Thoracic surgery is a specialization in cardiothoracic surgery dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the chest. It is usually performed using an open surgical approach, although minimally invasive techniques are becoming increasingly popular.
Thoracic surgeons perform procedures on the organs of the chest, including the lungs, heart and esophagus. They must be able to concentrate in stressful situations and make critical decisions quickly.
Thoracic surgeons are among the highest paid physicians in the medical profession. The average annual salary for a general thoracic surgeon is $348,000.
Salary For Thoracic Surgeon Overview
Thoracic surgeons are highly skilled surgeons who specialize in the treatment of diseases and injuries of the chest, heart, and lungs. They perform surgeries on these organs, as well as other procedures such as lung transplants. They also work on conditions such as pleural effusions and empyema, which are fluid buildups in the lungs or around the heart.
When you’re looking for a thoracic surgeon salary per month, you’ll find that it varies depending on where you live. For example, if you’re looking for a thoracic surgeon salary per month in California (where many people relocate to earn more), then you can expect to earn about $4200 more than your peers working in Wisconsin or Kansas City.
The average starting salary for a thoracic surgeon is around $500,000 annually—an increase from last year’s salary of $480k per year! But this figure varies widely depending on where you live: those who live in San Francisco will typically earn significantly more than those who work in Los Angeles or New York City.
What is a Cardiothoracic Surgeon
In the United States, cardiac surgery (surgery pertaining to the heart) and thoracic surgery (surgery pertaining to all organs of the thorax) training are combined, creating cardiothoracic surgery; a cardiothoracic surgeon, then, is a surgical doctor specializing in organs of the thorax, especially the heart. This includes the treatment of heart and coronary arterial diseases, lung disease, and esophageal diseases.
Mean Annual Cardiothoracic Surgeon Salary
The average annual cardiothoracic surgeon salary is $417,500. The lowest 10% of cardiothoracic surgeon salaries are less than $262,000. The top 10% of cardiothoracic surgeon salaries reach more than $613,170.
Cardiothoracic Surgeon Salary
| 2014 Mean Salary | $417,500 per year $200.72 per hour |
| Top 10% Salary | $613,170 per year $294.79 per hour |
| Bottom 10% Salary | $262,000 per year $125.96 per hour |
| Number of Jobs, 2013 | 41,030 |
Cardiothoracic Surgeon Job Outlook and Prospects
Cardiothoracic surgeon job outlook, being quite specialized, is expected to grow in the coming years, at least on par with the expected 18% of all physicians and surgeons. This rosy outlook is due in part to the overall growth of the medical industry, as well as the continued aging of the population; as the average age increases, and a greater number of people enter geriatric stages, more thoracic and cardiac diseases present, leading to an increased need for cardiothoracic surgeons.
Cardiothoracic Surgeon Salary: Factors and Influences
The average salary of a cardiothoracic surgeon ranges between $262,000 and $613,170 per year, with a median of around $417,500. This is affected greatly by the industry worked, the experience of the surgeon, and the geographic location in which the surgeon works. There is some room for subspecialization to offer pecuniary gains as well, the position the cardiothoracic surgeon holds in their particular workplace can further improve salaries.
Cardiothoracic Surgeon Salary
Cardiothoracic surgeons working in the United States typically earn salaries in the range from $157,261 to $529,920 including bonuses and contributions from profit sharing according to the salary information provided by Payscale.
These professionals’ receive bonuses in the amount of up to $51,324 a year. Their annual earnings from profit sharing are generally in the range from $4,752 to $28,750.
The average starting salary for cardiothoracic surgeons in their first year is $360,000 a year according to the recruitment firm Profiles.
In terms of industry, cardiothoracic surgeons working in the health care sector generally make between $183,831 and $538,293 a year, those working at hospitals typically report an annual pay in the range from $122,554 and $516,765, and professionals working in cardiothoracic surgery are generally paid between $100,671 and $546,311 annually according to Payscale.
Average salary
The average salary for cardiothoracic surgeons employed in the United States is $413,053 a year according to Salary.com, $412,000 a year according to HealthcareWorkerSalary.com, $522,875 a year according to ProfilesDatabase.com, and $365,145 a year according to Payscale.
Salary range
Cardiothoracic surgeon salaries vary depending on years of professional experience. Professionals with 1 to 4 years of experience typically earn salaries in the range from $101,367 and $429,052 a year, and those with 5 to 9 years of experience are generally paid between $123,650 and $546,310 annually. Cardiothoracic surgeons with 10 to 19 years of experience report an annual income in the range from $153,834 to $510,384, while those with 20 or more years of experience typically earn between $192,500 and $475,000 a year according to Payscale’s salary data.
