Pediatric Surgeon

O*NET: Pediatric Surgeons·29-1248.00

The Verdict:Pediatric surgery requires hands-on precision on unique child anatomies -- tiny incisions, tactile adaptation, real-time decisions no robot replicates. Parents entrust only humans with their child's life. Legal credentials and clinical trust form ironclad barriers. AI aids planning and imaging but cannot replace the surgeon's touch. The role endures securely.

Resilience Score

/100

Highly Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: February 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$239k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

+1.5%

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 1 of 18 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

Low exposure

Task Analysis

This role's core work is hard to automate.
11 of 18 tasks require human judgment, presence, or trust. The 33% that are AI-leverage offer an edge — professionals who learn these tools will outperform those who don't.

1exposed

6AI leverage

11human-essential

View all 18 tasks

AI Can Handle This1 task

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

Prepare case histories.

AI Leverage6 tasks

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Analyze patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure.

Conduct research to develop and test surgical techniques that can improve operating procedures and outcomes.

Interpret results of preoperative tests and physical examinations.

Manage surgery services, including planning, scheduling and coordination, determination of procedures, or procurement of supplies and equipment.

Monitor patient's recovery, making follow-up visits and using postoperative assessment techniques, such as blood and imaging tests.

Refer patient to medical specialist or other practitioners when necessary.

Human Advantage11 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

Consult with patient's other medical care specialists, such as cardiologist and endocrinologist, to determine if surgery is necessary.

Describe preoperative and postoperative treatments and procedures, such as sedatives, diets, antibiotics, or preparation and treatment of the patient's operative area, to parents or guardians of the patient.

Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff.

Examine fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents, and diagnose health issues to determine need for intervention, such as surgery.

Examine instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility.

Examine patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk.

Follow established surgical techniques during the operation.

Inform parents and guardians of child's health problems and surgical procedures through various channels, such as in-person and telecommunication systems.

Operate on fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents to correct deformities, repair injuries, prevent and treat diseases, or improve or restore patients' functions.

Perform transplantation operations, such as organ transplants, on fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents.

Provide consultation and surgical assistance to other physicians and surgeons.

Resilience Landscape

Pediatric Surgeon lands in Stable & Well-Paid

Higher Resilience Paths in Healthcare

Healthcare

Orthopedic Surgeon

Score

+1 pts more resilient

Highly Resilient

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