Cardiologist Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Cardiologists — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$496,010
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$238.47
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$712,130
entry level starts ~$107,190
Pay Grade
A+
elite pay · 17,000 employed

How much does a Cardiologist make?

A Cardiologist earns a median annual salary of $496,010 in the United States, which works out to roughly $238.47 per hour for full-time work. Most Cardiologists earn between $107,190 at the entry level and $712,130 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $274,280 and $610,060 a year.

That is $434,620 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Cardiologist salary range by percentile

Half of all Cardiologists earn between $274,280 and $610,060 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$107,190$51.53
25th percentile (early career)$274,280$131.87
50th percentile (median)$496,010$238.47
75th percentile (experienced)$610,060$293.30
90th percentile (top earners)$712,130$342.37

Highest-paying states for Cardiologist

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Cardiologist pay at $656,330 a year, followed by Missouri ($648,070) and Nebraska ($646,300). At the other end, California posts the lowest median at $185,610 — a gap of $470,720 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Washington$656,330$315.54+32%
2Missouri$648,070$311.57+31%
3Nebraska$646,300$310.72+30%
4Wisconsin$636,580$306.05+28%
5Tennessee$610,080$293.31+23%

Workforce and education

About 17,000 people work as Cardiologists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $454,940 — below the median, unusual for salaried roles. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Cardiologist make in the United States?
The median Cardiologist salary in the United States is $496,010 per year, or about $238.47 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $107,190, while the top 10% of earners make $712,130 or more.
How does Cardiologist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A+ (elite pay), the Cardiologist median of $496,010 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Cardiologists the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Cardiologists, with a median salary of $656,330 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Cardiologist?
Becoming a Cardiologist typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Cardiologists work in the United States?
About 17,000 people were employed as Cardiologists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.