Source: SalaryDr Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Salary Data (2026). Median: $103,000/year. Sample: 3 verified submissions. URL: https://www.salarydr.com/residency-salary/cardiothoracic-surgery
Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Salary (2026)
The median cardiothoracic surgery resident salary is $103,000 per year, based on 3 verified submissions on SalaryDr. After training, cardiothoracic surgery attendings earn a median of $756,000 — a 7.3x increase.
Source: SalaryDr verified data • Updated May 2026
Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident Salary by PGY Year
How cardiothoracic surgery resident 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 Residents Say
Real insights from verified cardiothoracic surgery residents 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: Resident vs. Attending Salary
The salary jump from residency to attending is the largest increase in a physician’s career.
Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Training
Training Length
3–5 years
Salary Progression
Resident salary increases ~$2,000–$3,000 per PGY year. After completing training, attending cardiothoracic surgery physicians earn a median of $756,000.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Salary
How much do cardiothoracic surgery residents make in 2026?
Cardiothoracic Surgery residents 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 PGY level and location.
How long is cardiothoracic surgery residency?
Cardiothoracic Surgery residency training is 3–5 years. Salary increases with each year of training, typically by $2,000–$3,000 per PGY level.
How much more do cardiothoracic surgery attendings make compared to residents?
Cardiothoracic Surgery attending physicians earn a median of $756,000, which is 7.3x more than the median resident salary of $103,000. This gap represents the largest salary jump in a physician's career.
Are cardiothoracic surgery residents satisfied with their specialty choice?
Cardiothoracic Surgery residents 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.
Explore More Cardiothoracic Surgery Data
Browse Residency Salaries by Specialty
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