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Careersβ€ΊRolesβ€ΊOrthopedic Team Physician
Mid-Level

Orthopedic Team Physician

An orthopedic surgeon or sports medicine physician serving as team physician for athletic programs β€” providing event coverage, sideline care, pre-participation physicals, injury management, and the return-to-play decisions that anchor athletic medicine. Often combines clinical practice with team coverage responsibilities.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
I
S
R
C
E
A
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Socialhelping, teaching
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Orthopedic Team Physicians
Healthcare Β· 82%Government Β· 13%Education Β· 3%Professional Services Β· 1%Administrative Services Β· 1%Financial Services Β· 0%
Job markets for Orthopedic Team Physicians
Where Orthopedic Team Physician jobs concentrate Β· ~338 metro areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Healthcare
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Orthopedic Team Physician

Most days tend to mix regular clinic and surgical practice with team coverage responsibilities β€” game-day sideline coverage, pre-participation physicals, training-room visits, injury evaluations, and the coordination with athletic trainers, coaches, and athletes on return-to-play decisions. You'll often work evenings and weekends for game coverage, balance team duties with primary practice, and travel with teams during away events.

The variance between team types is significant β€” professional team physicians (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) often have major institutional relationships, significant publicity exposure, and lucrative team contracts; college team physicians (D1, D2, D3) range from full-time athletic department employment to part-time clinical coverage; high school team physicians often serve voluntarily or for modest stipends through community relationships; Olympic and national governing body physicians serve specific sports. Team physician credentialing through AMSSM or AAOS supports specialty practice.

People who tend to thrive here are comfortable with the public-facing nature of team medicine, capable of rapid decision-making on the sideline, and willing to invest the time the role requires beyond standard practice. Sports medicine fellowship plus team relationships anchor most paths. The work tends to offer the satisfaction of supporting athletic performance and the prestige of team affiliation, with the trade-off being the time demands, evening and weekend coverage, and the often-modest financial returns relative to time invested β€” for those drawn to athletic medicine, the role offers durable purpose.

What people in this role value
AchievementHigh
RecognitionHigh
Working ConditionsHigh
IndependenceHigh
RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportAbove avg
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial β€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape β€” and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$77K+1%
Energy & Utilities$77K+0%
Technology & Information$74K-4%
Financial Services$70K-9%
Healthcare$70K-9%
Compared to Healthcare average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Orthopedic Team Physicians (SOC 29-1229.06), not just this title Β· BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Healthcare β†’
Orthopedic Team PhysicianSports DoctorTeam PhysicianSports PhysicianAthletic Team PhysicianSports Medicine PhysicianSports Medicine SpecialistPediatric Sports Medicine SpecialistIndustrial Sports Medicine SpecialistPrimary Care Sports Medicine PhysicianSports Medicine Primary Care PhysicianIndustrial Sports Medicine ProfessionalNonsurgical Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician
Exploring the Orthopedic Team Physician career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit β€” and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial β€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape β€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$67K–$208K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
315K
U.S. Employment
+2.5%
10yr Growth
10K
Annual Openings

How Orthopedic Team Physician pay & employment are changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 Β· BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingInstructing
O*NET OnLine Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
29-1229.06

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midSports Doctor$208KmidTeam Physician$208KmidSports Physician$208KmidAthletic Team Physician$208KmidSports Medicine Physician$208KmidSports Medicine Specialist$208K
View all Healthcare roles β†’

Common questions about what it's like to be an Orthopedic Team Physician

What does an Orthopedic Team Physician do?

An orthopedic surgeon or sports medicine physician serving as team physician for athletic programs β€” providing event coverage, sideline care, pre-participation physicals, injury management, and the return-to-play decisions that anchor athletic medicine. Often combines clinical practice with team coverage responsibilities.

How much does an Orthopedic Team Physician make?

Median pay for an Orthopedic Team Physician is about $208K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $67K to $208K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).

What skills does an Orthopedic Team Physician need?

Core skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, and Judgment and Decision Making.

What education do you need to be an Orthopedic Team Physician?

Most people in this role hold a professional degree.

Is an Orthopedic Team Physician in demand?

Employment in this field is projected to grow about 2.5% through 2034, with roughly 315,360 people working in it today (BLS).

What jobs are similar to an Orthopedic Team Physician?

Closely related roles include Sports Doctor, Team Physician, and Sports Physician.

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) Β· BLS Employment Projections Β· O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.