How much do cardiac cardiothoracic surgeons make? The median cardiac cardiothoracic surgeon salary in 2026 is $1,250,000, with an average of $1,270,333. The typical range is $756,000–$1,805,000 (25th–75th percentile).
Source: SalaryDr verified data • 3 submissions • Updated May 2026
$1,250,000
$1,270,333
$756,000
$1,805,000
Based on 3 verified salary submissions, total compensation for Cardiac Cardiothoracic Surgeon ranges from $756,000 to $1,805,000, with top performers (90th percentile) earning up to $1,805,000 annually. The median salary for this subspecialty is below the general Cardiothoracic Surgeon average.
Entry-level Cardiac Cardiothoracic Surgeon positions start at $756,000, while those with more than 10 years of experience earn a typical salary of $1,527,500 – a 102% increase.
Most commonly, Cardiac Cardiothoracic Surgeon physicians work in Hospital Employed settings (67% of submissions). Base salary makes up 69% of total compensation ($877,000), with the rest from bonuses, profit sharing, and incentives.
Cardiac Cardiothoracic Surgeon physicians report 4.0/5 career satisfaction, with 67% saying they would choose this subspecialty again.
Focuses on specialized 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.
We need more Cardiac Cardiothoracic Surgeon physician salary submissions to provide accurate insights. Your data helps colleagues make informed career decisions.
Distribution based on 3 verified physician salary submissions.
Median Salary: $1,250,000
Average satisfaction rating reported by Cardiac Cardiothoracic Surgeon physicians (1-5 scale).
Percentage of 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 cardiac salary data for cardiothoracic surgery across different states. Click on any state to view detailed compensation information for cardiac in that location.
| Practice Type | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| Community Hospital | $1,805,000 | 1 submissions |
| Private Practice | $1,250,000 | 1 submissions |
| Hospital-employed | $756,000 | 1 submissions |
* Small sample sizes may affect data reliability.
| Years of Experience | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 years | $756,000 | 1 submissions |
| 3-5 years | $1,527,500 | 2 submissions |
* Experience levels with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.