SOC 29-1212.00Bright outlook

    Cardiologists

    Diagnose, treat, manage, and prevent diseases or conditions of the cardiovascular system.

    Median pay
    $496,010
    Growth
    +4.8%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    500
    Typical education
    Doctoral or professional degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $107,190
    Median
    $496,010
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $712,130
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    17,290 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Cardiologists are medical doctors who diagnose, manage, and prevent cardiovascular diseases, earning a median annual pay of $496,010. They use specialized procedures to treat heart and blood vessel conditions.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What cardiologists do

    Job Zone 5: Extensive preparation

    Diagnose, treat, manage, and prevent diseases or conditions of the cardiovascular system. May further subspecialize in interventional procedures (e.g., balloon angioplasty and stent placement), echocardiography, or electrophysiology.

    Most need a graduate degree, such as a master's, PhD, MD or JD.

    What the work is like

    Cardiologists focus on the human heart and circulatory system. On a daily basis, these medical specialists evaluate patients, diagnose cardiovascular conditions, and prescribe treatments or preventative plans. Some professionals in this field choose to subspecialize in areas like electrophysiology, echocardiography, or interventional procedures such as placing stents and performing balloon angioplasty.

    This profession attracts individuals with strong investigative interests who enjoy intellectual curiosity and problem-solving. To succeed, practitioners must demonstrate exceptional attention to detail, dependability, and cautiousness. Because they deal with critical health situations, cardiologists must maintain high stress tolerance, self-control, and perseverance, while working cooperatively with other healthcare staff and demonstrating complete integrity.

    How to get there

    Entering this career requires extensive preparation. Candidates must typically earn a doctoral or professional degree, such as a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). Medicine is the primary college major that leads to this field.

    After completing medical school, aspiring cardiologists must complete residency and fellowship training. Some states list a license for this work, which is required to practice medicine. Additionally, individuals may pursue certifications such as the Certified EKG Technician credential from National Performance Specialists.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for cardiologists is $496,010. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience, subspecialty, and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $107,190 and the highest 10% earning more than $712,130. There are currently 17,290 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 4.8%, which is as fast as average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in about 500 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    66 / 100
    Investigative (I) · strongest
    98 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    2 / 100
    Social (S)
    62 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    21 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    50 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code IRS. Compare it with yours

    Skills and strengths

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Cautiousness
    • Self-Control
    • Integrity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Perseverance
    • Cooperation

    Also called

    APP (Advanced Practice Provider) · Cardiac Specialist · Cardiologist · Cardiology Non-Invasive Physician · Cardiology Physician · DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician) · Electrophysiology Cardiologist · General Cardiologist · Heart Failure Cardiologist · Interventional Cardiologist

    Career pathway

    From your interests to cardiologists

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Cardiologists$496,010 median pay

    3. Majors

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What cardiologists may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program
    • Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship Program
    • Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program
    • Medicine
    • Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
    • Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    53 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Federal

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about cardiologists

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common job titles for cardiologists?

    People in this profession are known by several titles, including Cardiac Specialist, Cardiology Non-Invasive Physician, Electrophysiology Cardiologist, Heart Failure Cardiologist, and Interventional Cardiologist.

    What college majors are recommended for this career?

    Students aiming for this career typically major in Medicine to obtain the necessary doctoral or professional degree required for entry.

    What is the job outlook for cardiologists?

    Employment in this field is projected to grow by 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average career. This growth will generate approximately 500 job openings annually.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.