Cardiology vs Orthopedic Surgery: Salary, Lifestyle & Training (2026)
Choosing between Cardiology and Orthopedic Surgery involves weighing compensation, training length, work-life balance, call responsibilities, and long-term career satisfaction. This comparison uses verified physician data to help you make an informed decision.
See how Cardiologist salaries, lifestyle metrics, and training requirements compare to Orthopedic Surgeon data from verified submissions on SalaryDr. Cardiology requires 3yr IM residency + 3yr fellowship, while Orthopedic Surgery requires 5-year residency.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Cardiology | Orthopedic Surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Training Length | 3yr IM residency + 3yr fellowship | 5-year residency |
| Practitioner Title | Cardiologist | Orthopedic Surgeon |
| Live Salary Data | View Cardiology salary → | View Orthopedic Surgery salary → |
| Lifestyle Rating | See details below | See details below |
Salary figures are updated in real-time on each specialty page from verified physician submissions.
Training Pathway: Cardiology vs Orthopedic Surgery
Cardiology
3yr IM residency + 3yr fellowship
Becoming a cardiologist requires three years of internal medicine residency followed by a three-year cardiology fellowship — six years of post-medical-school training total. Interventional cardiology adds another one to two years.
Orthopedic Surgery
5-year residency
Orthopedic Surgery residency is five years of intensive surgical training. Many graduates add one-year fellowships in sports medicine, spine surgery, hand surgery, or joint replacement, though fellowship is not required for most positions.
Lifestyle & Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance is one of the most important factors physicians weigh when choosing a specialty. Here is how Cardiology and Orthopedic Surgery compare on key lifestyle dimensions.
Cardiology
Busy schedule with call for interventional cardiologists. Non-invasive cardiology has better lifestyle.
- Average work week: 55 hours
- Take call: 89% of physicians
- Average PTO: 40 days/year
Orthopedic Surgery
Demanding with significant call and trauma coverage. High physical demands.
- Average work week: 56 hours
- Take call: 88% of physicians
- Average PTO: 33 days/year
Satisfaction & Lifestyle by the Numbers
Based on 326 verified physician submissions across both specialties.
| Metric | Cardiology | Orthopedic Surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Career Satisfaction | 3.9/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Would Choose Again | 90% | 90% |
| Avg Hours/Week | 55 | 56 |
| Takes Call | 89% | 88% |
| Avg Call Days/Month | — | — |
| Avg PTO Days/Year | 40 | 33 |
| Physician Submissions | 200 submissions | 126 submissions |
“I work very hard but feel appropriately compensated. Of my 75 hrs, 8 hrs on average are done from home (reading tests etc)”— Cardiology Physician
“Clinic and surgical days predictable”— Orthopedic Surgery Physician
Practice Setting Distribution
Where Cardiology and Orthopedic Surgery physicians work, based on verified salary submissions. Practice setting significantly impacts both compensation and day-to-day lifestyle.
Cardiology
Based on 200 verified submissions
Orthopedic Surgery
Based on 126 verified submissions
Career Outlook & Job Market
Cardiology Outlook
Cardiology demand remains robust, with interventional cardiologists commanding premium compensation. Structural heart disease and electrophysiology are particularly high-growth areas within the field.
Orthopedic Surgery Outlook
Orthopedic Surgery continues to see strong demand driven by an active aging population and advances in joint replacement technology. The specialty consistently ranks among the highest-compensated in medicine.
Compensation Growth Trajectory
Physician salaries in both Cardiology and Orthopedic Surgery typically increase with experience, with the largest jumps in the first 5-10 years post-training. Partnership or ownership in private practice can meaningfully accelerate earnings. For detailed breakdowns, explore the Cardiology and Orthopedic Surgery salary-by-experience pages.
Explore Deeper Data
Benchmark Reports
Lifestyle & Satisfaction
Is It Worth It?
Training & Residency
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