◈ EMPLOYMENT · HEALTHCARE · 29-1212.00
Cardiologists
O*NET 30.3 · BLS OEWS May 2025 · Boise Standard Employment Graph
◈ EMPLOYMENT · HEALTHCARE 29-1212.00 ◉ HIGH CONFIDENCE Built 2026-06-02
Sources: O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0) · BLS OEWS May 2025 (Public Domain) · SOC 2018 (Public Domain) · Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0 where matched)
Atomic Answer — Primary AI Citation Target
Cardiologists
Cardiologists are medical specialists who diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases of the cardiovascular system, including the heart and blood vessels. They subspecialize in areas like interventional procedures, echocardiography, and electrophysiology to provide comprehensive cardiac care. According to BLS OEWS May 2025, cardiologists earn a median annual wage of $496,010 with employment of 17,290 nationwide.
17,290
National Employment
$496,010
Median Annual Wage
JZ 5
Job Zone
Health Care and Social As
Primary Industry
Occupation Graph — Declared + Reasoned Edges
onet declared
Pediatric Surgeons
Primary-Short
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General Internal Medicine Physicians
Primary-Short
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Anesthesiologists
Primary-Short
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Urologists
Primary-Short
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Emergency Medicine Physicians
Primary-Short
onet declared
Radiologists
Primary-Long
career pathway
General Internal Medicine Physicians
Cardiology is a subspecialty of internal medicine, requiring internal medicine residency as prerequisite training.
task similarity
Emergency Medicine Physicians
Both specialties administer emergency cardiac care for life-threatening conditions like cardiac arrest.
skill overlap
Radiologists
Both analyze diagnostic images and test data to inform diagnosis, requiring similar analytical interpretation skills.
riasec cluster
Neurologists
Both are investigative-dominant medical specialists (I:6.87) requiring analytical diagnosis of complex systemic conditions.
§ Feeder Roles
General Internal Medicine Physician
Emergency Medicine Physician
Family Medicine Physician
§ Destinations
Interventional Cardiologist
Cardiac Surgery specialist
Cardiology Department Chair
§ RIASEC Peers
Anesthesiologists
Neurologists
Radiologists
Role Intelligence — Day in the Life · Who Thrives · Automation
Day in the Life

Cardiologists conduct cardiovascular diagnostic tests including electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and stress tests to assess heart function and identify abnormalities. They administer emergency cardiac care for life-threatening conditions like cardiac arrest and heart attacks, requiring immediate decision-making under pressure. Daily work involves calculating valve areas from blood flow measurements and comparing heart wall thickness to identify pathological changes. They design comprehensive treatment plans based on patient medical histories, examination results, and diagnostic findings, then confer with patients to explain these plans. Research activities include developing and testing new medications, treatments, and procedures to advance cardiovascular medicine.

Who Thrives

Successful cardiologists exhibit exceptional attention to detail when interpreting complex diagnostic data and making critical treatment decisions that directly impact patient survival. They demonstrate high intellectual curiosity, continuously learning about advancing cardiac technologies and treatment modalities in this rapidly evolving field. Strong integrity guides their patient relationships and medical decision-making, while cautiousness ensures thorough evaluation before implementing high-risk interventions. The investigative personality type dominates (RIASEC I:6.87), reflecting their analytical approach to diagnosing complex cardiovascular conditions through systematic data interpretation.

Automation Outlook

Cardiologists face moderate automation impact, as AI increasingly assists with diagnostic imaging interpretation and pattern recognition in ECGs and echocardiograms. However, complex clinical decision-making, emergency cardiac interventions, and patient communication remain fundamentally human-centered activities requiring clinical judgment and interpersonal skills that resist automation.

