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Peer-reviewedCC BYArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery

Net present value analysis of total salary compensation in hand surgery: academic versus non-academic careers.

  • John W Moore1
  • Anthony J Minerva1
  • Dane N Daley1
  • Charles A Daly1
  • Jason Silvestre2
  1. 1Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
  2. 2Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA. [email protected].
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Abstract

Purpose

Studies comparing salary compensation of hand surgeons in different practice settings have been limited. This study compared projected lifetime salary compensation between academic and non-academic hand surgeons.Methods

Compensation data were sourced from the 2025 Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and American Medical Group Association (AMGA) salary benchmarks. Net present values of theoretical career paths in hand surgery were calculated assuming a 32-year career and a 3% discount rate. Sensitivity analyses were performed with variable discount rates and career lengths. Monte Carlo simulations were performed.Results

Academic practice demonstrated lower lifetime salary compensation than non-academic practice across career trajectories, sensitivity analyses, and Monte Carlo simulations using MGMA data with minimal differences using AMGA data. With MGMA, academic practice ($12.6 million) resulted in 19.7% lower lifetime salary compensation than non-academic practice ($15.7 million). With AMGA, academic practice ($15.0 million) resulted in 2.7% higher lifetime salary compensation than non-academic practice ($14.6 million). Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated lower lifetime salary compensation for academic practice with MGMA ($12.9 million versus 16.0 million, 19.4% difference, P < 0.001) but comparable compensation with AMGA data (15.1 million versus $15.0 million, 0.7% difference, P = 0.182).Conclusion

Hand surgeons in academic practice demonstrated lower lifetime salary compensation than their non-academic counterparts using MGMA data and similar compensation using AMGA data. While compensation alone does not fully capture the complexity of career decision making, this study may be useful to future hand surgeons and service line leaders.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{moore2026present,
  title = {{Net present value analysis of total salary compensation in hand surgery: academic versus non-academic careers.}},
  author = {John W Moore and Anthony J Minerva and Dane N Daley and Charles A Daly and Jason Silvestre},
  journal = {Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1007/s00402-026-06547-2},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42907683},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Net present value analysis of total salary compensation in hand surgery: academic versus non-academic careers.
AU  - John W Moore
AU  - Anthony J Minerva
AU  - Dane N Daley
AU  - Charles A Daly
AU  - Jason Silvestre
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/21
JO  - Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery
DO  - 10.1007/s00402-026-06547-2
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42907683
AB  - Purpose  Studies comparing salary compensation of hand surgeons in different practice settings have been limited. This study compared projected lifetime salary compensation between academic and non-academic hand surgeons.Methods  Compensation data were sourced from the 2025 Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and American Medical Group Association (AMGA) salary benchmarks. Net present values of theoretical career paths in hand surgery were calculated assuming a 32-year career and a 3% discount rate. Sensitivity analyses were performed with variable discount rates and career lengths. Monte Carlo simulations were performed.Results  Academic practice demonstrated lower lifetime salary compensation than non-academic practice across career trajectories, sensitivity analyses, and Monte Carlo simulations using MGMA data with minimal differences using AMGA data. With MGMA, academic practice ($12.6 million) resulted in 19.7% lower lifetime salary compensation than non-academic practice ($15.7 million). With AMGA, academic practice ($15.0 million) resulted in 2.7% higher lifetime salary compensation than non-academic practice ($14.6 million). Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated lower lifetime salary compensation for academic practice with MGMA ($12.9 million versus 16.0 million, 19.4% difference, P < 0.001) but comparable compensation with AMGA data (15.1 million versus $15.0 million, 0.7% difference, P = 0.182).Conclusion  Hand surgeons in academic practice demonstrated lower lifetime salary compensation than their non-academic counterparts using MGMA data and similar compensation using AMGA data. While compensation alone does not fully capture the complexity of career decision making, this study may be useful to future hand surgeons and service line leaders.
SN  - 0936-8051
SN  - 1434-3916
ER  -