SOC 29-1212 · May 2025
Cardiologist Salary
Cardiologists in the US earn a median of $496,010 a year ($218.72 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Cardiologist pay climbed from $353,970 in 2021 to $454,940 in 2025, a +28.5% change in 4 years.
Median annual
$496,010
Half of all Cardiologists in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+28.5% since 2021 · +5.2% YoY
Hourly
$218.72
Job growth 2025-35
+4.8%
US workers
17,290
BLS series
Annual median wage for Cardiologists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Cardiologists is $107,190 – $712,130.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$107,190
25th
$274,280
Median
$496,010
75th
$610,060
90th
$712,130
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Cardiologists. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $107,190 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $274,280 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $496,010 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $610,060 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $712,130 |
Geography
Cardiologist pay by state
Cardiologists earn the most in Washington ($656,330, +32% against the national median) and the least in California ($185,610). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 23 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$496,010
Highest-paying states for cardiologists
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $656,330 | +32% | 200 |
| Missouri | $648,070 | +31% | 150 |
| Nebraska | $646,300 | +30% | 170 |
| Wisconsin | $636,580 | +28% | 200 |
| Tennessee | $610,080 | +23% | 560 |
| Georgia | $610,070 | +23% | 1,150 |
| Indiana | $588,890 | +19% | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $579,120 | +17% | 640 |
| Kentucky | $558,180 | +13% | – |
| Alabama | $519,480 | +5% | 130 |
All 23 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $656,330 | 200 |
| Missouri | $648,070 | 150 |
| Nebraska | $646,300 | 170 |
| Wisconsin | $636,580 | 200 |
| Tennessee | $610,080 | 560 |
| Georgia | $610,070 | 1,150 |
| Indiana | $588,890 | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $579,120 | 640 |
| Kentucky | $558,180 | – |
| Alabama | $519,480 | 130 |
| Illinois | $517,850 | 340 |
| Ohio | $504,260 | 760 |
| New York | $492,040 | 2,260 |
| Connecticut | $488,940 | 320 |
| Virginia | $461,450 | 810 |
| Michigan | $419,030 | 340 |
| Florida | $414,910 | 920 |
| Texas | $410,150 | 2,050 |
| Rhode Island | $395,610 | 60 |
| Maryland | $337,230 | – |
| New Jersey | $286,540 | – |
| Iowa | $283,070 | 100 |
| California | $185,610 | 630 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Cardiologists
Cardiologists (BLS SOC 29-1212) diagnose and treat diseases or conditions of the heart and blood vessels. The role requires an MD or DO degree, a 3-year residency in internal medicine, a 3-year cardiology fellowship, and board certification. Interventional and electrophysiology subspecialists earn premiums above general cardiology. BLS top-codes wages; the published mean substantially understates private-practice and partnership-track compensation.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $107,190 – $712,130. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Washington, Missouri and Nebraska. Pay in Washington runs 3.5 times the level in California, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as doctoral or professional degree, and projects about 500 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 4.8% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Cardiologist salary in the US?
How much does a Cardiologist make an hour?
How much do Cardiologists make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Cardiologists the most?
Is the average Cardiologist salary higher than the median?
Is Cardiologist a growing career?
Open positions
Open Cardiologist roles hiring now
Browse current Cardiologist listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-1212. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.