Introduction Job satisfaction in health care is an important factor determining quality and performance of a health care system.

Objectives The objectives of this study are to assess job satisfaction among Serbian health care professionals of the surgery clinics and to evaluate factors that could influence the job satisfaction rating.

Methods A cross-sectional study using anonymous self-report questionnaire (Spector, 1994) was performed between June 2016 and March 2017. The study included 158 health care professionals, 33 males (20.9%) and 125 females (79.1%), from the surgery departments of Niš, Serbia. The questionnaire with 36 item has nine facet scale (Pay, Promotion, Supervision, Fringe Benefits, Contingent Rewards, Operating Procedures (required rules and procedures), Coworkers, Nature of Work, and Communication) and each facet is assessed with four items, and a total score is computed from all items. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results Highest-rated factors of job satisfaction were nature of work (the average score was 15.78 ± 5.38, maximum 24) and supervision (14.90 ± 5.79). Highest-rated stressors were fringe benefits (10.90 ± 4.36), and promotion (11.26 ± 4.33). Compared to nurses, a higher total job satisfaction was found among doctors (p = 0.020). There was a statistically significant correlation between overall job satisfaction and managerial roles leader (r = 0.272, p = 0.002), decision maker (r = 0.196, p = 0.022), innovator (r = 0.206, p = 0.014) and negotiator (r= 0.237, p = 0.005). There was no correlation between total job satisfaction and motivation of health care professionals (r = -0.033; p = 0.713).

Conclusion The finding suggests that the nature of work, supervision and coworkers had a modest effect on job satisfaction of healthcare workers at surgery departments. Strengthening of managerial skills would lead to increased job satisfaction of health workers.