The surfaces of five biodegradable tyrosine-derived polycarbonates were studied using contact angle measurements, ESCA, and static SIMS. The wettability, critical surface tension, and polarity of these polymers decreased with increasing chain length of the pendent alkyl groups. Surface elemental composition, as determined by ESCA, was consistent with the stoichiometry of the repeat unit of the polymers. High-resolution C1s, O1s, and N1s ESCA spectra also showed results consistent with the different bonding states of these elements in the polymer repeat unit. In both positive and negative ion spectra, SIMS experiments showed fragment ions characteristic of the polymer backbone. Fragment ions characteristic of the pendent groups were identified in the negative ion SIMS spectra only, while the positive SIMS spectra provided a characteristic fingerprint for each polymer.