Surgeons
Physicians who treat diseases, injuries, and deformities by invasive, minimally-invasive, or non-invasive surgical methods, such as using instruments, appliances, or by manual manipulation.
AI Impact Summary
Surgeons faces low AI displacement risk with a score of 17/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 3% of all analyzed occupations. Of 13 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Surgeons skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
13 tasks analyzed
Follow established surgical techniques during the operation.
Examine patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk.
Operate on patients to correct deformities, repair injuries, prevent and treat diseases, or improve or restore patients' functions.
Analyze patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure.
Prescribe preoperative and postoperative treatments and procedures, such as sedatives, diets, antibiotics, or preparation and treatment of the patient's operative area.
Diagnose bodily disorders and orthopedic conditions and provide treatments, such as medicines and surgeries, in clinics, hospital wards, or operating rooms.
Provide consultation and surgical assistance to other physicians and surgeons.
Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff.
Refer patient to medical specialist or other practitioners when necessary.
Prepare case histories.
Manage surgery services, including planning, scheduling and coordination, determination of procedures, or procurement of supplies and equipment.
Examine instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility.
Conduct research to develop and test surgical techniques that can improve operating procedures and outcomes.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follow established surgical techniques during the operation. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 20% | |
| Examine patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk. | 30Estimated | 39.0% | 10% | |
| Operate on patients to correct deformities, repair injuries, prevent and treat diseases, or improve or restore patients' functions. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 25% | |
| Analyze patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure. | 40Estimated | 43.0% | 10% | |
| Prescribe preoperative and postoperative treatments and procedures, such as sedatives, diets, antibiotics, or preparation and treatment of the patient's operative area. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 5% | |
| Diagnose bodily disorders and orthopedic conditions and provide treatments, such as medicines and surgeries, in clinics, hospital wards, or operating rooms. | 35Estimated | 41.0% | 5% | |
| Provide consultation and surgical assistance to other physicians and surgeons. | 57.33Observed | 37.9% | 5% | |
| Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff. | 5Estimated | 17.0% | 5% | |
| Refer patient to medical specialist or other practitioners when necessary. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 2% | |
| Prepare case histories. | 58.7Observed | 72.7% | 5% | |
| Manage surgery services, including planning, scheduling and coordination, determination of procedures, or procurement of supplies and equipment. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 4% | |
| Examine instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 2% | |
| Conduct research to develop and test surgical techniques that can improve operating procedures and outcomes. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 40.6%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsOral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
12%Median salary: $239,200
Higher risk than 0% of other occupations
Anesthesiologists
20%Higher risk than 8% of other occupations
Nurse Midwives
23%Median salary: $128,790
Higher risk than 13% of other occupations
Clinical Nurse Specialists
25%Median salary: $93,600
Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
26%Median salary: $79,940
Higher risk than 21% of other occupations
Internists, General
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
Hospitalists
27%Higher risk than 25% of other occupations
Nurse Practitioners
27%Median salary: $129,210
Higher risk than 26% of other occupations
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
30%Median salary: $100,590
Higher risk than 40% of other occupations
Pharmacists
30%Median salary: $137,480
Higher risk than 41% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Surgeons professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change