Cardiac surgeons must complete four years of college, four years of medical school, a 5-year general surgery residency and a 2-3 year specialized cardio or cardiothoracic fellowship. Surgeons who wish to specialize further in pediatric cardiology or heart transplant surgeries may require additional training.

How competitive is pediatric cardiology?

Cards is typically considered the most competitive pediatric specialty. Saying that 83% of all applicants to a peds cards program matched (75% of adult cardio applicants matched, by comparison).

What’s the average salary of a pediatric surgeon?

Salary Ranges. A survey by the Medical Group Management Association found that pediatric surgeons were the 15th highest-paid specialists of hospital-employed physicians. As of 2011, salaries averaged at $505,281 a year. Pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons were the third highest, bringing home nearly 35 percent more, at an average of $681,408.

What’s the starting salary for a cardiac surgeon?

After enjoying your 6 years of residency you could go and earn a starting salary of $400,000 doing what you have spent so much time learning to excel in. But you are not going to settle. You want to also be a cardiac surgeon. The following is a best case scenario.

Is it worth it to see a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon?

They must also accommodate for their growth rate and development. It can take years for a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon to master the surgical procedures needed to repair a child’s failing heart, but it’s often well worth the time. Not only do these specialists improve the quality of life for kids, but they’re also handsomely compensated.

What kind of work does a pediatric cardiovascular surgeon do?

Pediatric cardiovascular surgeons treat children with heart-related birth defects or congenital heart diseases, often returning them to full health. Working at the junction of two highly specialized forms of surgery, pediatric cardiovascular surgeons earn some of the highest incomes in all of medicine.