Becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon is one of the most critical healthcare professionals in the world. Although a tad challenging career to pursue, it is pretty fulfilling and lucrative, but how much does a cardiothoracic surgeon make? Here is all you need to know about the cardiothoracic surgeon’s salary in 2023.
Cardiothoracic surgeons are professionals that specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of the thorax region.
Continue to read to find all you need to know about cardiothoracic surgeons.
Table of contents
- Cardiothoracic Surgeons
- What Does a Cardiothoracic Surgeon Do?
- What is the Average Cardiothoracic Surgeon’s Salary?
- Factors that Affect Cardiothoracic Salaries
- How Can I Become a Cardiothoracic Surgeon?
- What are the Requirements to Become a Heart Surgeon?
- Conclusion
- FAQs Cardiothoracic Surgeon Salary
- References
- We Also Recommend
Cardiothoracic Surgeons
A cardiothoracic surgeon specializes in surgical procedures inside the thorax – the chest. This involves the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest.
Cardiothoracic surgeons can also be called Cardiac, Cardiovascular, and general thoracic surgeons. However, not every cardio or cardiovascular surgeon is a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Cardiothoracic surgeons primarily specialize in diagnosing, surgical treatments, and medical management of most organs and tissues in the chest.
What Does a Cardiothoracic Surgeon Do?
Generally, a cardiothoracic surgeon diagnoses and treats diseases and conditions which involve the thoracic system. Cardiothoracic surgeons may:
- Conduct physical exams to determine general cardiac health.
- Diagnose patients and create surgical treatment plans.
- Reviews patient history and confirm the need for surgery.
- Prepare patients for surgery and communicate with them about their concerns.
- Perform complex and lengthy heart surgeries and interventions safely and hygienically.
- Heart and lung transplant surgery.
- Performing robotic cardiac surgery.
- Monitoring patients in intensive care.
- Offer dietary recommendations for the management of existing heart conditions.
- Work with nurses and anesthesiologists to guarantee safe treatment.
- Spread awareness about practicing good cardiac health.
- Prescribe medication and other lifestyle changes that can help enhance existing conditions.
- Adequately and professionally communicate with patients’ families about diagnoses.
- Collect, manage, document, and update patient records and complete other administrative tasks.
- Research surgical techniques and publish new findings.
While you’re here, you may want to check out: Trauma Surgeon Salary in 2023 | How much does a Trauma Surgeon make?
What is the Average Cardiothoracic Surgeon’s Salary?
According to Salary.com, a cardiothoracic surgeon’s salary in the US is $494,848 per year; however, the range falls between $396,633 and $620,334 annually. Also, according to Payscale, an average cardiothoracic salary in the US is $395,161 per year.
On the contrary, Physiciansthrive counters Payscale’s numbers and reports that a cardiothoracic surgeon’s salary in the US is $481,200.
Glassdoor reports $383,310 per year. Medscape reports $438,00. Zippia reports $304,400, and the Economic Research Institute (ERI) reports $447,192 annually.
In determining the average cardiothoracic surgeon salary in the US, it is safe to conclude a cardiothoracic surgeon’s salary in the US is between $383,310 and $620,334 per year.
Factors that Affect Cardiothoracic Salaries
The cardiothoracic surgeon’s salary, just like the salary range of any surgeon can be influenced by some factors. Let’s briefly look into these factors:
Years of Experience
Like every other surgeon and in most top careers, incomes are usually affected by the candidate’s years of experience. , they lower at entry-level positions, and their pay increases with experience.
Location
This factor usually depends on the cost of living and the current demand for cardiothoracic surgeons in a particular area. Surgeons who live in locations with a high cost of living may earn higher than their counterparts living in areas with a reasonably low cost of living.
Also, check out: How Much Money Do Surgeons Make?
How Can I Become a Cardiothoracic Surgeon?
Heart surgery or cardiothoracic surgery career path is one of the most demanding careers in the medical field. The field requires extensive education and experience, taking up to 16 years or more to complete.
Here are the steps to becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon:
1. Earn an undergraduate degree
To become a cardiothoracic surgeon, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree and meet the course requirements to apply to an accredited medical school. You may need to pursue a degree in science focusing on biology, chemistry, and math. Also, you must maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) above 3.5.
