Student Loan Repayment for General Surgeons
General surgery residents face a 5-year residency (often extended with fellowships) followed by one of the highest attending salaries in medicine — around $477K. This combination dramatically changes the PSLF calculus: with a high income and shorter PSLF benefit window, aggressive payoff or refinancing often wins.
$477K salary · 5-yr residency · pre-loaded
Key numbers
Avg med school debt
$240K
AAMC GQ 2025
Resident salary (PGY-1)
$67K
ACGME median
Residency length
5 yrs
+ fellowship common
Debt-to-income ratio
0.50x
Debt ÷ attending salary
Attending Salary Distribution
Source: Marit Health, Jun 2026 · Median used in calculator
Residency Salary Progression
| Year | Salary | Monthly IDR est.* |
|---|---|---|
| PGY-1 | $68K | ~$285/mo |
| PGY-2 | $70K | ~$304/mo |
| PGY-3 | $73K | ~$328/mo |
| PGY-4 | $78K | ~$363/mo |
| PGY-5 | $82K | ~$399/mo |
* Salaries: AAMC 2025 national averages. IDR estimate assumes SAVE plan, single filer, no dependents.
PSLF Timeline
residencyFinish
residencyLoans
forgiven 🎉
With PSLF, loans forgiven after 10 years of qualifying payments — as early as Year 10 for general surgery physicians.
Salary & IDR Estimate
$475K
Monthly
~$3,675/mo
Annual
~$44,100/yr
Estimate assumes SAVE plan, single filer, no dependents.
Run full calculationPSLF fit
Weak — rare qualifying employers
With a $477K attending salary, general surgeons have the income to pay off debt aggressively in 4–6 years after training — often beating PSLF in total cost. PSLF only makes sense if your practice setting is nonprofit and your income-driven payments are significantly lower than a standard 10-year plan.
Check if your employer qualifiesRefinancing
When it makes sense
Refinancing is often the best move for general surgeons heading into private practice. At $477K, you can direct $4–6K/month toward loans and be debt-free within 5 years. Rates from physician-focused lenders like Laurel Road and Earnest can drop your rate below 5%.
Compare refinancing lendersPre-filled with General Surgery defaults
See your exact repayment numbers.
Calculator opens with General Surgery salary ($477K) and 5-year residency pre-loaded. Adjust any input — results update instantly.
Common questions
General Surgery loan repayment, answered.
Should a general surgery resident refinance or pursue PSLF?
For most general surgeons, aggressive payoff after training (with or without refinancing) beats PSLF because attending salaries are high enough to clear $240K in debt within 5–6 years. PSLF is worth modeling if you're at an academic center with a salary under $350K — the math can still favor forgiveness.
How much does a general surgery resident pay on income-driven repayment?
On SAVE or PAYE with a $67K residency stipend, monthly payments are typically $200–400/month. During fellowship, payments stay similarly low. This is the main advantage of IDR during training — you preserve cash while potentially racking up qualifying PSLF payments.
Is refinancing during surgery residency a good idea?
Generally no. Refinancing federal loans in residency means losing PSLF eligibility permanently. Most surgeons should wait until they're in practice and have confirmed their employer and career trajectory before refinancing.
How long does it take a general surgeon to pay off medical school loans?
With aggressive payoff on a $477K salary: 4–5 years. On PSLF (if at a qualifying employer): 10 years of payments, with forgiveness of the remaining balance. The forgiveness amount is typically smaller for surgeons due to high income driving higher IDR payments.
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Run your General Surgery numbers.
PSLF vs aggressive payoff vs refinancing — modeled with your salary, debt, and training timeline. Adjust any input and results update in real time.