National Occupational Classification (NOC): 31101
Fast Facts
- Average Pay: N/A
- Future Growth: N/A
- Skill Level: N/A
- Employment Size: N/A
- Unemployment: N/A
- Full-time Share: N/A
Sample Job Titles
- Cardiac surgeon
- Eye specialist
- General surgeon
- Gynecologist
- Obstetrician-gynecologist
- Orthopedic surgeon
- Pediatric surgeon
- Vascular surgeon
What do specialists in surgery do?
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
General surgeons
- Treat diseases, injuries, and deformities by invasive, minimally-invasive, or non-invasive surgical methods, such as using instruments, appliances, or by manual manipulation.
Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Provide medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth. Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, particularly those affecting the reproductive system. May also provide general medical care to women. May perform both medical and gynecological surgery functions.
Ophthalmologists
- Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries of the eyes and related structures.
Urologists
- Diagnose, treat, and help prevent benign and malignant medical and surgical disorders of the genitourinary system and the renal glands.
Other specialists in surgery
- Assess patients’ diseases or disorders to determine appropriate surgical procedures
- Perform and supervise surgical procedures to correct physical abnormalities and deficiencies and repair injuries
- Act as consultants to other physicians.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
Specialists in surgery work primarily in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:
- 622 hospitals
- 621 ambulatory health care services
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Short and Long Term Occupational Projections
Short Term Projections for 2023-2025
The employment outlook is undetermined for specialists in surgery in Newfoundland and Labrador for the 2023-2025 period due to low levels of employment.
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Long Term Projections for 2023-2032
Specialists in surgery belong to the broader occupational group 31100, 31101 (specialist physicians). This group is forecast to be tightening (rating of 3.5 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning new labour supply will be required to meet anticipated job openings.
Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)
Number of Job Postings in 2023
During 2023, there were 35 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:
| Avalon: 17% | Western: 17% |
| Eastern: 3% | Labrador: 11% |
| Central: 51% | NL-unspecified: 0% |
Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year)
Who works as specialists in surgery in Newfoundland and Labrador?
During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 170 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 57% of those employed were Male+ and 42% of those employed were Female+.
Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:
| 15 to 24 | 25 to 54 | 55 to 64 | 65+ |
| 0% | 74% | 21% | 6% |
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
How much do specialists in surgery make?
The median employment income for all specialists in surgery in the reference year 2020 (155 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $196,000.
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Annual Earnings
Salary information for specialists in surgery in Newfoundland and Labrador:
| Low ($/year) | Median ($/year) | High ($/year) | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $137,413 | $349,462 | $637,113 |
Salary information for specialists in surgery in Canada:
| Low ($/year) | Median ($/year) | High ($/year) |
| $125,602 | $379,319 | $739,388 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Most frequently sought skills from Job Postings (2023)
- Obstetrics And Gynaecology
- Surgery
- Veterinary Medicine
- DentistryOptometry
- General Surgery
- Patient Safety
- Registration
- Surgical Procedures
- Gynecology
Source: Lightcast
What training is required?
- A bachelor’s degree or in Quebec, completion of a college program and one year of pre-medicine university studies is usually required.
- Graduation from an approved medical school and specific specialty training are required.
- Completion of the certifying examinations of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.
- Five to six years of specialty residency training are required.
- Two years of subspecialty training may also be required.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
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