Cardiothoracic Surgery Work-Life Balance: What Doctors Actually Say

Based on 16 verified physician responses, Cardiothoracic Surgery has a 4.1/5 average career satisfaction rating.100% of Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians say they would choose the specialty again if starting their career over. The average Cardiothoracic Surgery physician works 76 hours per week.

Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians commonly report loving: building meaningful patient relationships, intellectual stimulation and diagnostic challenges, clinical variety, the ability to make a tangible difference in patient outcomes, and procedural diversity. Many also appreciate the collegial environment and opportunities for subspecialization.

Based on SalaryDr data, Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians work an average of 76 hours per week. This varies by practice setting—academic and hospital-employed positions often require more hours than private practice.

The most commonly cited challenges from Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians include: administrative burden and documentation requirements, call schedules impacting personal time, work-life balance pressures (especially early in career), and compensation concerns relative to training length. Some also mention challenging patient populations or high-acuity cases as sources of stress.

100% of Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians surveyed say they would choose Cardiothoracic Surgeryagain if starting their career over. This data is based on 16 verified, anonymous physician responses collected by SalaryDr.