Cardiologists
Cardiologists (SOC 29-1212) earn a median $496,010 a year ($238.47 an hour) in the United States, with 17,290 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What cardiologists do
Cardiologists diagnose, treat, manage and prevent diseases or conditions of the cardiovascular system. The SOC notes that they may further subspecialize in interventional procedures such as balloon angioplasty and stent placement, in echocardiography, or in electrophysiology. O*NET alternate titles include general, interventional, invasive, non-invasive and heart failure cardiologist, as well as electrophysiology cardiologist. The packet provides no task list for this code and no education data, so a description of day-to-day work has to stay general: cardiologists evaluate patients with suspected or established heart and vascular conditions, interpret diagnostic findings, choose treatments and monitor patients over time. Interventional work, which uses catheter-based procedures, differs from the noninvasive side of the field, which relies on imaging and testing. Cardiologists are physicians, so the field sits among the medical specialties rather than the surgical ones, and operations on the heart itself belong to surgeons, who are counted in separate codes.
Also called: Cardiac Specialist, Cardiologist, Cardiology Non-Invasive Physician, Cardiology Physician, Electrophysiology Cardiologist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $51.53 | $131.87 | $238.47 | $293.30 | $342.37 | $218.72 | 17,290 |
| Annual | $107,190 | $274,280 | $496,010 | $610,060 | $712,130 | $454,940 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where cardiologists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $67.22 | $211.03 | $315.54 | $354.53 | $364.69 | $270.27 | 200 | 0.06 | 0.51 |
| Annual | $139,820 | $438,930 | $656,330 | $737,410 | $758,560 | $562,160 | ||||
| Missouri | Hourly | $48.52 | $68.43 | $311.57 | $380.74 | $380.74 | $251.63 | 150 | 0.05 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $100,920 | $142,320 | $648,070 | $791,930 | $791,930 | $523,380 | ||||
| Nebraska | Hourly | $104.06 | $280.93 | $310.72 | $376.49 | $398.97 | $301.63 | 170 | 0.17 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $216,450 | $584,330 | $646,300 | $783,100 | $829,860 | $627,390 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $45.36 | $244.72 | $306.05 | $320.61 | $320.61 | $264.37 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $94,340 | $509,010 | $636,580 | $666,880 | $666,880 | $549,880 | ||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $85.88 | $211.57 | $293.31 | $341.36 | $381.51 | $264.99 | 560 | 0.17 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $178,630 | $440,070 | $610,080 | $710,040 | $793,530 | $551,190 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $50.39 | $108.86 | $236.56 | $275.09 | $331.05 | $210.33 | 2,260 | 0.23 | 2.09 |
| Annual | $104,800 | $226,430 | $492,040 | $572,180 | $688,580 | $437,490 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $46.70 | $68.68 | $197.19 | $261.86 | $338.19 | $185.90 | 2,050 | 0.15 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $97,140 | $142,860 | $410,150 | $544,670 | $703,430 | $386,680 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $89.89 | $293.30 | $293.30 | $349.61 | $449.26 | $296.17 | 1,150 | 0.23 | 2.11 |
| Annual | $186,960 | $610,060 | $610,070 | $727,180 | $934,460 | $616,040 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $101.57 | $131.87 | $199.48 | $247.47 | $310.48 | $195.39 | 920 | 0.09 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $211,260 | $274,280 | $414,910 | $514,740 | $645,810 | $406,400 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $104.57 | $184.37 | $221.85 | $267.10 | $283.70 | $214.73 | 810 | 0.20 | 1.77 |
| Annual | $217,500 | $383,490 | $461,450 | $555,570 | $590,090 | $446,630 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $47.41 | $211.03 | $318.63 | $356.42 | $364.88 | $271.85 | 130 | 0.06 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $98,610 | $438,930 | $662,760 | $741,360 | $758,950 | $565,440 | ||||
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | Hourly | $79.78 | $159.83 | $293.31 | $316.38 | $370.42 | $244.65 | 40 | 0.15 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $165,930 | $332,440 | $610,080 | $658,060 | $770,470 | $508,870 | ||||
| Omaha, NE-IA | Hourly | $106.66 | $280.93 | $287.73 | $344.17 | $353.98 | $278.34 | 110 | 0.22 | 1.99 |
| Annual | $221,850 | $584,330 | $598,480 | $715,880 | $736,270 | $578,940 | ||||
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | Hourly | $52.01 | $269.21 | $272.92 | $290.11 | $312.34 | $238.44 | 80 | 0.23 | 2.10 |
| Annual | $108,180 | $559,960 | $567,680 | $603,440 | $649,660 | $495,950 | ||||
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | Hourly | $36.18 | $60.77 | $268.36 | $271.67 | $293.45 | $180.65 | 140 | 0.49 | 4.37 |
| Annual | $75,260 | $126,400 | $558,180 | $565,060 | $610,380 | $375,750 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $48.70 | $108.04 | $236.61 | $276.91 | $335.38 | $202.14 | 2,050 | 0.22 | 1.94 |
