Source: SalaryDr Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship Salary Data (2026). Median: $103,000/year. Sample: 3 verified submissions. URL: https://www.salarydr.com/fellowship-salary/cardiothoracic-surgery
Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship Salary (2026)
The median cardiothoracic surgery fellow salary is $103,000 per year, based on 3 verified submissions on SalaryDr. After fellowship, cardiothoracic surgery attendings earn a median of $756,000 — a 7.3x increase.
Source: SalaryDr verified data • Updated May 2026
Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellow Salary by Fellowship Year
How cardiothoracic surgery fellow compensation changes by postgraduate year level.
| PGY Level | Median Salary | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| PGY-1 | $103,000 | 1 |
| PGY-2 | $50,000 | 1 |
| PGY-3 | $120,000 | 1 |
What Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellows Say
Real insights from verified cardiothoracic surgery fellows about their training experience.
“well I'm just a 18 year old and I'm looking up this b/c its been my dream since I was 10 to be a Cardio surgeon and I'm very happy about this website, its very helpful and I'm so excited to be a doctor!!!!”
“I have always wanted to help people and it makes me happy when I do.”
Cardiothoracic Surgery: Fellow vs. Attending Salary
The salary jump from fellowship to subspecialist attending is the final and often largest increase in a physician’s career.
Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship Training
Fellowship Duration
1–3 years
Salary Progression
Fellow salary increases ~$2,000–$3,000 per year of training. After completing fellowship, subspecialist cardiothoracic surgery attending physicians earn a median of $756,000.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship Salary
How much do cardiothoracic surgery fellows make in 2026?
Cardiothoracic Surgery fellows earn a median salary of $103,000 per year based on 3 verified submissions on SalaryDr. Salaries range from $50,000 to $120,000 depending on fellowship year and location.
How long is cardiothoracic surgery fellowship?
Cardiothoracic Surgery fellowship training is 1–3 years. Salary increases with each year of training, typically by $2,000–$3,000 per year.
How much more do cardiothoracic surgery attendings make compared to fellows?
Cardiothoracic Surgery attending physicians earn a median of $756,000, which is 7.3x more than the median fellow salary of $103,000. This gap represents the final and often largest salary jump in a physician's career.
Are cardiothoracic surgery fellows satisfied with their subspecialty choice?
Cardiothoracic Surgery fellows rate their career satisfaction at 4.3/5.0 on average. 100% say they would choose cardiothoracic surgery again if given the choice. They work an average of 80 hours per week.
Browse Fellowship Salaries by Specialty
Are you a cardiothoracic surgery fellow?
Share your salary anonymously and help future fellows make informed decisions about cardiothoracic surgery fellowship programs. It takes less than 2 minutes.