In terms of employer type, cardiothoracic surgeons working at hospitals generally earn between $147,949 and $501,669 annually, those employed by private practices make between $192,500 and $450,000 a year, and professionals working at universities and colleges report yearly salaries in the range from $165,000 to $500,000 according to Payscale’s salary statistics.
Salary by state
Cardiothoracic surgeons’ salaries vary from state to state. For example, professionals based in Pennsylvania typically report an annual pay in the range between $325,000 and $500,000, those working in Florida are generally paid between $175,000 and $524,000 annually, and surgeons employed in California earn salaries in the range from $152,976 to $493,163 a year according to the salary information provided by Payscale.
Benefits
Cardiothoracic surgeons’ benefits packages can sometimes reflect these professionals’ average salary range. Surgeons who get malpractice and liability insurance report annual earnings in the range from $211,439 to $557,521, those who get 401(k) plans are typically paid between $194,000 and $573,913 annually, and professionals who get paid holidays and vacations generally make between $194,000 and $574,563 a year.
Cardiothoracic surgeons who have life and disability insurance as part of their benefits package generally earn salaries in the range from $215,913 to $591,795 a year, and those who get 403(b) plans report an annual pay in the range between $290,106 and $442,186.
Surgeons who get paid sick leave earn between $176,174 and $557,519 a year, and those who get a cell phone are generally paid between $385,828 and $537,207 a year according to the salary information provided by Payscale.
The most popular perks and benefits among cardiothoracic surgeons are malpractice and liability insurance, 401(k) plans, paid holidays and vacations, life and disability insurance, and paid sick leave.
Bonuses and profit sharing
Along with basic salary, cardiothoracic surgeons also get yearly bonuses and earnings from profit sharing. These will typically depend on a variety of factors, including years of experience. Professionals with 1 to 4 years of experience get about $5,250 a year in bonuses, while those with 5 to 9 years of experience get $5,000 a year on average.
Bonuses will also depend on location. For example, cardiothoracic surgeons employed in Pennsylvania report getting $75,000 a year on average in bonuses, those working in Wisconsin get about $25,000 a year, and professionals based in Texas are paid around $10,000 a year. Surgeons working in California receive $9,826 a year in bonus money, those based in New York are paid around $5,000 a year, and professionals working in Illinois report getting $1,250 annually in bonuses according to Payscale’s salary information.
Bonuses can vary significantly depending on employer type. Cardiothoracic surgeons employed by companies and non-profit organizations receive $25,000 a year on average, and those working at universities and colleges are paid around $50,000 annually in bonus money. Surgeons employed by the federal government get about $3,000 a year, and those working at hospitals report being paid $1,000 a year on average according to Payscale.
Hospital setting is another factor that affects a cardiothoracic surgeon’s annual bonuses. Professionals employed at schools earn $25,250 a year on average, those working in ambulatory care or surgery centers are paid around $25,000 annually, and surgeons working at general hospitals report being paid around $983 a year in bonuses.
Cardiothoracic surgeons working in the health care industry are paid around $16,000 a year on average. Women get $3,000 a year on average, and men are paid around $500 annually in bonuses.
Contributions from profit sharing also vary depending on professional experience. Cardiothoracic surgeons with 10 to 19 years of experience report being paid around $28,750 a year, while those with 20 or more years of experience get $4,752 a year on average according to Payscale’s salary data. Surgeons employed by general hospitals earn around $8,500 a year, and the average for professionals employed in the health care sector is $22,500 a year.
Hourly wage
Cardiothoracic surgeons earn $198 per hour on average according to HealthcareWorkerSalary.com, with the hourly rate for the profession generally being in the range between $164 and $247. Surgeons with the lowest annual salaries earn $124 per hour or less, while those with the top salaries earn $291 or more per hour.
Other income factors
Cardiothoracic surgeons’ annual earnings can vary depending on the number of beds at the hospital that employs them. Professionals working at institutions with 100 to 299 beds typically earn salaries in the range from $284,000 to $450,000 a year, those employed by institutions with 300 to 499 beds are generally paid between $159,981 and $540,970 annually, and surgeons working for institutions with 500 or more hospital beds earn between $393,054 and $491,318 a year according to Payscale’s salary figures.
