Should I Choose Cardiothoracic Surgery? Real Physician Decision Guide (2026) | SalaryDr
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  1. Home
  2. Lifestyle Insights
  3. Cardiothoracic Surgery
  4. Should I Choose?

Should I Choose Cardiothoracic Surgery?

Real decision-making data from 3 verified Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians. Here is what they actually think.

4/5
Avg Satisfaction
100%
Would Choose Again
78
Avg Hours/Week
$3.4M
Avg Compensation

The Verdict

100%
of Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians would choose the specialty again

An overwhelming 100% of Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians say they would choose the specialty again -- a strong endorsement.

What Physicians Love About Cardiothoracic Surgery

“I have always wanted to help people and it makes me happy when I do.”
— Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellow
“It’s amazing worth the studying time”
— Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician
“I love saving lives, and getting to see a smile on people face and their families.”
— Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician

Work-Life Balance Reality in Cardiothoracic Surgery

78
average hours per week reported by Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians
“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!!!!”
— Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellow
“It’s a bit hard I get called in even when I’m sleeping ”
— Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician
“The work life balance is brutal but very rewarding.”
— Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician

How Cardiothoracic Surgery Compares

See how Cardiothoracic Surgery stacks up against other popular specialties.

Cardiothoracic SurgeryCurrent
Satisfaction:4/5
Choose Again:100%
Hours:78
Comp:$3.4M
Pediatrics
Satisfaction:4/5
Choose Again:84%
General Dentist
Satisfaction:3.5/5
Choose Again:83%
Family Medicine
Satisfaction:3.6/5
Choose Again:76%
SpecialtySatisfactionWould Choose Again

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cardiothoracic Surgery worth it?

Based on 3 verified physician responses, Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians report 4/5 average satisfaction and 100% say they would choose the specialty again. Average total compensation is $3.4M. Whether it is worth it depends on your priorities, but the data suggests most physicians are satisfied with their choice.

What's the work-life balance like in Cardiothoracic Surgery?

Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians work an average of 78 hours per week. One physician shared: "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,..."

How much do Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians make?

Based on SalaryDr data, Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians earn an average total compensation of $3.4M. With an average of 78 hours per week, that translates to roughly $838/hour.

Still deciding? Hear from more Cardiothoracic Surgery physicians

Explore detailed lifestyle insights or contribute your own experience to help others make their decision.

View Full Cardiothoracic Surgery InsightsShare Your Experience

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Specialties
  • All Physician Salaries
  • Salaries by City
  • General Surgery
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Cardiology
  • Salaries by State
Tools
  • Salary Comparison
  • Take Home Calculator
  • Offer Analyzer
  • Compare Specialties
  • Salary Negotiation
Salary Data
  • Salary Benchmarks
  • Salary Trends
  • Compensation Analysis
  • Lifestyle Insights
  • Compensation Components
  • Annual Report
Community
  • SalaryDen Forum
  • Latest Discussions
  • Submit Your Salary
  • Share Feedback
  • Salary FAQ
For Dentists
  • All Dentist Salaries
  • Dental Salary Database
  • Dentist Salary by State
  • Submit Dental Salary
  • Dental Calculator
Legal
  • About
  • Methodology
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Community Guidelines
  • DMCA Policy
  • Data Retention
  • Cookie Policy
  • Safe Harbor
  • Data Requests

Follow SalaryDr

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  • Instagram (@salarydr_)
  • X (Twitter) (@salarydr)

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Avg Hours
Avg Comp
Cardiothoracic SurgeryCurrent4/5100%78$3.4M
Pediatrics4/584%46$355K
General Dentist3.5/583%36$364K
Family Medicine3.6/576%44$315K