The average total compensation for cardiologists rose $55,000 between 2024 to 2025, yet 61% of cardiologists said they believe they are underpaid, according to a Medscape report.
The “Cardiologist Compensation Report: Evaluating Your Salary 2026,” published May 15, surveyed 5,916 physicians across 29 specialties between Sept. 5 and Dec. 17, 2025. About 3% of respondents worked in cardiology.
Here are nine things to know about cardiologists’ work and compensation in 2025.
1. Total compensation rose from $520,000 in 2024 to more than $575,000 in 2025.
2. Cardiology ranked as the second-highest paid specialty in total compensation, right behind orthopedists and orthopedic surgeons who had an average total compensation of $611,000.
3. A little more than half of cardiologists said they feel fairly paid for the demand of their job, with 52% saying yes and 48% saying no. However, 61% of cardiologists said they believe they are underpaid.
4. Forty-two percent of cardiologists expected their pay to increase at the end of 2025, while 14% expected to see a pay cut.
5. Cardiologists had the highest growth in pay among specialties at a 10% increase.
6. By gender, women cardiologists made $327,000 in 2025, about $102,000 less than their male counterparts.
7. By race, white cardiologists made the most in 2025 at an average of $391,000, compared to $383,000 for Asian American cardiologists, $361,000 for Hispanic cardiologists and $343,000 for Black cardiologists.
8. The average incentive bonus for cardiologists was $79,000, with 74% of respondents saying they qualified for an incentive bonus.
9. Cardiologists reported working an average of 56 hours per week.
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