Gender-Based Salary Differences Among Academic Surgeons From 2014-2024

Summary

The research paper "Gender-Based Salary Differences Among Academic Surgeons From 2014-2024" by Renne, Deng, and Chen, published in January 2026 in *The American Journal of Surgery*, investigates the gender pay gap among academic surgeons across various specialties and academic ranks over a decade. The study's methodology involved a comprehensive analysis of compensation data from 24,593 female and 29,886 male academic physicians across 45 surgical subspecialties. It utilized data from sources such as the AAMC Faculty Salary Survey, specifically referencing 2023 data that included 12,443 faculty in academic surgery departments, to assess trends in academic surgeon compensation. The primary outcome focused on the gender pay difference by academic rank within and across all surgical specialties during the 2014–2024 period. The findings indicate pervasive gender-based disparities in salary and earning potential among academic surgeons in the United States. Women consistently earned less than men across academic ranks, even after accounting for various factors. Specifically, women had lower starting salaries in 93% (42 of 45) of surgical subspecialties, and their year-10 salaries were lower in 96% (43 of 45) of subspecialties. The study quantified significant salary gaps by academic rank, reporting that female instructors earned $68,000 less, assistant professors $93,000 less, associate professors $128,000 less, and full professors $118,000 less than their male counterparts. Furthermore, hourly earnings for female surgeons were found to be 24% lower than for male surgeons, with the largest mean differences observed in cardiothoracic and orthopedic surgery. The disparity in earning potential extended throughout early career stages, with women exhibiting lower overall earning potential in 96% (43 of 45) of subspecialties. The implications of these findings are substantial, highlighting the critical role of starting salaries in perpetuating career-long earning disparities. The research suggests that equalizing starting salaries for women to match those of men could significantly increase women's 10-year earning potential by a median of $250,075 across the 42 subspecialties where starting salaries were lower for women. Additionally, addressing disparities in annual salary growth rates could further boost women's earning potential by a median of $53,661 in relevant subspecialties. These results underscore the need for systemic changes to achieve pay equity in academic surgery, emphasizing that targeted interventions at the entry point and throughout career progression are crucial to mitigate these long-standing gender-based inequalities.