Surgeon Salary in Irvine, CA — 2026
Surgeon salary data for Irvine, CA — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The estimated median Surgeon salary in Irvine, CA is $646,695 per year ($53,891/month, $311/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median) by the local cost of living index of 175, which is 75% above the national average.
All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Irvine's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.
Surgeon Take-Home Pay in Irvine
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $646,695 |
| Federal Tax | -$189,478 |
| State Tax (9.4% eff.) | -$60,698 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$20,816 |
| Annual Take-Home | $375,704 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $31,309 |
Living Cost Comparison
Surgeon Requirements
Key Skills
Irvine Job Market Overview
Irvine, California has a population of 307,670 and an unemployment rate of 2.5%. The top industries are Technology, Biotech, Finance. The local job growth rate is 3.0%, and the average commute time is 27minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Surgeon Salary in Nearby California Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown — Surgeon in Irvine
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Surgeon in Irvine, CA, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $434,350 | $209/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $540,523 | $260/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $646,695 | $311/hr | Mid-career, 2-5 years |
| 75th | $1,085,700 | $522/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $1,411,550 | $679/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Irvine's Technology sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 15.0% salary growth for Surgeons over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Irvine estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Surgeon can expect a 16.5% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 6 years in Irvine. Negotiation, certifications (industry-specific credentials), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Irvine vs National Average
The national median Surgeon salary is $369,540 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Surgeons). In Irvine, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $646,695 is 75.0% above the national figure. This reflects Irvine's cost of living index of 175 (higher than the national average of 100).
For Surgeons, this means: rent typically consumes 9.3% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Irvine costs about 2.9× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Irvine.
Industry Context: Technology in Irvine
Irvine's economy is anchored by Technology, Biotech, Finance, with 307,670 residents and an unemployment rate of 2.5% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Surgeons can differ by sector, so compare Technology employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 3.0%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 5.0% growth outlook for Surgeon roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Surgeon salaries in Irvine, CA:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available (the national median is calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for Surgeons). For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Irvine index of 175 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), CA 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 13.3%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Irvine QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — official local unemployment rates to verify the Irvine figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Surgeon salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Technology vs others in Irvine), specific skill set (Communication, Problem solving, Teamwork), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Surgeon salary in Irvine, CA?
How much does a Surgeon take home in Irvine after taxes?
Is Irvine a good city for Surgeons?
What skills are needed for a Surgeon in Irvine?
How does Surgeon salary in Irvine compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Surgeon salary in Irvine, CA?
Salario estimates the median Surgeon salary in Irvine, CA at $646,695 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Surgeon benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 175, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $434,350, and the senior estimate is $1,085,700 or more.
How much does a Surgeon take home in Irvine after taxes?
A Surgeon earning the median salary of $646,695 in Irvine, CA takes home approximately $375,704 per year ($31,309/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 41.9%.
Is Irvine a good city for Surgeons?
Irvine, CA has a cost of living index of 175 (above national average). Surgeons here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 2.5% and top industries include Technology, Biotech, Finance.
What skills are needed for a Surgeon in Irvine?
Key skills for Surgeons include Communication, Problem solving, Teamwork. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's degree.
How does Surgeon salary in Irvine compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for Surgeon is $369,540 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Irvine, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $646,695, which is 75.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.