| Annual | $101,290 | $224,730 | $492,150 | $575,970 | $697,580 | $420,460 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $66.59 | $68.55 | $193.92 | $197.19 | $287.79 | $153.74 | 940 | 0.23 | 2.10 |
| Annual | $138,520 | $142,580 | $403,340 | $410,150 | $598,590 | $319,770 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | # | # | # | # | # | # | 910 | 0.32 | 2.85 |
| Annual | # | # | # | # | # | # | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $40.61 | $46.15 | $90.17 | $262.20 | $299.69 | $155.84 | 460 | 0.14 | 1.25 |
| Annual | $84,480 | $95,990 | $187,550 | $545,370 | $623,360 | $324,160 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 440 | 0.16 | 1.48 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Top industries employing cardiologists
Offices of Physicians employ 61.5% of cardiologists nationally (10,630 jobs) at a median $516,940 a year ($248.53 an hour), followed by General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (27.5%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (5.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 10,630 | 61.5% | $516,940 | $248.53 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 4,760 | 27.5% | $446,020 | $214.43 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 880 | 5.1% | * | * |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 480 | 2.8% | # | # |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 280 | 1.6% | # | # |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (17,290). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Every state, by median wage
40 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $315.54 | $656,330 | $139,820 | $758,560 | 200 | 0.06 | 0.51 |
| 2 | Missouri profile | $311.57 | $648,070 | $100,920 | $791,930 | 150 | 0.05 | 0.47 |
| 3 | Nebraska profile | $310.72 | $646,300 | $216,450 | $829,860 | 170 | 0.17 | 1.48 |
| 4 | Wisconsin profile | $306.05 | $636,580 | $94,340 | $666,880 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.60 |
| 5 | Tennessee profile | $293.31 | $610,080 | $178,630 | $793,530 | 560 | 0.17 | 1.55 |
| 6 | Georgia profile | $293.30 | $610,070 | $186,960 | $934,460 | 1,150 | 0.23 | 2.11 |
| 7 | Indiana profile | $283.12 | $588,890 | $77,310 | $618,740 | 140 | 0.04 | 0.39 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania profile | $278.42 | $579,120 | $108,180 | $653,250 | 640 | 0.11 | 0.95 |
| 9 | Kentucky profile | $268.36 | $558,180 | $216,710 | $624,260 | ** | ** | ** |
| 10 | Alabama profile | $249.75 | $519,480 | $188,970 | $650,580 | 130 | 0.06 | 0.54 |
| 11 | Illinois profile | $248.97 | $517,850 | $119,280 | $749,550 | 340 | 0.06 | 0.51 |
| 12 | Ohio profile | $242.43 | $504,260 | $32,290 | $733,900 | 760 | 0.14 | 1.24 |
| 13 | New York profile | $236.56 | $492,040 | $104,800 | $688,580 | 2,260 | 0.23 | 2.09 |
| 14 | Connecticut profile | $235.07 | $488,940 | $79,730 | $812,490 | 320 | 0.19 | 1.70 |
| 15 | Virginia profile | $221.85 | $461,450 | $217,500 | $590,090 | 810 | 0.20 | 1.77 |
| 16 | Michigan profile | $201.46 | $419,030 | $68,540 | $587,670 | 340 | 0.08 | 0.69 |
| 17 | Florida profile | $199.48 | $414,910 | $211,260 | $645,810 | 920 | 0.09 | 0.84 |
| 18 | Texas profile | $197.19 | $410,150 | $97,140 | $703,430 | 2,050 | 0.15 | 1.31 |
| 19 | Rhode Island profile | $190.20 | $395,610 | $136,140 | $442,460 | 60 | 0.13 | 1.15 |
| 20 | Maryland profile | $162.13 | $337,230 | $149,990 | $716,280 | ** | ** | ** |
| 21 | New Jersey profile | $137.76 | $286,540 | $35,000 | $613,160 | ** | ** | ** |
| 22 | Iowa profile | $136.09 | $283,070 | $63,530 | $643,380 | 100 | 0.06 | 0.56 |
| 23 | California profile | $89.24 | $185,610 | $109,310 | $532,070 | 630 | 0.04 | 0.31 |
| – | Arizona profile | # | # | # | # | 440 | 0.14 | 1.22 |
| – | Colorado profile | # | # | # | # | 200 | 0.07 | 0.64 |
| – | Delaware profile | # | # | # | # | 90 | 0.19 | 1.73 |
| – | Hawaii profile | # | # | # | # | 50 | 0.08 | 0.74 |
| – | Maine profile | # | # | # | # | 150 | 0.24 | 2.11 |
| – | Massachusetts profile | * | * | * | * | 510 | 0.14 | 1.26 |
| – | Minnesota profile | # | # | # | # | 420 | 0.14 | 1.29 |
| – | Mississippi profile | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.04 | 0.36 |
| – | New Hampshire profile | # | # | # | # | 190 | 0.28 | 2.53 |
| – | New Mexico profile | # | # | # | # | 90 | 0.11 | 0.98 |
| – | North Carolina profile | * | * | * | * | 300 | 0.06 | 0.55 |
| – | North Dakota profile | # | # | # | # | 40 | 0.10 | 0.91 |
| – | Oregon profile | # | # | # | # | 150 | 0.08 | 0.71 |
| – | South Carolina profile | # | # | # | # | 210 | 0.09 | 0.83 |
| – | Utah profile | # | # | # | # | 280 | 0.16 | 1.46 |
| – | Vermont profile | * | * | * | * | 70 | 0.24 | 2.18 |
| – | Wyoming profile | # | # | # | # | 30 | 0.12 | 1.08 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-1210), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1212 Cardiologists.
#- Equal to or greater than the top code (BLS publishes no wage above it).
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1212, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1212.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.