How much does a cardiologist make?

The median pay is $238.47 per hour — roughly $496,000 a year, with the real range running from about $51.53/hr (10th percentile) to $342.37/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a cardiologist?

The typical entry-level education is: Doctoral degree. Overall preparation level: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).

What does a cardiologist actually do all day?

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.

Health Care

Cardiologists

Diagnose, treat, manage, and prevent diseases or conditions of the cardiovascular system. May further subspecialize in interventional procedures (e.g., balloon angioplasty and stent placement), echocardiography, or electrophysiology.

What it pays
Cardiologists earn a median of $238.47/hr — about $496,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $51.53/hr; the top 10% earn $342.37/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Doctoral degree. Overall preparation: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).

The feel of the work

The work is mostly indoors; you're around people constantly; time pressure is a real part of the job; it rewards working independently; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 4.7% of cardiologists are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are analytical, hands-on and people-focused.

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Quick questions

How much does a cardiologist make?: The median pay is $238.47 per hour — roughly $496,000 a year, with the real range running from about $51.53/hr (10th percentile) to $342.37/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a cardiologist?: The typical entry-level education is: Doctoral degree. Overall preparation level: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
What does a cardiologist actually do all day?: 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.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

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