This analysis is part of the PhysEmp Physician Salary Report series, which examines physician compensation trends using physician job listings posted on PhysEmp.
Physician Job Market Analysis Report: Cardiology
Overview
The current Cardiology physician job market reflects a robust and geographically diverse landscape, with 286 total job listings active across the United States. Positions were identified in a wide range of states, including New York, California, Florida, Illinois, Washington, Wisconsin, Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee, and many others, spanning nearly every region of the country. Of the 286 listings, salary data was available for 64 positions, providing a meaningful sample for compensation analysis. Nationally, annual salaries for Cardiology physicians range from a low of $233,388 to a high of $835,000, illustrating the considerable spread in compensation depending on location, practice setting, and subspecialty focus. The average salary range across all listings with disclosed compensation falls between $479,390 and $835,000 annually, with most positions clustered between $400,000 and $650,000 per year. All listed salaries represent full-time annual compensation, and CompHealth is the predominant recruiter posting these opportunities nationwide.
Highest-Paying States
Kentucky stands out as the highest-paying state in the current Cardiology job market, with an average salary range of $695,300 on both the low and high ends, indicating consistent and premium compensation across its listings. Illinois follows closely, offering an average salary range of $618,750 to $665,000, making it one of the most lucrative markets for Cardiology physicians. Wisconsin also performs strongly, with its salary data pointing to an average of $600,000, while Missouri rounds out the top tier with an average range of $525,000 to $600,000. These states combine competitive pay with varying levels of job availability, making them attractive targets for physicians prioritizing earnings.
Lowest-Paying States
On the lower end of the compensation spectrum, Delaware and Vermont both report average salary figures of $400,000 on both the low and high ends of their ranges, placing them notably below the national average low of $479,390. Nevada also trends below average, with an average salary range of $405,250 to $547,850, though its upper range is more competitive. New York, despite having the highest number of listings in the dataset, reports an average salary range of $433,653 to $525,604, which falls below the national average on the lower end and suggests that high job volume in this state does not necessarily translate to top-tier compensation.
Near-Average States
Several states fall close to the national average salary range and can be considered reliable benchmark markets for Cardiology compensation. Connecticut reports an average range of $481,667 to $543,333, closely tracking the national average low of $479,390. Maryland similarly sits near the benchmark with an average range of $481,250 to $575,000, as does Washington state at $484,500 to $605,333. California comes in at $476,400 to $514,625, just slightly below the national average low but within a reasonable margin. These states represent stable, mid-market opportunities where compensation aligns with national norms.
Job Volume Leaders
New York leads all states in job volume with 27 listings, followed by Florida with 17, California with 16, and North Carolina with 16. Wisconsin accounts for 12 listings, while Washington and Connecticut each have 11. Notably, high job volume does not consistently correlate with higher pay. New York, despite its dominant listing count, offers below-average compensation, while Illinois, which has only 9 listings, ranks among the highest-paying states. Florida, with 17 listings, offers a mid-range average of $487,750 to $555,350, suggesting that volume and pay operate somewhat independently in this specialty.
Notable Listings
The single highest-paying Cardiology listing identified nationally is a position in Quincy, Illinois, offering an annual salary range of $675,000 to $725,000, representing the ceiling of current market compensation for the specialty. At the other end of the spectrum, the lowest salary listing was identified in West Islip, New York, with an annual compensation figure of $233,388, which falls substantially below both the national average and the typical range for Cardiology physicians. These two data points underscore the wide variance that can exist even within the same specialty depending on geography and practice environment.
Market Takeaway
For Cardiology physicians evaluating their next opportunity, Kentucky and Illinois offer the strongest compensation packages currently available, while states like New York and Florida provide the greatest volume of openings, albeit at more moderate pay levels. Physicians seeking the best balance of salary and job availability may find Washington, Maryland, and Connecticut to be well-rounded markets that combine competitive compensation with reasonable listing counts. Overall, the Cardiology job market remains active and geographically expansive, giving physicians meaningful leverage in negotiating both location and compensation.
