Time Frame

• The income of a cardiac surgeon depends in part upon the surgeon's years of experience. As of April 2010, a cardiac surgeon in his first year of practice may expect to earn at least $84,000 but may earn up to $375,000 according to PayScale.com. Cardiac surgeons with more than 10 years of experience may expect to earn between $190,000 and $475,000 per year.
  
  

Benefits

• According to Salary.com, the median salary of a cardiothoracic surgeon in the United States as of April 2010 was $406,928. Salary represents about 81 percent of a cardiac surgeon's total median compensation of about $501,000. The remaining 19 percent is derived from employer contributions to private and government retirement programs, health and disability insurance and paid time off.
  
  

Employer

• According to PayScale.com, the type of employer a cardiac surgeon works for plays an important role in determining income. Cardiac surgeons working at hospitals earned between approximately $124,000 and $353,000 as of April 2010. The salary range for those working for state or local government agencies ran from approximately $174,000 to $275,000. Cardiac surgeons working for private companies earned from $298,000 to $400,000.
  
  

Geography

• Geographic location of the practice plays a significant role in determining the income level of a cardiac surgeon. Those practicing in Texas and Illinois had the lowest salary range in the U.S., from approximately $71,000 to $319,000. Pennsylvania and New York offer the highest salary ranges for cardiac surgeons, from $202,000 to $425,000.
  
  

Considerations

• Job opportunities for all surgeons, including cardiac surgeons, is expected to be very good between 2008 and 2018 according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Opportunities are expected to be particularly good for those surgeons who are willing to work in traditionally under-served communities such as rural or low-income areas. The job market for cardiac surgeons and other heart specialists is expected to especially good because of the increasing elderly population because the risk of heart disease increases with age.