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Cardiologist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$496,010median pay per year, or $238.47 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $107,190lowest 10% earn less
  2. $274,28025th percentile
  3. $496,010median
  4. $610,06075th percentile
  5. $712,130top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Cardiologists had a median pay of $496,010 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.8%[2]
Openings per year
500[5]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[6]

How much do cardiologists make?

The median pay for Cardiologists was $496,010 a year, or $238.47 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $454,940 a year, or $218.72 an hour[7]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[4].

The range is wide:

Percentile Annual pay Hourly pay
10th[3][8] $107,190 $51.53
25th[3][8] $274,280 $131.87
75th[3][8] $610,060 $293.30
90th[3][8] $712,130 $342.37

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $107,190[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. The figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10]. About 17,290 people worked in this job[11].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median pay at $656,330, followed by Missouri at $648,070, Nebraska at $646,300 and Wisconsin at $636,580[12]. Several states list a median of $239,200 or more[12]. California was listed last at $185,610[12].

New York had the most jobs with 2,260, then Texas with 2,050 and Georgia with 1,150[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the highest median at $662,760, followed by Omaha, NE-IA at $598,480 and Lexington-Fayette, KY at $558,180[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area had the most jobs at 2,050, with a median of $492,150[15].

Show median pay in 36 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[12]$656,330200
Missouri$648,070150
Nebraska$646,300170
Wisconsin$636,580200
Tennessee$610,080560
Georgia$610,0701,150
Indiana$588,890140
Pennsylvania$579,120640
Kentucky$558,180n/a
Alabama$519,480130
Illinois$517,850340
Ohio$504,260760
New York$492,0402,260
Connecticut$488,940320
Virginia$461,450810
Michigan$419,030340
Florida$414,910920
Texas$410,1502,050
Rhode Island$395,61060
Maryland$337,230n/a
New Jersey$286,540n/a
Iowa$283,070100
Arizona$239,200+440
Colorado$239,200+200
Delaware$239,200+90
Hawaii$239,200+50
Maine$239,200+150
Minnesota$239,200+420
New Hampshire$239,200+190
New Mexico$239,200+90
North Dakota$239,200+40
Oregon$239,200+150
South Carolina$239,200+210
Utah$239,200+280
Wyoming$239,200+30
California$185,610630

How to become a cardiologist

The training details here come from a BLS profile on physicians and surgeons, which covers a wider group than cardiologists[16].

All states require physicians to be licensed, and the rules vary by state. Candidates must graduate from an accredited medical school, finish residency in their specialty and pass national exams[19][20]. Board certification in a specialty is not required, though it may improve job opportunities[21].

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical education for entry and no related work experience[6].

What cardiologists do

O*NET says cardiologists diagnose, treat, manage and prevent conditions of the cardiovascular system. Some subspecialize in areas such as interventional procedures, echocardiography or electrophysiology[22]. Common tasks include:

Where they work

For physicians and surgeons as a group, BLS says work happens in clinical settings such as offices and hospitals, and in nonclinical settings such as government agencies, nonprofits and insurance companies[24]. Those in group practices or healthcare organizations can coordinate patient care but have less independence than solo practitioners[25]. The work may involve standing for long periods[26]. Most physicians and surgeons work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[27]. Many physicians and surgeons work long shifts, which may include irregular and overnight hours or being on call[27]. About 3.8% of cardiologists were self-employed in 2025[28].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of cardiologists to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 18,500 to 19,400 jobs[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[29]. These counts include self-employed workers and differ from the OEWS job count[2].

About 500 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 1.8% of workers leave the labor force and 0.4% move to a different occupation[30].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay is far above the all-occupations median, and growth is projected to run slightly ahead of the average[1][4][2][29]. The training path is long. It includes medical school and residency, and the wider physician profile adds a fellowship for subspecialties[18][31]. The number of openings is small, at about 500 a year[5]. Anyone weighing this path should look at the years of training as well as the pay.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cardiologist make an hour?
The median was $238.47 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $218.72[1][7].
How long does it take to become a cardiologist?
In the wider physician profile, medical school takes 4 years after a bachelor's degree, residency lasts 3 to 9 years depending on the specialty, and a fellowship adds 1 to 3 years[18].
Is cardiologist in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][29].
What is the highest paying state for cardiologists?
Washington had the highest median at $656,330[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Cardiologists in the US was $496,010 per year and $238.47 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Cardiologists is projected to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 18,500 to 19,400 jobs (a change of +900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Cardiologists: 10th percentile $107,190, 25th percentile $274,280, 75th percentile $610,060, 90th percentile $712,130. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 500 openings for Cardiologists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Cardiologists: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Cardiologists was $454,940 per year and $218.72 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Cardiologists: 10th percentile $51.53, 25th percentile $131.87, 75th percentile $293.30, 90th percentile $342.37. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 17,290 people were employed as Cardiologists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Cardiologists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Cardiologists jobs: New York 2,260; Texas 2,050; Georgia 1,150; Florida 920; Virginia 810. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Cardiologists (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $662,760; Omaha, NE-IA $598,480; Lexington-Fayette, KY $558,180; Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $551,320; Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $528,750; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $492,150; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $475,590; Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $451,790. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Cardiologists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,050 (median $492,150); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 940 (median $403,340); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 910 (median $239,200 or more); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 460 (median $187,550); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 440; Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN 310 (median $239,200 or more). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Physicians and Surgeons" covers Cardiologists together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET description of Cardiologists. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Cardiologists. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Employment Projections: 3.8% of Cardiologists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  29. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Cardiologists: 1.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 0.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.