Table of Contents
Cardiologist Job DescriptionHistoric Cardiologist Salary OutlookAverage Salary for CardiologistsAverage Cardiologist Salary by StateTop 5 Highest Paying States for Cardiologist SalaryHighest Paying Cities for a CardiologistPermanent Positions Versus Locum Tenen ContractsCardiologist Jobs Near MeAs a Healthcare staffing agency, we understand the importance of having reliable information and trustworthy information available to you. That’s why our healthcare content is created by experienced nurses and healthcare professionals who understand the industry firsthand. We use trustworthy sources and keep our information up-to-date so you can feel confident in the advice and resources we offer.
Cardiologist Job Description
A cardiologist is a doctor that is trained to care for the health of their patient’s hearts and blood vessels, help diagnose and treat a wide range of heart-related illnesses and work with patients on how to prevent them. The role of a cardiologist is similar to other doctors, where they must evaluate their patients, examine their medical history, and plan their treatment method.
A cardiologist may counsel patients who are at risk of heart disease and give guidance on ways to prevent it. A cardiologistcan also treat patients who have heart attacks, heart rhythm issues, heart failure and can also prescribe heart medications as needed. Some of the tests a cardiologist may order are echocardiograms, angiograms, or cardiac catheterizations.
Historic Cardiologist Salary Outlook
The employment outlook for cardiologist is positive, but growing slower than the average for other physician and surgeon occupations. This could be due to the 14 years of education, training, and other programs it takes to become a cardiologist. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts, about a 3% job increase from 2021-2031, which means 600 cardiologist jobs are predicted to become available during that time period. According to Zippia, cardiologist jobs are in demand and are projected to grow 7% from 2018 to 2028. Cardiologist salaries continued to increase from 2022 to 2023 by 2.4%, which is a promising leap!
Average Salary for Cardiologists
According to ZipRecruiter, the national average salary for a cardiologist in 2023 is $360,843 a year.
There are quite a few different components that play into what a cardiologist salary will be. A few of the components include the city and state you work in, years of experience, and type of employment contract. As a cardiologist, you will have the opportunity to decide what type of employment contract you wish to pursue such as a permanent position or locum tenens contract. Typically, locum tenens get paid higher than doctors with a permanent position. On the other hand, permanent positions have more stability and more normal hours than locum tenens positions. We’ll go into more detail about these different types of employment later.
Average Cardiologist Salary by State
The annual average cardiologist salary can be a determining factor on where a cardiologist may want to work. ZipRecruiter broke down each state by annual salary below.
| State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $420,483 | $35,040 | $8,086 | $202.16 |
| Oregon | $416,875 | $34,739 | $8,016 | $200.42 |
| Massachusetts | $413,576 | $34,464 | $7,953 | $198.83 |
| Hawaii | $409,265 | $34,105 | $7,870 | $196.76 |
| Alaska | $397,711 | $33,142 | $7,648 | $191.21 |
| Rhode Island | $393,752 | $32,812 | $7,572 | $189.30 |
| South Dakota | $391,589 | $32,632 | $7,530 | $188.26 |
| North Dakota | $391,294 | $32,607 | $7,524 | $188.12 |
| Washington | $386,827 | $32,235 | $7,438 | $185.97 |
| New York | $377,928 | $31,494 | $7,267 | $181.70 |
| Illinois | $363,551 | $30,295 | $6,991 | $174.78 |
| California | $358,882 | $29,906 | $6,901 | $172.54 |
| Maryland | $352,189 | $29,349 | $6,772 | $169.32 |
| Virginia | $351,695 | $29,307 | $6,763 | $169.08 |
| Colorado | $348,958 | $29,079 | $6,710 | $167.77 |
| Delaware | $347,341 | $28,945 | $6,679 | $166.99 |
| Wisconsin | $339,647 | $28,303 | $6,531 | $163.29 |
| Vermont | $338,635 | $28,219 | $6,512 | $162.81 |
| New Jersey | $338,516 | $28,209 | $6,509 | $162.75 |
| South Carolina | $335,556 | $27,963 | $6,453 | $161.33 |
| Oklahoma | $334,140 | $27,845 | $6,425 | $160.64 |
| Michigan | $333,567 | $27,797 | $6,414 | $160.37 |
| Minnesota | $331,264 | $27,605 | $6,370 | $159.26 |
| Missouri | $330,113 | $27,509 | $6,348 | $158.71 |
| Maine | $327,715 | $27,309 | $6,302 | $157.56 |
| Wyoming | $323,283 | $26,940 | $6,216 | $155.42 |
| Indiana | $321,392 | $26,782 | $6,180 | $154.52 |
