Start with the answer
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric pay in Michigan and Missouri
The May 2025 BLS OEWS median for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric is $413,450 per year in Michigan. It is $842,800 per year in Missouri. Michigan is 50.9% below Missouri on the published median.
Both rows use SOC 29-1242 and the same annual wage metric. Median means the middle of each area's published wage spread. It is not one worker's pay. The larger median is not proof that one place gives a better job or a better result. It is one wage fact from one source period.
BLS lists 200 wage and salary jobs in Michigan and Not published in Missouri. Those are survey job counts, not open posts. Read pay, job scale, local share, and price level as separate facts before you make a choice.
Evidence: bls-oews-may-2025 · Rule: same-soc-same-metric-pair · nominal-median-gap · employment-not-openings
