Orthopedic Surgeon – U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy · Bethesda, MD
Posted June 21, 2026
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center · 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, US, 20889
Total Annual Compensation: $325,000 to $355,000
This is more than just a job — it’s your chance to practice at the highest level while making a lasting difference in the lives of service members and their families.
Position Details
- Role: Active-Duty FM Orthopedic Surgeon, Medical Corps Officer
- Location: Nationwide (Full-time, in-person; not remote/telemedicine)
- Specialty: Orthopedics
Key Responsibilities
As a Navy Orthopedic Surgeon, you’ll provide essential care for musculoskeletal injuries and disorders, ensuring service members remain fit for duty in both deployed and non-deployed settings. You will diagnose, treat, and perform surgeries for conditions such as fractures, joint injuries, ligament tears, and spinal issues. Additionally, you’ll offer non-surgical treatments, rehabilitation, and post-operative care to optimize recovery. Your expertise will support the health and readiness of service members, ensuring they maintain optimal physical performance in operational environments and Navy medical facilities — both at home and abroad.
What You Get
- $600,000 Accession Bonus
- $59,000 Annual Specialty Incentive Pay
- $8,000 Board Certification Pay
- CME Allowance
- Exceptional Benefits – 30 days PTO, retirement, and more
- 12 Weeks Paid Maternity Leave (plus convalescent leave as needed)
- No Production Requirements – Practice medicine the right way
- Free or Subsidized Housing – On-base or housing allowance
- Forever GI Bill – 36 months of full tuition + housing + $1,000 books for you or your dependents
- State-of-the-Art Facilities and excellent support staff
- No Billing Headaches – Patient care is fully covered
Potential Practice Locations
Opportunities across the U.S., including California, Illinois, Washington, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and more.
Minimum requirements
- MD or DO from an accredited institution (or ECFMG certified)
- Completion of an ACGME accredited residency (or in final year of residency)
- Board certified (or in final year of residency)
- U.S. Citizenship
- Between the ages of 21 and 64 (Title 10 U.S. Code section 531 and 532)
Employer
U.S. Navy
Becoming a doctor is one of the most challenging paths you can choose for yourself. You have to want it, and to know why you want it: to help people, to heal sickness and cure disease, to solve medical mysteries and make scientific discoveries. The reasons for becoming a doctor are noble, but there are plenty of distractions once you hit the real world.
Running your own office means watching insurance reimbursement rates dwindle while exorbitant malpractice insurance premiums skyrocket, all while dealing with healthcare industry red tape and staffing. But as a Navy Physician, all those nuisances are handled for you—from cutting through the red tape to covering the expenses—so you can focus on what really matters: treating the Sailors and Marines who keep our country safe and the families who support them.
Navy Physicians also:
- Earn excellent compensation in an established, thriving practice
- Experience manageable patient ratios for high-quality, one-on-one care
- Receive hands-on experience and Navy-funded advanced training
- Enjoy a flexible schedule that leaves more time for family and personal pursuits
Officers in the Navy Medical Corps are afforded the opportunity to attend the medical school of their choice and graduate debt-free through our scholarship and loan repayment programs. From a sign-on bonus of up to $800,000, and up to 100% tuition coverage, to a generous housing allowance, the education opportunities and financial rewards stack high for those pursuing a career as a Navy Physician. When you choose to invest your skills in the Navy, we invest in your future.