Cardiology is a good choice for people contemplating a career in medicine. A cardiologist’s duties and salary vary depending on the kind and specialty.
It’s crucial to think about your salary as well as the work requirements while considering whether or not to become a cardiologist.
Cardiologists work with people and also handle tough treatments and sometimes surgeries.
It requires immense soft and hard skills altogether. You might wonder how much do cardiologists make or which city pays them the most since it is such a hard job.
According to Zippia, North Dakota pays the highest salary to Cardiologists.
So moving on, in this post, we’ll go over what a cardiologist does, the kind of income you may expect as a cardiologist, and other details.
Summary
| Guide | How Much Do Cardiologists Make? |
|---|---|
| Average Income | $351,000 per year |
| Highest Income | $700,000 per year |
| Qualification | Required |
| Training | Required |
Who Are Cardiologists?
Cardiologists are specialized doctors specializing in problems affecting the heart and blood arteries.
Cardiologists help patients diagnose, treat, and prevent cardiovascular disorders by working with them.
Although some cardiologists have the training to do invasive treatments such as cardiac surgery or the implantation of a pacemaker, the majority of cardiologists exclusively perform non-invasive procedures.
Conducting tests to detect illness, ordering labs, and providing medicine are just a few examples.
Preventative treatment might be a part of the treatment by both invasive and non-invasive cardiologists, such as devising a diet and exercise plan to maintain a patient’s heart as healthy as possible.
A cardiologist’s responsibilities vary depending on the day and specialty.
The average cardiologist spends roughly 41 hours per week dealing directly with patients, plus 17.5 hours per week on paperwork.
How Much Do Cardiologists Make?
Cardiologists are well compensated for their profession since the heart is such an essential organ that requires careful, skilled care.
Cardiologists often demand a high income to help them pay off their school debts and other educational necessities.
In 2019, full-time cardiologists had a salary of around $351,000 on average annually, including the bonuses and costs that are tax-free.
Over the course of years, the salaries of cardiologists have skyrocketed, and it will probably not stop.
The money that cardiologists make depends heavily on location, experience, and the amount of training they have.
Non-invasive cardiologists who just started to work will, of course, earn less than the average salary of cardiologists or those who have particular training.
1. How Much Do Cardiologists Make in an Hour?
Cardiologists make a minimum of $17.07 an hour and a maximum of $192.31 an hour.
2. How Much Do Cardiologists Make in a Month?
Cardiologists make a minimum of $2,958 a month and a maximum of $33,333 a month.
3. How Much Do Cardiologists Make in a Year?
Cardiologists make a minimum of $35,500 a year and a maximum of $400,000 a year.
Highest Salary Of Cardiologists In 2023
Even though it changes significantly depending on the location, the level of training, and the level of experience on the job, there are certain highest salaries recorded of cardiologists in the profession.
The highest salary range is somewhat around $700,000 annually, which is substantially higher, more than double, than the average salary.
However, depending on where you are, this highest salary could be higher or lower, but it will still be close to this number as the majority of salaries go around this.
Is Being A Cardiologist Good Or Bad?
Being a cardiologist is really a controversial topic because it is a really hard job in many ways; even if you have the necessary education and soft skills, your body might not be qualified enough to be a cardiologist.
That is because if your hand can not stabilize and do really precise things with no shaking, you can not do surgeries which is mostly the core of being an experienced cardiologist.
Nevertheless, if you can tick all necessary boxes and can manage to get your degree, being a cardiologist pays well.
For that, it is really good, and it could be good for you. But if you cannot tick even one box, being a cardiologist is probably a bad choice.
Pros and Cons of Being A Cardiologist
Pros
- You get to save lives
- Handsome pay
- Reputable job
- Specialization
- Career advancement
Cons
- Takes 15 or more years to become a Cardiologist
- Stressful
- Expensive education
How To Become A Cardiologist?
Here’s how you can become a Cardiologist:
- The first step is to finish your 4-year bachelor’s program in a science-related field, preferably.
- Next, you will need to take the MCAT exam to get admission into a good medical school.
- Once you get admission, you will have to complete 4 years in medical school, where you will be taught subjects like pharmacology, psychology, and anatomy.
- To practice medicine in the United States, you will need a license for which you will need to clear Medical Licensing Exams (USMLE) in three stages right from your second year of medical school.
- Now you will have to complete a residency program which will take three years to finish.
- Once you finish your medicine residency program, the next step is to get certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in your chosen specialization.
- After this, you will be required to take a cardiology fellowship program which will take another three years.
- After finishing the cardiology fellowship program, you are officially a Cardiologist ready to work.
It takes a substantial amount of money and time to complete your studies, and that is something you should be aware of if you want to be a cardiologist.
Medical school and residency might take up to ten years to complete. You may also need to take out a large loan to cover medical school costs.
Before you can start earning money in cardiology, you must invest a large amount of time and money.
You May Read: How Much Do Podiatrists Make?
What it Takes to Become Cardiologist?
How Many Hours Do Cardiologists Work?
Cardiologists begin their shift as per the standard 8-hour time but end up working more than that due to emergency cases and their needs.
Hence, most Cardiologists work for 50-60 hours a week. And their shift may include evenings, weekends, or holidays. They also may need to be available on call after their shift.
What is the Starting Pay of Cardiologists?
Although it requires a massive investment of time and money to become a Cardiologist, both eventually pay off.
The starting pay of a Cardiologist is $17.07 an hour or $35,500 a year. With more experience, a Cardiologist can make as much as $192.31 an hour or $400,000 a year.
Difference Between Cardiologist & Cardiac Surgeon
Cardiologist Training Programs
A cardiologist’s education begins several years before entering a cardiac fellowship program at a medical university.
To become an internal medicine resident, you must first finish a pre-medical bachelor’s degree program, medical school, and an internal medicine residency.
You must also pass the United States Medical Licensing exam in all three stages (USMLE).
You may be eligible for certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine after completing a fellowship program (ABIM).
This organization’s certification tests cover advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology, cardiovascular illness, interventional cardiology, and clinical cardiac electrophysiology.
According to the ABIM, earning this accreditation shows patients that you have met professional training criteria.
You also need to attend a bachelor’s program & a master’s, which could take about ten years, including your residency. After that, you will focus on your specialization.
Conclusion
Being a cardiologist is definitely not easy. It requires immense amounts of training and money just to start working.
But once you start working and have a few years of experience, the salary you get is amazing.
If you like what cardiologists do, the salary comes in as a really great bonus, and you enjoy both benefits.
Also Read: How Much Do Medical Assistants Make In California?
FAQ
How much do cardiologists make when they first start off?
They start from the lowest salary range, lower than the average cardiologist’s salary.
How much do cardiologists make when they have their own office?
There is no limit on this because you can get unlimited amounts of patients in the price tag you wish (and the customers’ price).
How much do cardiologists make in residency?
This depends; sometimes you get minimum wage, sometimes you get higher, but it is definitely close to the levels when you first start.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
ARTICLE SOURCES
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