Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery Salary in the United States

How much does a Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery in the United States is $685,290 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $329.

However, a Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $872,323
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $619,790 to $783,190
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $560,156
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View as table View as graph 25% $619,790 10% $560,156 90% $872,323 75% $783,190 $685,290 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $783,190 $65,266 $15,061 $377
Average $685,290 $57,108 $13,179 $329
25th Percentile $619,790 $51,649 $11,919 $298
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Key Factors That Influence Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery Salaries

A Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $658,894
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $663,783
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $670,626
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $714,514
  • Expert (over 8 years): $736,432
Levels Salary
Entry Level Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery$658,894
Intermediate Level Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery$663,783
Senior Level Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery$670,626
Specialist Level Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery$714,514
Expert Level Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery$736,432
$658,894 0 yr
$663,783 < 2 yrs
$670,626 2-4 yrs
$714,514 5-8 yrs
$736,432 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Physician - Heart Transplant Surgeries. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $758,790.
  • California: $755,890.
  • Massachusetts: $745,790.

Top Paying Cities for Physician - Heart Transplant Surgeries

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $864,390
  • San Francisco: $855,890
  • Oakland: $836,890

What Skills Can Increase a Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.09% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 4.4% Job Postings): Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. In medical terms, care for acute health conditions is the opposite from chronic care, or longer term care. Acute care services are generally delivered by teams of health care professionals from a range of medical and surgical specialties. Acute care may require a stay in a hospital emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care centre or other short-term stay facility, along with the assistance of diagnostic services, surgery, or follow-up outpatient care in the community. Hospital-based acute inpatient care typically has the goal of discharging patients as soon as they are deemed healthy and stable. Acute care settings include emergency department, intensive care, coronary care, cardiology, neonatal intensive care, and many general areas where the patient could become acutely unwell and require stabilization and transfer to another higher dependency unit for further treatment.
  • Medical Education (Mentioned in 3.02% Job Postings): Medical education is a course of study directed toward imparting knowledge and skills required for the prevention and treatment of diseases to persons seeking to become physicians.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.09%
Acute Care 4.4%
Medical Education 3.02%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery's salary.
  • Communication Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
  • Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Geriatrics: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Communication Skills
$863,465
26%
Dedication
$822,348
20%
Geriatrics
$822,348
20%
Internal Medicine
$808,642
18%
Radiology
$767,525
12%
Pediatric
$767,525
12%
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How Education impacts a Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Physician - Heart Transplant Surgeries enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $648,887 and $753,321).

Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.0%
High School 3.0%
Associates 90.9%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 6.1%
Doctorate 90.9%
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Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery

Salaries for a Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $231,993 in 2023 to around $226,789 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$231,993
2024
$237,504
2025
$226,789
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $231,993
2024 $237,504
2025 $226,789
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery

Here are companies hiring for Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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FAQ about Physician - Heart Transplant Surgery

1. What is the best heart transplant hospital in the US?

Nationally ranked Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, along with its locations in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Jacksonville, Florida, are recognized as top hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. Physicians specializing in heart transplant surgery can expect salaries ranging from $459,890 to $861,690, with a median salary of $712,290.

2. What is the highest salary of a heart surgeon?

The highest salary for a heart transplant surgeon is approximately $861,690. This figure reflects the specialized nature of the role, which can significantly impact earnings compared to other cardiology positions.

3. What is the highest paid Cardiac Surgeon?

The highest paid Physician in Heart Transplant Surgery can earn a maximum salary of $861,690 annually. The salary range for this role typically starts at $459,890, with a mid-range salary of $712,290, indicating significant earning potential in this specialized field.

4. Are transplant surgeons in demand?

Yes, transplant surgeons are in demand. The number of surgeons performing liver transplants is projected to increase significantly. In terms of compensation, heart transplant surgeons earn between $459,890 and $861,690, with a median salary of $712,290, reflecting the high demand and specialized skills required in this field.

5. How many years of school does it take to be a heart surgeon?

Becoming a heart surgeon requires extensive education and training, typically taking at least 15 years. For those specializing in heart transplant surgery, it may exceed 20 years. In terms of compensation, salaries for heart transplant surgeons range from a minimum of $459,890 to a mid-level of $712,290, with a maximum reaching $861,690.

6. Do neurosurgeons or heart surgeons get paid more?

Heart surgeons, particularly those specializing in heart transplant surgery, earn significant salaries, with a minimum of $459,890, a mid-range of $712,290, and a maximum of $861,690. While neurosurgeons also command high salaries, the premium pay for heart surgeons reflects the critical nature and complexity of their work in cardiac procedures.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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