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Surgeon - Cardiothoracic Salary in the United States

How much does a Surgeon - Cardiothoracic make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Surgeon - Cardiothoracic in the United States is $518,699 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $249.

However, a Surgeon - Cardiothoracic's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $660,752
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $468,586 to $593,055
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $422,961
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Surgeon - Cardiothoracic Salaries

A Surgeon - Cardiothoracic'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 Surgeon - Cardiothoracic Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Surgeon - Cardiothoracic'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): $498,504
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $502,244
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $520,919
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $551,993
  • Expert (over 8 years): $557,542
Levels Salary
Entry Level Surgeon - Cardiothoracic$498,504
Intermediate Level Surgeon - Cardiothoracic$502,244
Senior Level Surgeon - Cardiothoracic$520,919
Specialist Level Surgeon - Cardiothoracic$551,993
Expert Level Surgeon - Cardiothoracic$557,542
View as Graph

How Do Surgeon - Cardiothoracics 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 Surgeon - Cardiothoracics. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $574,304.
  • California: $572,125.
  • Massachusetts: $564,500.

Top Paying Cities for Surgeon - Cardiothoracic

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: $654,235
  • San Francisco: $647,072
  • Oakland: $633,435

What Skills Can Increase a Surgeon - Cardiothoracic's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 3.09% 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 4.94% 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.
  • Anesthesia (Mentioned in 3.09% Job Postings): Administering and controlling sedations and narcotics to help patients relieve pain during various surgeries and treatments.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 3.09%
Acute Care 4.94%
Anesthesia 3.09%
See More Skills

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 Surgeon - Cardiothoracic's salary.

  • Effective Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Service Excellence: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Empathy: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Effective Communication $622,439
20%
Service Excellence $565,382
9%
Empathy $555,008
7%
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Surgeon - Cardiothoracic Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Surgeon - Cardiothoracic salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $550,195. While startup companies pay approximate $468,845.

Surgeon - Cardiothoracic Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $468,845
Growth Stage 51~500 $494,928
Established 501~5000 $532,204
Enterprise 5000+ $550,195

Surgeon - Cardiothoracic Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Surgeon - Cardiothoracic roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 25% above the average. Conversely, Surgeon - Cardiothoracic positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Surgeon - Cardiothoracic as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Surgeon - Cardiothoracic

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$648,374$312.025%

How Education impacts an Surgeon - Cardiothoracic's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Surgeon - Cardiothoracic enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Surgeon - Cardiothoracic with a Bachelor's Degree is between $0 and $0.

Surgeon - Cardiothoracic Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Surgeon - Cardiothoracic
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.6%
High School 2.5%
Associates 0.8%
Bachelors 0.8%
Masters 2.5%
Doctorate 92.6%
View as Graph

Surgeon - Cardiothoracic Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Surgeon - Cardiothoracic'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 August 01, 2026
$468,586
Average $518,699/year
$593,055
$39,049
Average $43,225/month
$49,421
$9,011
Average $9,975/week
$11,405
$225
Average $249/hour
$285
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $593,055 $49,421 $11,405 $285
Average $518,699 $43,225 $9,975 $249
25th Percentile $468,586 $39,049 $9,011 $225

Most common benefits for Surgeon - Cardiothoracic

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Surgeon - Cardiothoracic

Here are companies hiring for Surgeon - Cardiothoracic and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Surgeon - Cardiothoracic

1. Where can a Surgeon - Cardiothoracic earn the most?

A Surgeon - Cardiothoracic's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Surgeon - Cardiothoracic earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Surgeon - Cardiothoracic is $654,235.

2. What is the highest pay for Surgeon - Cardiothoracic?

The highest pay for Surgeon - Cardiothoracic is $660,752.

3. What is the lowest pay for Surgeon - Cardiothoracic?

The lowest pay for Surgeon - Cardiothoracic is $422,961.

4. What are the responsibilities of Surgeon - Cardiothoracic?

Specializes in the diagnosis, medical management, and surgical treatment of patients with diseases of the heart and lungs. Determines which instruments and method of surgery will be most successful in achieving desired outcome. Identifies need for tests or follow-up visits. Reviews patient history and confirms need for surgery. May provide medical personnel with direction concerning patient care. May provide in-service training as needed to address new technology in health care treatment. Provides charting in compliance with all laws and regulations. Requires a MD degree from an accredited school. Typically reports to the chief of surgery. Requires a license to practice. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Surgeon - Cardiothoracic?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Surgeon - Cardiothoracic roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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