2. Volunteer at hospitals and clinics
The purpose of this step is to help you gain experience as it can e essential for your resume and determine if you are truly passionate about the medical field.
3. Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
You must also complete the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). It covers four sections:
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
The exam helps to challenge your critical thinking, problem-solving, writing, and scientific principle knowledge.
4. Graduate medical school
The next step will be to earn a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. This involves completing four years of this degree in a medical school. In the first two years, the medical school will focus on lectures and labs in a classroom setting, and it may involve an elective in surgery.
The last two years will focus on clinical practice to seek out surgery, cardiothoracic or other rotations that will impact your cardiothoracic career path.
5. Become a licensed physician
Now go ahead and become a licensed physician, and afterward, you continue your post-medical school education. Meanwhile, the requirements to become licensed may vary across states but most schools will require you to pass the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
6. Complete a general surgery residency
A general surgery residency blends clinical experience, research opportunities, conferences, and operating room experience. The residency lasts for five years; the first two years focus on the critical areas of surgery, as cardiovascular, and the rest of the years focus on assisting and performing surgeries and pursuing opportunities for rotations in specialized surgery.
7. Complete a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship
This fellowship offers advanced training and education through hospital experience, and it helps you gain the required experience with cardiothoracic surgery and meet the requirements set by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS).
8. Obtain board certification
A certification in thoracic surgery through the ABTS may provide you with more job opportunities. To earn certification, you may need to earn a state medical license first, complete the general and thoracic surgery residencies, and then earn satisfactory scores on a board exam.
See also: Neuroscientist Salary 2023 | How Much Does a Neuroscientist Make?
What are the Requirements to Become a Heart Surgeon?
Educational requirements to become a cardiothoracic surgeon:
- Obtain a 4-year undergraduate degree in pre-med with an emphasis on science
- Complete a 4-year medical school
- Complete a 5-year medical school
- Also, complete a two or 3-year cardiothoracic surgery residency program. If not, then a 6-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency.
What Skills are Required to Become a Heart Surgeon?
Becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon requires that you possess a blend of unique skills and personal qualities, such as:
- Detailed knowledge of the physiology of the cardiorespiratory system
- The ability to read complex aCT scans as well as other radiological information
- The ability to keep updated with the newest forms of surgical equipment and technology
- Manual dexterity
- Exceptional hand-eye coordination and anxiety
- The ability to work for long hours without a break
- The ability to work under pressure
- The ability to work with a team
- A high perception of spatial relationships between objects.
- Undivided focus despite potential distractions.
- Calm and level-headed
- Sound judgment
- The ability to inspire confidence in others.
- The aptitude to monitor developing conditions in and outside the operating room.
- A supportive disposition for the patient, their family, and their team in problematic circumstances.
- The proficiency to lead and direct a team.
- The resilience to cope with unexpected changing circumstances.
Conclusion
Although becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon can be tricky, it is one career you can take a step at a time when you are determined. Also, as much as it is a fun career, it is among the highest-paying jobs in the United States.
FAQs Cardiothoracic Surgeon Salary
A cardiothoracic surgeon specializes in surgical procedures inside the thorax – the chest. This involves the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest. at the same time, a heart surgeon specializes in surgical procedures on the heart.
The average cardiothoracic surgeon’s salary in the US is between $383,310 and $620,334 per year.
According to Zippia, Oregon, Idaho, Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington are the top-paying states for heart surgeons.
The average heart surgeon salary in the US is between $274,420 and $720,000 per year.
Detailed knowledge of the physiology of the cardiorespiratory system
The ability to read complex aCT scans as well as other radiological information
The ability to keep updated with the newest forms of surgical equipment and technology
Manual dexterity
Exceptional hand-eye coordination and anxiety
The ability to work for long hours without a break
The ability to work under pressure
The ability to work with a team
A high perception of spatial relationships between objects.
Undivided focus in spite of potential distractions.
Calm and level-headed
Sound judgment
The ability to inspire confidence in others.
The aptitude to monitor developing conditions in and outside the operating room.
A supportive disposition for the patient, their family, and their team in problematic circumstances.
The proficiency to lead and direct a team.
The resilience to cope with unexpected changing circumstances.
References
- salaryexpert.com
- salary.com
- ziprecruiter.com
- glassdoor.ca
- indeed.com
- theapprenticedoctor.com
- physiciansthrive.com
We Also Recommend