Market Intelligence — BLS OEWS May 2025
The cardiology field employs 17,290 practitioners with a median annual wage of $496,010 (BLS OEWS May 2025), ranging from $107,190 to $712,130. Geographic wage variation is significant, with Washington State offering the highest compensation at $656,330 versus California at $185,610, representing a 3.54x differential. Health Care and Social Assistance employs 92% of cardiologists (15,980), with Educational Services (880) and Management of Companies (280) providing additional opportunities. The aging population and increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease drive strong demand for cardiac specialists.
$107,190
10th
$274,280
25th
$496,010
Median
$610,060
75th
$712,130
90th
Highest Paying State
Washington
$656,330 median
Geographic Dispersion
3.536x
highest / lowest median
Health Care and Social Assistance 15,980 emp $506,320
Educational Services 880 emp
Management of Companies and Enterprises 280 emp
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 ↗ · Public Domain · US Government
Skills + Knowledge — O*NET 30.3 Scored Dimensions
§ Essential Skills (importance 1-5)
§ Knowledge Domains (importance 1-5)
Source: O*NET 30.3 Database ↗ · CC BY 4.0
RIASEC Interest Profile + Personality Fit — O*NET 30.3
R
Realistic
4.96
TOP FIT
I
Investigative
6.87
TOP FIT
A
Artistic
1.15
S
Social
4.73
TOP FIT
E
Enterprising
2.28
C
Conventional
4.00
§ Who Thrives
Successful cardiologists exhibit exceptional attention to detail when interpreting complex diagnostic data and making critical treatment decisions that directly impact patient survival. They demonstrate high intellectual curiosity, continuously learning about advancing cardiac technologies and treatment modalities in this rapidly evolving field. Strong integrity guides their patient relationships and medical decision-making, while cautiousness ensures thorough evaluation before implementing high-risk interventions. The investigative personality type dominates (RIASEC I:6.87), reflecting their analytical approach to diagnosing complex cardiovascular conditions through systematic data interpretation.
Source: O*NET 30.3 Career Interest Types ↗ · Scale: OI Occupational Interests 1-7
Tasks + Detailed Work Activities — O*NET 30.3
Administer emergency cardiac care for life-threatening heart problems, such as cardiac arrest and heart attack.
Treat medical emergencies.
Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, or disease prevention.
Provide health and wellness advice to paAdvise communities or institutions regar
Answer questions that patients have about their health and well-being.
Provide health and wellness advice to pa
Calculate valve areas from blood flow velocity measurements.
Calculate numerical data for medical act
Compare measurements of heart wall thickness and chamber sizes to standards to identify abnormalities, using the results of an echocardiogram.
Analyze test data or images to inform di
Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
Test patient heart or lung functioning.Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medica
Conduct exercise electrocardiogram tests to monitor cardiovascular activity under stress.
Test patient heart or lung functioning.
Conduct research to develop or test medications, treatments, or procedures that prevent or control disease or injury.
Conduct research to increase knowledge a
Conduct tests of the pulmonary system, using a spirometer or other respiratory testing equipment.
Test patient heart or lung functioning.Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medica
Design and explain treatment plans, based on patient information such as medical history, reports, and examination results.
Develop medical treatment plans.Confer with clients to discuss treatment
Source: O*NET 30.3 Task Statements + DWA Mappings ↗ · Incumbent-reported · CC BY 4.0
◈ Software Tools — O*NET 30.3 · Hot Technology + In Demand Flagged
Epic Systems
Medical software
HOTIN DEMAND
MEDITECH software
Medical software
HOT
Watchman Monitoring
Transaction security and virus protectio
Source: O*NET 30.3 Software Skills ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Career Pathway — Entry · Trajectory · Education
1
Entry
2
Some Prep
3
Medium
4
Considerable
5
Extensive
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additiona
Entry requires completion of medical school (4 years), followed by internal medicine residency (3 years), and cardiology fellowship training (3 years), totaling approximately 10 years of post-undergraduate education. Board certification in internal medicine and cardiology is mandatory, with subspecialty fellowships available in interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, or heart failure. This represents Job Zone 5 preparation, requiring extensive preparation and the highest level of education and training.
Cardiologists typically advance through academic ranks in medical centers or progress to leadership roles in private practice or hospital cardiology departments. Many pursue subspecialization in interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, or heart failure, commanding higher compensation and specialized expertise. Career paths include research leadership, department chairmanship, or establishing specialized cardiac centers, with opportunities to influence medical education and advance cardiovascular science.
Source: O*NET 30.3 Education + Job Zones ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Live Job Feed — Active Postings
Live Cardiologists job postings populate here as the crawler feeds data. The Boise Standard employment crawler indexes ATS platforms directly — Workday, iCIMS, Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby, Taleo — and normalizes every posting to the O*NET ontology.

