracheal intubation, and emergency thoracotomy.Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.Select, request, perform, or interpret diagnostic procedures, such as laboratory tests, electrocardiograms, emergency ultrasounds, and radiographs.Stabilize patients in critical condition.Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings.Maintain and follow standard quality, safety, environmental, and infection control policies and procedures.Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.Document patients' histories, including identifying data, chief complaints, illnesses, previous medical or family histories, or psychosocial characteristics.Evaluate, diagnose, or treat disorders of the visual system with an emphasis on binocular vision or abnormal eye movements.Examine patients with problems related to ocular motility, binocular vision, amblyopia, or strabismus.Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.Provide instructions to patients or family members concerning diagnoses or treatment plans.Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury in infants and children.Examine children regularly to assess their growth and development.Adhere to local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and statutes.Perform diagnostic tests or measurements, such as motor testing, visual acuity testing, lensometry, retinoscopy, and color vision testing.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Patient medical histories — collect and record under direct supervision using standardized intake forms in a clinical setting.Neuromusculoskeletal assessment terminology — recognize and apply when documenting findings under clinician guidance.Chiropractic diagnostic protocols — follow established steps to observe and evaluate basic spinal alignment under supervision.Patient health and medical history questionnaires — administer and organize using office suite software in an entry-level clinical role.Active listening techniques — apply during supervised patient interviews to capture reported symptoms accurately.Electronic health record (EHR) software — enter patient data and update basic medical records under direct oversight.Spinal anatomy and basic biology — identify key structures and relate them to common musculoskeletal complaints during orientation training.Clinical reading comprehension — interpret procedure guidelines and treatment protocols under clinician direction in a supervised practice setting.Patient communication basics — relay simple health information clearly and respectfully under practitioner supervision.Manual adjustment safety principles — demonstrate awareness of contraindications and patient positioning during observed clinical demonstrations.
developing
Patient health histories — review, question, and synthesize with reduced oversight to identify relevant patterns in a routine outpatient clinic.Neuromusculoskeletal system functioning — evaluate using chiropractic diagnostic systems with growing independence across common case presentations.Spinal and articular adjustments — perform a structured series of manual techniques on routine cases following established clinical protocols.Diagnostic reasoning — apply critical thinking to differentiate common musculoskeletal conditions based on history, observation, and physical examination findings.Patient progress monitoring — track treatment responses over successive visits using medical software and document outcomes systematically.Written clinical documentation — compose accurate SOAP notes and patient correspondence using word processing software in a chiropractic office.Social perceptiveness — recognize patient emotional state and comfort level during examination and adjust communication style accordingly.Referral and coordination protocols — identify cases requiring additional evaluation and initiate referrals following practice guidelines.Anatomy and physiology knowledge — apply understanding of biological systems to explain diagnoses and treatment plans to patients in plain language.Office technology suite — manage appointment records, generate reports, and maintain scheduling using integrated practice management software.
proficient
Complex neuromusculoskeletal evaluations — conduct autonomously using advanced chiropractic diagnostic systems across a full range of routine and non-routine presentations.Comprehensive patient histories — obtain, critically analyze, and synthesize across multiple visits to inform individualized treatment plans without supervisory input.Manual spinal and articular adjustment sequences — execute with precision and clinical judgment across diverse patient populations including those with comorbidities.Differential diagnosis — apply deductive and inductive reasoning to distinguish musculoskeletal, neurological, and referred-pain conditions in a busy outpatient practice.Treatment outcome evaluation — monitor and interpret patient progress data using medical software to adjust care plans proactively.Patient education and counseling — deliver clear, evidence-informed guidance on posture, ergonomics, and rehabilitation exercises tailored to individual patient needs.Clinical writing — author detailed case reports, referral letters, and insurance documentation meeting professional and regulatory standards.Integrity and judgment in care decisions — exercise independent ethical decision-making when navigating sensitive diagnoses or treatment disagreements.Interdisciplinary collaboration — coordinate care with physicians, physical therapists, and specialists using electronic communication tools and shared records.Psychology and behavior awareness — recognize psychosocial factors influencing patient recovery and incorporate counseling-informed communication into clinical practice.
advanced
Clinical practice standards — establish and refine diagnostic and treatment protocols for neuromusculoskeletal care across an entire chiropractic organization or group practice.Practitioner development — mentor and evaluate emerging and developing clinicians in spinal assessment, adjustment technique, and patient history-taking skills.Organizational quality assurance — design and lead systematic monitoring programs using medical and administrative software to measure and improve patient outcomes practice-wide.Strategic patient care models — direct the development of evidence-based treatment frameworks that integrate chiropractic, counseling, and interdisciplinary approaches.Professional judgment standards — set the ethical and clinical decision-making expectations for the practice, modeling cautiousness and integrity in complex or high-risk cases.Clinical education leadership — develop training curricula and continuing education programs that build staff competency across all O*NET knowledge domains relevant to the practice.Health information systems governance — oversee implementation and optimization of EHR and practice management platforms to ensure documentation accuracy and regulatory compliance.Community and professional advocacy — represent the practice in professional associations, contributing to policy discussions on scope of practice and chiropractic standards.Complex case consultation — lead multidisciplinary case conferences for patients with refractory or atypical neuromusculoskeletal conditions, synthesizing input across specialties.Practice innovation and growth — identify emerging chiropractic diagnostic technologies and therapeutic modalities, guiding adoption decisions aligned with patient safety and organizational goals.
Also known as
12 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Surgical OncologistThoracic SurgeonNeurological SurgeonNeurosurgeonCardiac SurgeonVascular SurgeonSurgeonPlastic SurgeonColorectal SurgeonReconstructive SurgeonCardiovascular SurgeonBrain Surgeon