Male cardiologists earn significantly more than their female peers, whether employed or independent, across all experience levels, according to Medscape’s online salary tool.
The gender gap appears to begin right from the start of careers. Among employed cardiologists nationwide with one to seven years of experience, men earn an average of $330,847 annually, while women earn $259,882 — a gap of more than $70,000, or about 27%.
Among independent cardiologists across all experience levels, salaries rise in tandem with experience yet the gap remains the same. Men report an average income of $550,499, compared to $401,460 for women — a difference of nearly $149,000, also about 27%.
Despite efforts to address gender equity in medicine, these figures highlight persistent pay disparities in cardiology. While self-employment typically yields higher earnings overall, women in both employed and independent roles continue to earn significantly less than their male counterparts
Medscape’s data reflects full-time compensation, including salary, bonuses and profit-sharing.
