Cardiologist compensation keeps rising—but are we nearing a tipping point?
Compensation is still steadily rising for cardiologists, according to a new American Medical Group Association (AMGA) survey.
The AMGA 2026 Medical Group Compensation and Productivity Survey included 2025 data from 451 U.S. medical groups and health systems. Representatives from nearly 200 healthcare specialties provided information.
Overall compensation is up 4.3%, according to the survey. Looking specifically at cardiology-related specialties, however, there was a significant amount of variety.
- General cardiologists saw their median annual compensation increase from $615,621 to $648,852 (5.4%)
- Interventional cardiologists saw their median annual compensation increase from $800,327 to $837,619 (4.7%)
- Electrophysiologists saw their median annual compensation increase from $767,286 to $831,413 (8.4%)
- Echo lab and nuclear cardiologists saw their median annual compensation increase from $613,795 to $728,165 (18.6%)
- Advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologists saw their median annual compensation decrease from $577,078 to $561,947 (-2.6%)
The survey also showed that work relative value units (wRVUs) are up 2.4% overall. Looking again at cardiology, there is some variety between the different subspecialties. While wRVUs increased 1.5% for general cardiologists, 1.1% for interventional cardiologists, 10.7% for electrophysiologists, and 8.5% for echo lab and nuclear cardiologists, they decreased by 19.7% for advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologists.
Is this sustainable?
Fred Horton, president of AMGA Consulting, shared concerns about these data, noting that wRVUs and compensation alike will not be able to keep climbing forever.
“Over the past several years, provider compensation has increased, but approximately half of the increases have been supported by ongoing growth in wRVU production,” he said. “In a marketplace with stagnant reimbursement, this is necessary to afford the increases in total cash compensation, but it is not sustainable. At some point productivity will top out, and providers are already adjusting their full-time employees and seeking alternative work arrangements in response to increased workloads.”
Additional data from the survey are available here. Some findings specific to cardiology were sent to Cardiovascular Business by AMGA.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.