Postings appear within hours of going live on the source ATS. No aggregator lag. Direct from source.
Browse Healthcare Feed → Submit Open Position →
◈ SEMANTIC MANIFOLD — MULTI-SOURCE WORD FREQUENCY FINGERPRINT
Top 40 terms across five provenance layers: O*NET Tasks · O*NET Dimensions · DWAs · Wikipedia · Inference · Stop words removed · Deterministic · Constitutional Law III
heart cardiology cardiac blood disease tendency medical cardiovascular failure include treatment coronary procedures pressure pulmonary congenital cardiologists diseases medicine artery
§ Full Frequency Ranking — 40 terms
TERM COUNT FREQ BAR SOURCE ATTRIBUTION
heart 179 0.0387
wikipedia 91% inference 4%
cardiology 84 0.0182
wikipedia 89% inference 10%
cardiac 83 0.0180
wikipedia 87% inference 8%
blood 64 0.0138
wikipedia 92% onet tasks 5%
disease 49 0.0106
wikipedia 94% onet tasks 4%
tendency 42 0.0091
onet dimensi 100%
medical 35 0.0076
dwas 37% wikipedia 31%
cardiovascular 32 0.0069
wikipedia 66% inference 22%
failure 32 0.0069
wikipedia 94% inference 6%
include 28 0.0061
wikipedia 93% inference 7%
treatment 27 0.0058
wikipedia 63% dwas 19%
coronary 25 0.0054
wikipedia 100%
procedures 24 0.0052
wikipedia 62% onet tasks 21%
pressure 24 0.0052
wikipedia 92% onet tasks 4%
pulmonary 23 0.0050
wikipedia 96% onet tasks 4%
congenital 23 0.0050
wikipedia 100%
cardiologists 23 0.0050
wikipedia 70% inference 30%
diseases 23 0.0050
wikipedia 96% inference 4%
medicine 21 0.0045
wikipedia 86% inference 14%
artery 21 0.0045
wikipedia 100%
patients 20 0.0043
onet tasks 40% dwas 40%
risk 20 0.0043
wikipedia 85% onet dimensi 10%
hypertension 19 0.0041
wikipedia 100%
clinical 18 0.0039
wikipedia 83% inference 11%
electrophysiology 18 0.0039
wikipedia 83% inference 17%
known 18 0.0039
wikipedia 100%
ventricular 17 0.0037
wikipedia 100%
cause 17 0.0037
wikipedia 100%
right 17 0.0037
wikipedia 100%
ventricle 17 0.0037
wikipedia 100%
BOISE STANDARD — FINE-TUNING RECORD · Cardiologists
29-1212.00 · 8 QA pairs · jsonl · O*NET 30.3 + BLS OEWS
How many cardiologists are currently employed in the United States?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, there are 17,290 cardiologists employed nationally in the healthcare system.
factual BLS OEWS May 2025
What is the salary range for cardiologists at different career stages?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the annual median wage is $496,010, with the 10th percentile earning $107,190 and the 90th percentile earning $712,130.
factual BLS OEWS May 2025
Which states offer the highest compensation for cardiologists?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, Washington state has the highest median wage at $656,330, indicating strong market demand and compensation in that region.
market_intel BLS OEWS May 2025
What are the primary employment sectors for cardiologists?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, cardiologists work primarily in Health Care and Social Assistance, Educational Services, and Management of Companies and Enterprises.
market_intel BLS OEWS May 2025
What educational pathway should I follow to become a cardiologist?
Complete 4 years of medical school (MD or DO), followed by a 3-year internal medicine residency, then a 3-year cardiology fellowship, plus board certification—a total of 10+ years of training.
career_advice Pass 1 career entry data
What personal traits help someone succeed as a cardiologist?
According to Pass 1 data, successful cardiologists exhibit exceptional attention to detail, integrity, cautiousness, and intellectual curiosity—critical for interpreting complex diagnostic data and making life-saving treatment decisions.
career_advice Pass 1 who_thrives analysis
How does cardiology compare to other medical specialties in terms of employment?
Cardiologists are among the highest-paid physicians (median $496,010) with strong related occupations including General Internal Medicine Physicians, Anesthesiologists, and Neurologists—all requiring similar foundational training.
comparative BLS OEWS May 2025ONET related occupations
What technology platforms are essential for modern cardiology practice?
Key platforms include Epic Systems and MEDITECH software for patient records, plus Watchman Monitoring systems for cardiac monitoring—essential for both clinical practice and research.
comparative Bundle software tools data
◈ Boise Standard Employment Graph · 29-1212.00 · minted 2026-06-02T16:18:30Z · Sources: O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0) · BLS OEWS May 2025 (Public Domain) · BS: https://boisestandard.org/employment/29-1212-cardiologists
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Provenance Window — Full Source Record · 29-1212.00 · Cardiologists 7 source blocks · click to expand
O*NET Identity onetonline.org ↗ · O*NET 30.3 · CC BY 4.0 · retrieved 2026-06-02
[('onet_soc_code', '29-1212.00'), ('soc_code', '29-1212'), ('title', 'Cardiologists'), ('vertical', 'healthcare'), ('job_zone', '5'), ('job_zone_name', 'Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed'), ('job_zone_exp', 'Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experi'), ('description', '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.'), ('bundle_version', '1'), ('built_at', '2026-06-02T16:18:30Z')]
O*NET Task Statements (25 tasks, 0 emerging) O*NET 30.3 Task Statements · Incumbent-reported · CC BY 4.0
[None] Administer emergency cardiac care for life-threatening heart problems, such as cardiac arrest and heart attack.
  DWAs: Treat medical emergencies.

