Flight Surgeon Salary: What You’ll Make and Why
Flight surgeons make around $59,543 to $296,381 on average in the US, depending on experience, location, skills, and other factors.
According to various salary aggregate websites, a flight surgeon’s average salary in the US ranges between $59,543 and $296,381. As of March 2022, the average base salaries for flight surgeons are as follows:
| Payscale | ZipRecruiter | Indeed | Salary.com | Glassdoor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $59,543 | $155,115 | $296,381 | $198,708 | $274,038 |
Keep in mind: Salary aggregate websites typically rely on data submitted anonymously by individuals using their site. Some websites may have received larger amounts of data of either higher or lower than average salaries, which may affect the site’s calculated average.
Read more: What Is a Flight Surgeon? How to Become One
What influences a salary?
A Flight Surgeon’s salary is impacted by many factors, including experience, location, and the type of employer. Here, we’ll take a closer look at how these factors can affect your salary.
Years of experience
Salary increases are generally tied to your experience level. In general, the more years you spend working as a flight surgeon, the more you can expect to earn. Here’s how experience can impact your flight surgeon salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Compensation Survey.
| Level of experience | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (less than 1 year) | $125,748 |
| Early career (1 to 4 years) | $189,270 |
| Mid career (5 to 9 years) | $228,318 |
| Experienced (10 to 19 years) | $298,840 |
| Late career (20+ years) | $420,449 |
Location
Where you live can also impact how much you can make as a flight surgeon. Typically, working in a large metropolitan area correlates to a higher salary, as well as a higher cost of living.
Here is a list of some major cities with their corresponding average flight surgeon salary according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | $308,421 |
| St. Louis, MO | $308,071 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $303,635 |
| Seattle, WA | $295,159 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $291,481 |
| Nashville, TN | $239,459 |
| Houston, TX | $235,898 |
| San Francisco, CA | $218,772 |
| Boston, MA | $210,144 |
| Detroit, MI | $170,275 |
How does this compare to similar jobs?
Here’s how a flight surgeon’s salary stacks up against similar jobs.
| Related Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Examiner | $80,206 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $31,890 |
| Registered Nurse | $70,335 |
| Paramedic | $43,509 |
| Physician Assistant | $107,038 |
| Family Nurse Practitioner | $105,898 |
| Anesthesiologist | $347,662 |
| Surgeon | $248,104 |
| Intensive Care Unit Nurse | $95,000 |
How to increase your flight surgeon salary
Now that you have a better idea of what you could expect to earn as a flight surgeon, let’s look at ways to boost your salary.
1. Strengthen your skills
Pursuing and improving in-demand skills could make you more competitive for promotions and higher-paying positions. These skills include:
- Aeromedical evacuation: Manage the medical care of patients being transported by air
- In-flight medical care: Provide medical care to patients during a flight
- Emergency medicine: Respond to medical emergencies and provide stabilizing care
- Critical care: Provide care for patients with life-threatening conditions
- Aerospace medicine: Understand how the unique environment of aviation can impact health and safety
2. Grow your network
As a flight surgeon, you’re in a unique position to help other people in your field. By writing articles, giving lectures, or even just connecting with other flight surgeons on social media, you can help grow your reputation and, as a result, your salary.
3. Go back to school
While it may not be feasible for everyone, going back to school to earn a higher degree could lead to a significant salary increase. In the medical field, for example, a flight surgeon with a master’s degree could earn nearly twice as much as one with a bachelor’s degree.
Article Sources
1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “National Compensation Survey, https://www.bls.gov/ncs/.” Accessed March 23, 2022.
2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wages, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291228.htm.” Accessed March 23, 2022.
3. Payscale. “Medical Technologist Hourly Pay, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Medical_Technologist/Hourly_Rate.” Accessed March 23, 2022.
4. Ziprecruiter. “Flight Surgeon Annual Salary, https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Flight-Surgeon-Salary.” Accessed March 23, 2022.
5. Indeed. “Indeed Salary Finder, https://www.indeed.com/career/salaries.” Accessed March 23, 2022.
6. Salary.com. “Flight Surgeon Salary, https://www.salary.com/research/salary/hiring/flight-surgeon-salary.” Accessed March 23, 2022.
7. Glassdoor. “Flight Surgeon Salaries, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/flight-surgeon-salary-SRCH_KO0,14.htm.” Accessed March 23, 2022.