How much do adult cardiac cardiothoracic surgeons make? The median adult cardiac cardiothoracic surgeon salary in 2026 is $1,150,000, with an average of $1,033,333. The typical range is $700,000–$1,250,000 (25th–75th percentile).
Source: SalaryDr verified data • 3 submissions • Updated Feb 2026
$1,150,000
$1,033,333
$700,000
$1,250,000
Based on 3 verified salary submissions, total compensation for Adult cardiac Cardiothoracic Surgeon ranges from $700,000 to $1,250,000, with top performers (90th percentile) earning up to $1,250,000 annually. The median salary for this subspecialty is above the general Cardiothoracic Surgeon average.
Entry-level Adult cardiac Cardiothoracic Surgeon positions start at $700,000, while those with more than 10 years of experience earn a typical salary of $1,200,000 – a 71% increase.
Most commonly, Adult cardiac Cardiothoracic Surgeon physicians work in Academic settings (67% of submissions). Base salary makes up 92% of total compensation ($946,667), with the rest from bonuses, profit sharing, and incentives.
Adult cardiac Cardiothoracic Surgeon physicians report 3.7/5 career satisfaction, with 100% saying they would choose this subspecialty again.
Focuses on specialized adult cardiac procedures and treatments within cardiothoracic surgery, providing expert care in this specific area.
Explore Cardiothoracic Surgeon salaries by location: California, Texas, New York, or view all Cardiothoracic Surgeon salary data.
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Distribution based on 3 verified physician salary submissions.
Median Salary: $1,150,000
Average satisfaction rating reported by Adult cardiac Cardiothoracic Surgeon physicians (1-5 scale).
Percentage of Adult cardiac Cardiothoracic Surgeon physicians who would choose this specialty again.
Physicians cite the variety of cases and patient relationships as most rewarding aspects of this specialty.
On-call demands, administrative burden, and work-life balance are cited as the top challenges.
Explore adult cardiac salary data for cardiothoracic surgery across different states. Click on any state to view detailed compensation information for adult cardiac in that location.
| Practice Type | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital-employed | $1,250,000 | 1 submissions |
| Academic | $925,000 | 2 submissions |
* Small sample sizes may affect data reliability.
| Years of Experience | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | $700,000 | 1 submissions |
| 11-15 years | $1,150,000 | 1 submissions |
| 16+ years | $1,250,000 | 1 submissions |
* Experience levels with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.