Source: SalaryDr Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Salary Data (2026). Median: $76,000/year. Sample: 12 approved salary reports. URL: https://www.salarydr.com/residency-salary/cardiothoracic-surgery
Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Salary (2026)
The median cardiothoracic surgery resident salary is $76,000 per year, based on 12 approved salary reports on SalaryDr. After training, cardiothoracic surgery attendings earn a median of $862,000 — a 11.3x increase.
Source: SalaryDr self-reported data • Updated Nov 2026
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 $862,000.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Salary
How much do cardiothoracic surgery residents make in 2026?
Cardiothoracic Surgery residents earn a median salary of $76,000 per year based on 12 approved salary reports on SalaryDr.
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 $862,000, which is 11.3x more than the median resident salary of $76,000. 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 3.4/5.0 on average. 90% say they would choose cardiothoracic surgery again if given the choice. They work an average of 75 hours per week.
Explore More Cardiothoracic Surgery Data
Browse Residency Salaries by Specialty
Are you a cardiothoracic surgery resident?
Share your salary anonymously and help future residents make informed decisions about cardiothoracic surgery training programs. It takes less than 2 minutes.