Career Explorer Healthcare (clinical)
Human edge, growing
Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and prevent rheumatic and other diseases in the musculoskeletal system.
More resilient than most: more resilient than 72% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +4.0% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on creative vision and ethical judgement.
AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.
- Median pay (2025)
- $358,550
- Job growth to 2035
- +4.0%
- Openings a year
- 400
- People doing it (2025)
- 15,500
- Usual route in
- Doctorate or professional degree, then an internship or residency
Where people already use AI for this work
- Analyze health or medical data
- Advise others on healthcare or wellness issues
- Assist others to access additional services or resources
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Treat injuries, illnesses, or diseases
- Diagnose health conditions or disorders
- Prescribe medical treatments or devices
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Athletic trainersGrows with AI, Index 81, +12.7%
- Orthotists and prosthetistsHuman edge, growing, Index 96, +12.9%
- Physical therapistsGrows with AI, Index 76, +11.9%
- ChiropractorsHuman edge, growing, Index 78, +8.7%
Also known as: Hand Surgeon, Orthopedic Surgeon, Physician, Surgeon, General Surgeon, Orthopaedic Surgeon.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.