How much does a Cardiologist make in California?
As of June 15, 2025, a Cardiologist in California earns approximately $625,000 per year ($52,083 monthly). Based on an average 55-hour work week, this translates to about $230 per hour.
Local Salary Range and Market Analysis
From 15 verified physician salary submissions in California, SalaryDr is seeing total compensation ranging from $500,000 to $740,000, with top performers (90th percentile) earning up to $1,000,000 annually. Compared to the national median of $625,000, Cardiologist salaries in California are in line with the national median.
Career Growth and Local Market Trends
In California, the salary progression for cardiologist physicians shows significant growth potential. Entry-level positions start at $588,333, while those with more than 10 years of experience earn a typical salary of $702,778 - a 19% increase.
Local Practice Settings and Employers
On average, base salary accounts for 83% of total compensation—about $547,000—with the remaining amount coming from bonuses, profit sharing, and incentives.
Work-Life Balance in California
Local cardiologist physicians report 4.6/5 career satisfaction, with 100% of those surveyed saying they would choose this specialty again.
Salary Distribution
Distribution based on 15 verified physician salary submissions.
Median Salary: $625,000
Physician Satisfaction
Would Choose Again
Percentage of Cardiology physicians who would choose this specialty again if starting their career over.
Satisfaction Rating
Average satisfaction rating reported by Cardiology physicians (1-5 scale).
Career Satisfaction
Physicians cite the variety of cases and patient relationships as most rewarding aspects of this specialty.
Primary Challenges
On-call demands, administrative burden, and work-life balance are cited as the top challenges.
Salary Comparison
Location Statistics
Average Salary
$657,000
Median Salary
$625,000
Salary Range
$500,000 - $740,000
National Comparison
National Average
$657,000
Difference
+0% vs National Average
Sample Size
15 local / 15 national reports
Salary by Practice Type
| Practice Type | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| Private Practice | $817,000 | 5 submissions |
| Hospital-employed | $624,167 | 6 submissions |
| Academic | $506,250 | 4 submissions |
* Practice types with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Salary by Experience Level
| Years of Experience | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 years | $400,000 | 1 submissions |
| 6-10 years | $607,500 | 2 submissions |
| 11-15 years | $759,375 | 8 submissions |
| 16+ years | $541,250 | 4 submissions |
* Experience levels with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Take-Home Pay Calculator
Subspecialty Comparison
Interventional
EP
Electrophysiology
Structural
Non-invasive
Imaging
Heart Failure
Research
| Subspecialty | Average Salary | Sample Size | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interventional | $729,152 | 23 submissions | Performs catheter-based treatments for heart disease, including stenting, angioplasty, and structural heart procedures. |
| EP | $720,200 | 10 submissions | Focuses on specialized ep procedures and treatments within cardiology, providing expert care in this specific area. |
| Electrophysiology | $693,636 | 11 submissions | Manages complex heart rhythm disorders through ablation procedures and device therapy. |
| Structural | $673,333 | 12 submissions | Focuses on specialized structural procedures and treatments within cardiology, providing expert care in this specific area. |
| Non-invasive | $556,250 | 8 submissions | Focuses on specialized non-invasive procedures and treatments within cardiology, providing expert care in this specific area. |
| Imaging | $551,000 | 3 submissions | Focuses on specialized imaging procedures and treatments within cardiology, providing expert care in this specific area. |
| Heart Failure | $524,600 | 5 submissions | Provides advanced therapy for severe heart failure, including mechanical support and transplant management. |
| Research | $483,333 | 3 submissions | Focuses on specialized research procedures and treatments within cardiology, providing expert care in this specific area. |
* Subspecialties with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
* Data is aggregated from verified physician submissions.
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* Salary data is updated monthly based on verified physician submissions.
Popular Locations
New York City, NY
Average Salary: $400,000
Based on 150 reports
Los Angeles, CA
Average Salary: $380,000
Based on 120 reports
Chicago, IL
Average Salary: $350,000
Based on 100 reports
Houston, TX
Average Salary: $340,000
Based on 90 reports
Miami, FL
Average Salary: $360,000
Based on 80 reports
Boston, MA
Average Salary: $370,000
Based on 70 reports
* Showing locations with the most reported salaries.
* Some locations may be omitted if they have fewer than 3 reports.
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About Our Data
Our salary data is based on anonymous submissions from practicing physicians across the United States. We verify and clean the data to ensure accuracy and remove outliers.
Last updated: June 15, 2025