Typical U.S. pay in 2025: Most interventional cardiologists earn about $650,000 to $800,000+ in total annual compensation, depending on practice setting, region, productivity, and call. Recent national surveys show 2023 medians in the mid-$700Ks for many integrated groups, with continued growth through 2024.
Fast context: 2023 median interventional comp reported at $756,000 (integrated) and $625,000 (private), illustrating wide variation by model.
Trend line: Physician pay rose again in 2024, with national averages up about 3.7%, and specialty lists placing cardiology among top earners. Expect 2025 offers to reflect tight labor markets and procedural demand.
National Benchmarks and Ranges
Point-in-time medians and datapoints
- Interventional cardiology, 2023 medians
- Integrated groups: $756,000
- Private practice: $625,000.
- MGMA 2023 “invasive-interventional” median: $748,878. MGMA also shows compensation peaking around $871,000 for physicians with roughly 13–17 years’ experience before tapering with later-career productivity.
- MedAxiom 2022 quartiles (helpful for spread): median totals by quartile clustered from the high-$500Ks to high-$600Ks, reinforcing a broad range based on wRVUs and program model.
What that means for 2025 offers
- With 2024 physician pay up about 3–6% depending on source, many 2025 interventional offers are landing mid-$600Ks to $800K+, with upside via productivity, call stipends, and leadership.
Factors That Move Your Number
Practice setting: Integrated hospital groups often show higher posted medians than small private groups due to case mix, call pools, and hospital stipends. The 2023 split of $756K vs $625K highlights this.
Experience curve: MGMA shows peak median comp near $871K at mid-career, preceding peak wRVUs by a few years. Early career ramps quickly; late career often levels.
Geography: Higher-need or lower-supply markets tend to pay premiums; dense metros can trail if supply is ample. Benchmark sets from Doximity’s salary mapping and MGMA regional cuts consistently show meaningful regional spread.
Productivity model: wRVU targets, cath lab time, structural heart volume, and advanced call all push totals up. MedAxiom’s cardiology survey links higher quartiles to higher wRVUs.
Incentives and call: Production bonuses, quality bonuses, and call pay can be significant add-ons in interventional programs. Market analyses in 2024 emphasize incentive-driven differentials.
Subspecialty Focus and Emerging Areas
Structural heart (e.g., TAVR, MitraClip): Programs performing high-complexity structural work often offer higher compensation to attract and retain operators, reflecting case complexity and revenue mix. Industry surveys and trade coverage consistently flag structural volumes as a driver of program economics.
Locums interventional cardiology: Publicly posted marketplace data shows about $400 to $500 per hour common for 2025, with spikes for short-notice or high-acuity coverage. A mid-2025 snapshot lists ~$437/hour average.
Contract Items That Increase Total Value
When you negotiate, look beyond base salary:
- wRVU rate and thresholds and whether structural volumes are credited fairly.
- Call structure and stipends for STEMI and weekend coverage.
- Quality and program-building bonuses, leadership stipends, and medical directorships.
- Retirement match and deferred comp (401k/403b, 457b).
- Disability coverage sized to your income and an own-occupation definition.
- CME, relocation, sign-on, and loan-assistance line items that convert to real dollars.
Key Takeaways
In 2025, interventional cardiologists commonly earn $650,000 to $800,000+, with higher pay tied to productivity, call, and structural procedures. Integrated health systems tend to offer more than private practice, and mid-career physicians often see peak earnings near $871,000. Geography, wRVUs, and incentives like bonuses and stipends can all impact total compensation. Locum work also pays well, averaging $400–$500/hour. Overall, interventional remains one of the highest-paying cardiology subspecialties.
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Most full-time interventional cardiologists will see total compensation around $650,000 to $800,000+, with national medians in the mid-$700Ks reported for 2023 and continued growth through 2024. Your number will depend heavily on setting, geography, productivity, and call.
Usually yes. Interventional commonly out-earns noninvasive and many invasive roles and is competitive with EP, but local models can reverse the order.
A mid-2025 national snapshot shows about $437 per hour on average, with higher rates for rush coverage or high-need regions.
Yes. Multiple data sets show ongoing gains into 2024, with overall physician pay up ~3.7% and cardiology remaining among top-paid specialties.
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