| Arizona | $321,289 | $26,774 | $6,178 | $154.47 |
| Iowa | $320,889 | $26,740 | $6,170 | $154.27 |
| Connecticut | $320,078 | $26,673 | $6,155 | $153.88 |
| Texas | $319,422 | $26,618 | $6,142 | $153.57 |
| Nebraska | $318,689 | $26,557 | $6,128 | $153.22 |
| Pennsylvania | $316,216 | $26,351 | $6,081 | $152.03 |
| Georgia | $315,838 | $26,319 | $6,073 | $151.85 |
| New Hampshire | $315,421 | $26,285 | $6,065 | $151.64 |
| Kentucky | $312,360 | $26,030 | $6,006 | $150.17 |
| Idaho | $309,470 | $25,789 | $5,951 | $148.78 |
| Montana | $308,240 | $25,686 | $5,927 | $148.19 |
| Ohio | $307,507 | $25,625 | $5,913 | $147.84 |
| New Mexico | $307,409 | $25,617 | $5,911 | $147.79 |
| North Carolina | $306,377 | $25,531 | $5,891 | $147.30 |
| Arkansas | $305,649 | $25,470 | $5,877 | $146.95 |
| Utah | $301,795 | $25,149 | $5,803 | $145.09 |
| Tennessee | $300,975 | $25,081 | $5,787 | $144.70 |
| Mississippi | $298,747 | $24,895 | $5,745 | $143.63 |
| Kansas | $287,252 | $23,937 | $5,524 | $138.10 |
| Louisiana | $276,209 | $23,017 | $5,311 | $132.79 |
| West Virginia | $272,468 | $22,705 | $5,239 | $130.99 |
| Alabama | $271,516 | $22,626 | $5,221 | $130.54 |
| Florida | $271,236 | $22,603 | $5,216 | $130.40 |
Top 5 Highest Paying States for Cardiologist Salary
- Nevada – $420,483
- Oregon – $416,875
- Massachusetts – $413,576
- Hawaii – $409,265
- Alaska – 397,711
The highest paying state for a cardiologist is in Nevada. You would make 64% more money by working in Nevada as a cardiologist as opposed to working in the state of Florida, which is the lowest paying state. Besides Nevada being a high paying state for cardiologists, the states Oregon, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Alaska follow close behind! Although the pay is higher in these states, you must take into account the cost of living. For example, the cost of living in Hawaii is much higher compared to other states, therefore you should be mindful about how much money will be your take-home pay.
Highest Paying Cities for a Cardiologist
According to ZipRecruiter, the West Coast, specifically the states California and Washington are the best places to be if you are a cardiologist. It is important to be mindful of the cost of living in the region you are considering taking a position. Cost of living plays a vital role in understanding if a compensation package meets your personal and professional goals
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley, CA | $447,509 | $37,292 | $8,605 | $215.15 |
| Renton, WA | $442,780 | $36,898 | $8,515 | $212.88 |
| Santa Monica, CA | $439,785 | $36,648 | $8,457 | $211.44 |
| Merced, CA | $438,768 | $36,564 | $8,437 | $210.95 |
| Boston, MA | $433,092 | $36,091 | $8,328 | $208.22 |
Permanent Positions Versus Locum Tenen Contracts
As a cardiologist in a permanent position, you are typically going to receive the following: guaranteed salary, benefits, and job security. Generally, permanent positions are employed by hospitals, clinics, private practices, or other healthcare organizations. Permanent positions require healthcare professionals to work regular hours and have a set duties and responsibilities. If you are a creature of habit, this may be the type of position for you!
On the contrary locum tenen contracts are a form of temporary employment, which means the healthcare professional is only working somewhere for a set period of time. The contract time period will vary, and could last a few days, weeks, or several months depending on the needs of the organization. Locum tenens opportunities can be found in a variety of different settings such as hospitals, clinics, private practices, government agencies. If you like variety and traveling then this would be the perfect opportunity for you!
| Pros of Locum Tenens | Cons of Locum Tenens |
| Flexibility – Make your own schedule | Less Stability – Potential periods of unemployment between contracts. |
| Higher Pay – On average, temporary jobs pay higher than permanent | Benefits – Typically, you are responsible for your our benefits |
| Greater Network – Potential to gain a wider network of colleagues and more experience in a variety of medical conditions and settings. | Adaptability – Must be able to adapt and adjust quickly to new environments. |
Cardiologist Jobs Near Me
Join our team at PRN Healthcare as a skilled and dedicated cardiologist. Make a significant impact while enjoying a supportive and innovative work environment. At PRN Healthcare we place cardiologist doctors in locum contracts throughout the nation. We would love to help you on your next journey with us!