Also called: Colon & Rectal Surgeon
Operates on the colon, rectum, and anus, often to treat cancer or inflammatory bowel disease.
Removes a section of colon with cancer using laparoscopic tools through tiny cuts, then runs a clinic where patients with Crohn's disease plan their next steps.
BLS top-codes physician pay; estimate for attending physicians after residency/fellowship.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 14 years after high school. Bachelor's, medical school, 5-year general surgery residency, then a 1-year colorectal fellowship.
Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Growing about average. Tracks physicians and surgeons overall (about 3% over 10 years); shortages in many regions.
Low risk for 10 years. AI flags polyps and helps stage cancers; laparoscopic and robotic operations are still run by the surgeon.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Anatomy & physiology, AP Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1249.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.