Cardiologists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $107,190 | $51.53 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $496,010 | $238.47 |
| Mean (average) | $454,940 | $218.72 |
| 90th percentile | $712,130 | $342.37 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Cardiologists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 41 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $519,480 | $188,970 | $650,580 | 130 | 0.54 |
| Arizona | Data unavailable | 440 | 1.22 | ||
| California | $185,610 | $109,310 | $532,070 | 630 | 0.31 |
| Colorado | Data unavailable | 200 | 0.64 | ||
| Connecticut | $488,940 | $79,730 | $812,490 | 320 | 1.7 |
| Delaware | Data unavailable | 90 | 1.73 | ||
| Florida | $414,910 | $211,260 | $645,810 | 920 | 0.84 |
| Georgia | $610,070 | $186,960 | $934,460 | 1,150 | 2.11 |
| Hawaii | Data unavailable | 50 | 0.74 | ||
| Illinois | $517,850 | $119,280 | $749,550 | 340 | 0.51 |
| Indiana | $588,890 | $77,310 | $618,740 | 140 | 0.39 |
| Iowa | $283,070 | $63,530 | $643,380 | 100 | 0.56 |
| Kentucky | $558,180 | $216,710 | $624,260 | ||
| Maine | Data unavailable | 150 | 2.11 | ||
| Maryland | $337,230 | $149,990 | $716,280 | ||
| Massachusetts | Data unavailable | 510 | 1.26 | ||
| Michigan | $419,030 | $68,540 | $587,670 | 340 | 0.69 |
| Minnesota | Data unavailable | 420 | 1.29 | ||
| Mississippi | Data unavailable | 50 | 0.36 | ||
| Missouri | $648,070 | $100,920 | $791,930 | 150 | 0.47 |
| Nebraska | $646,300 | $216,450 | $829,860 | 170 | 1.48 |
| New Hampshire | Data unavailable | 190 | 2.53 | ||
| New Jersey | $286,540 | $35,000 | $613,160 | ||
| New Mexico | Data unavailable | 90 | 0.98 | ||
| New York | $492,040 | $104,800 | $688,580 | 2,260 | 2.09 |
| North Carolina | Data unavailable | 300 | 0.55 | ||
| North Dakota | Data unavailable | 40 | 0.91 | ||
| Ohio | $504,260 | $32,290 | $733,900 | 760 | 1.24 |
| Oregon | Data unavailable | 150 | 0.71 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $579,120 | $108,180 | $653,250 | 640 | 0.95 |
| Puerto Rico | Data unavailable | 60 | 0.62 | ||
| Rhode Island | $395,610 | $136,140 | $442,460 | 60 | 1.15 |
| South Carolina | Data unavailable | 210 | 0.83 | ||
| Tennessee | $610,080 | $178,630 | $793,530 | 560 | 1.55 |
| Texas | $410,150 | $97,140 | $703,430 | 2,050 | 1.31 |
| Utah | Data unavailable | 280 | 1.46 | ||
| Vermont | Data unavailable | 70 | 2.18 | ||
| Virginia | $461,450 | $217,500 | $590,090 | 810 | 1.77 |
| Washington | $656,330 | $139,820 | $758,560 | 200 | 0.51 |
| Wisconsin | $636,580 | $94,340 | $666,880 | 200 | 0.6 |
| Wyoming | Data unavailable | 30 | 1.08 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for cardiologists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for cardiologists
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Medicine CIP 51.1201
- Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy CIP 51.1202
- Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program CIP 61.0804
- Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship Program CIP 61.0805
- Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program CIP 61.0811
- Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program CIP 61.1906
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Administer emergency cardiac care for life-threatening heart problems, such as cardiac arrest and heart attack.
- Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, or disease prevention.
- Answer questions that patients have about their health and well-being.
- Calculate valve areas from blood flow velocity measurements.
- Compare measurements of heart wall thickness and chamber sizes to standards to identify abnormalities, using the results of an echocardiogram.
- Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
- Conduct exercise electrocardiogram tests to monitor cardiovascular activity under stress.
- Conduct research to develop or test medications, treatments, or procedures that prevent or control disease or injury.
Technology skills
- Epic Systems (in demand)
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Watchman Monitoring
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cardiologists make?
The national median annual wage for cardiologists was $496,010 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $107,190 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $712,130. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do cardiologists need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and internship/residency on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is cardiologists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of cardiologists to change +4.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay cardiologists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($656,330), Missouri ($648,070), Nebraska ($646,300). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.