Surgeon in 1537: Paré abandons boiling oil

How long does it take to become a surgeon? Roughly thirteen to sixteen years after secondary school in most countries: an undergraduate degree, medical school, a surgical residency of five to seven years, and often a one- to three-year fellowship in a subspecialty. Countries with direct-entry medical degrees, like the UK and Australia, shorten the front end but keep a similarly long residency and specialty-training tail.

What is the difference between a surgeon and a physician? A physician diagnoses and treats disease mainly through medication and non-invasive care; a surgeon treats disease and injury by operating — physically repairing, removing or reconstructing tissue. Every surgeon completes the same foundational medical training as a physician before specializing into operative practice, which is why a fully qualified UK surgeon is addressed as "Mr" or "Ms," not "Dr."

It varies enormously by country and specialty. In the United States, general surgeons averaged around $423,000 in 2023, among the highest-paid professions in the country; in the UK, NHS consultant surgeons earn a basic salary of roughly £105,000 to £140,000, often supplemented by private practice. In many lower- and middle-income countries, salaried surgeon pay is a small fraction of these figures.