Salary of a Cardiac Surgeon
- According to PayScale, the median annual salary for a cardiac surgeon in the United States is between $151,278 and $385,945. The level of salary will depend upon experience and the nature of the surgeon's employer. Cardiac surgeons may be able to achieve bonuses to supplement their basic salary.
- The precise details of a cardiac surgeons working conditions vary depending upon the type of employment they have, be it in a hospital, a clinic, community hospital or private practice, either as sole practitioner or as part of a group. Generally, however, cardiac surgeons can expect to work long hours and fulfill a certain amount of on-call duties. They may be called upon to perform surgery on short notice, like when a patient suffers a heart attack.
- In order to achieve the base level of salary as a cardiac surgeon, candidates need to complete extensive education and training. The standard expectations are four years of medical school, followed by five years in general practice and then a two- or three-year fellowship in cardiac surgery, assisting at operations and undertaking further training. If surgeons wish to specialize in a certain field of cardiac surgery, such as pediatric, another two years of specific training is required.
- It is highly probable that demand for cardiac surgeons will continue to rise in America in the future. The American Association of Thoracic Surgery predicts that the demand will rise because as the baby-boomer generation enters old age and increasingly requires medical attention. The association predicts that there will be a rise of 50 percent in individuals eligible for Medicare. The increased demand for qualified cardiac surgeons should enable suitable candidates to achieve good remuneration for their services.