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Occupation Profile
Cardiologists

What do they do?

Diagnose, treat, manage, and prevent diseases or conditions of the cardiovascular system. May further subspecialize in interventional procedures (e.g., balloon angioplasty and stent placement), echocardiography, or electrophysiology.
Typical interests of people in this field:
Social, Investigative, Realistic

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What does this information tell me?

This description can give you a quick overview of what you might do if you worked in this job.

“Typical interests of people in this field” shows the main types of interests related to this occupation, based on categories from the Interest Assessment. You’ll see one, two, or three “interest types” that are strongest for the occupation.

You can read more about these interest types and learn more about your own interests by taking the Interest Assessment.

You can use this information to see if this career might be a good match for what you are interested in and like to do. 

What is the source of this information?

The occupation description and the related interests come from O*NET OnLine’s Occupation Information.

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Career video

https://cdn.careeronestop.org/OccVids/OccupationVideos/29-1211.00.mp4
Transcript:While many ailments can be cured with rest and fluids or a trip to the primary care doctor, more serious or rare conditions call for the training and experience of physicians and surgeons who specialize in a particular area of practice. All physicians share essential tasks, such as examining patients; taking medical histories; using tests to help make a diagnosis; and prescribing medications. Specialists have additional training to diagnose and treat ailments in a particular organ or area of the body, a type of illness, or to treat patients with a special modality. Allergists and immunologists treat patients who have immune system conditions. Anesthesiologists administer drugs to numb pain during surgery, childbirth, or other procedures. They monitor vital signs to ensure patients’ safety under anesthesia. Cardiologists specialize in diseases or conditions of the heart and blood vessels. Dermatologists help patients with conditions relating to the skin, hair, and nails. Emergency medicine physicians treat patients in urgent medical situations. Neurologists specialize in diseases and disorders of the brain and nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. Ophthalmologists specialize in conditions of the eye and may also fit eyeglasses and prescribe contact lenses. Pathologists study the causes of diseases. They test body tissue, fluids, and organs and review test results to diagnose diseases. Psychiatrists help patients with mental illness, using a combination of personal counseling, medication, and hospitalization. Radiologists review x rays, ultrasounds, and other medical images to diagnose injuries or diseases. Doctors of sports medicine help athletes to prevent injuries and they also treat sports-related injuries. Physicians and surgeons often have long, demanding workweeks. The patients cared for by these specialists may be more ill, with more serious conditions, than those treated in primary care. Specializing in an area of practice requires extensive education and training. After a bachelor’s degree, physicians and surgeons earn a medical degree, which typically takes four years to complete. To learn their specialty requires three to nine years of internship and residency programs. Training in a sub-specialization such as infectious diseases requires an additional fellowship of one to three years. All states require licensure for practicing medicine.
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What does this information tell me?

This career video gives more information about the career you selected.

You can view the complete video script by clicking “View Transcript” above.

This video is one of hundreds of downloadable career videos in CareerOneStop’s Video Library.

What is the source of this information?

These career videos were produced by CareerOneStop (newer videos) or by a national video consortium, which includes many state workforce agencies. Data and information the videos are from the Occupational Outlook Handbook and O*NET OnLine’s Occupation Information.

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How much does it pay?

Hourly wages for Cardiologists in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metro Area


Wage Chart for Occupation
$115.00+ $115.00+


Wage Chart legend for lowest 25 percent
  One out of four earn less than $115.00+
Wage Chart legend for middle 50 percent
  Half earn between $115.00+ and $115.00+
Wage Chart legend for highest 25 percent
  One out of four earn more than $115.00+


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What does this information tell me?

This chart shows you a range of how much most workers in this occupation earn per hour, in the location that you selected.

The lower rate on the left shows what 25 percent of all workers in this field earn less than, and 75 percent earn more than. If you are just starting out, you can assume you might make closer to this amount than the higher amount, although this is not necessarily a “starting wage.” Often workers with more experience and training earn wages at the higher end.

You can learn more about wages for this and other occupations by clicking “See more wages” above.

What is the source of this information?

The wage information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program, a semi-annual survey that provides wage and employment statistics for the nation, each state, and sub-state regions.

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Will there be jobs?

Image. Employment outlook for this occupation
New job opportunities are likely in the future.


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What does this information tell me?

Outlook information can tell you whether a career is expected to be in demand in the future—that is, whether there are likely to be job openings if you choose this career. Please note that this does not account for the impacts of the current pandemic. Many occupations are likely to have very different outlooks due to the rapidly changing economy. When new outlook information is developed, it will be reflected here.

Careers can have one of three outlooks:

  • A Bright outlook means new job opportunities are very likely in the future
  • An Average outlook means that a small number of new job opportunities are likely in the future (less than an 8 percent increase)
  • A Below average outlook means new job opportunities are less likely in the future

You can also view local job listings in this field by clicking "Find job openings" above. This can help you see if local businesses are hiring—another way of looking at demand.

What is the source of this information?

This information comes from O*NET Bright Outlook occupations and My Next Move career outlook designations (based on Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2022-32). It is only available at a national level, so even if you selected a state, you’ll only see this information for the whole country.

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How much education do you need?

Typical education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree
Chart. Percent of workers in this field by education level attained

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What does this information tell me?

There are two pieces of information here:

  • The first sentence tells you the typical level of education that you would need to start in this career. You can use this to see if you have, or want to get, the education level usually needed for this career.
  • The chart shows you the range of education levels that people who currently work in this field have. You can use this to see if you fit in this range.

Note that these two may be different since the chart includes ALL people who work in this field and not just those getting started.

For example, sometimes career requirements change. People already in the field may not be required to have the higher level of education that new workers need.

You can search for programs that lead to the education needed for this career in your local area, by clicking “Find local training” above.

What is the source of this information?

These data come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, Education and training assignments by detailed occupation, 2022; and Educational attainment for workers 25 years and older by detailed occupation, 2018-19.

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No work activities data found for the given occupation and location.