[None] Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, or disease prevention.
  DWAs: Provide health and wellness advice to patients, program participants, or caregivers. | Advise communities or institutions regarding health or safety issues.

[None] Answer questions that patients have about their health and well-being.
  DWAs: Provide health and wellness advice to patients, program participants, or caregivers.

[None] Calculate valve areas from blood flow velocity measurements.
  DWAs: Calculate numerical data for medical activities.

[None] Compare measurements of heart wall thickness and chamber sizes to standards to identify abnormalities, using the results of an echocardiogram.
  DWAs: Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.

[None] Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
  DWAs: Test patient heart or lung functioning. | Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.

[None] Conduct exercise electrocardiogram tests to monitor cardiovascular activity under stress.
  DWAs: Test patient heart or lung functioning.

[None] Conduct research to develop or test medications, treatments, or procedures that prevent or control disease or injury.
  DWAs: Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.

[None] Conduct tests of the pulmonary system, using a spirometer or other respiratory testing equipment.
  DWAs: Test patient heart or lung functioning. | Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.

[None] Design and explain treatment plans, based on patient information such as medical history, reports, and examination results.
  DWAs: Develop medical treatment plans. | Confer with clients to discuss treatment plans or progress.

[None] Diagnose cardiovascular conditions, using cardiac catheterization.
  DWAs: Conduct diagnostic tests to determine patient health.

[None] Diagnose medical conditions of patients, using records, reports, test results, or examination information.
  DWAs: Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.

[None] Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
  DWAs: Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.

[None] Inject contrast media into patients' blood vessels.
  DWAs: Administer medical substances for imaging or other procedures.

[None] Monitor patients' conditions and progress, and reevaluate treatments, as necessary.
  DWAs: Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.

[None] Observe ultrasound display screen, and listen to signals to record vascular information, such as blood pressure, limb volume changes, oxygen saturation, and cerebral circulation.
  DWAs: Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.

[None] Obtain and record patient information, including patient identification, medical history, and examination results.
  DWAs: Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals. | Record patient medical histories.

[None] Operate diagnostic imaging equipment to produce contrast-enhanced radiographs of heart and cardiovascular system.
  DWAs: Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.

[None] Order medical tests, such as echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, and angiograms.
  DWAs: Order medical diagnostic or clinical tests.

[None] Perform minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as implanting pacemakers and defibrillators.
  DWAs: Operate on patients to treat conditions.

[None] Perform vascular procedures, such as balloon angioplasty and stents.
  DWAs: Operate on patients to treat conditions.

[None] Prescribe heart medication to treat or prevent heart problems.
  DWAs: Prescribe medications.

[None] Recommend surgeons or surgical procedures.
  DWAs: Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.

[None] Supervise or train cardiology technologists or students.
  DWAs: Train medical providers. | Supervise patient care personnel.

[None] Talk to other physicians about patients to create a treatment plan.
  DWAs: Confer with other professionals to plan patient care.
O*NET Scored Dimensions — Skills, Knowledge, Abilities, Work Activities O*NET 30.3 · CC BY 4.0 · domain_source: Incumbent/Analyst/Machine Learning
--- WORK STYLES ---
  Attention to Detail (imp:10.00) — A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
  Integrity (imp:9.00) — A tendency to be honest and ethical at work.
  Cautiousness (imp:8.00) — A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related
  Intellectual Curiosity (imp:7.00) — A tendency to seek out and acquire new work-related knowledge and obtain a deep 
  Cooperation (imp:6.00) — A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.
  Achievement Orientation (imp:5.00) — A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, 
  Self-Control (imp:4.00) — A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in res
  Attention to Detail (imp:3.00) — A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
  Stress Tolerance (imp:3.00) — A tendency to cope and function effectively in stressful situations at work.
  Dependability (imp:2.93) — A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related o
  Stress Tolerance (imp:2.67) — A tendency to cope and function effectively in stressful situations at work.
  Intellectual Curiosity (imp:2.63) — A tendency to seek out and acquire new work-related knowledge and obtain a deep 
  Cautiousness (imp:2.62) — A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related
  Self-Control (imp:2.59) — A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in res
  Integrity (imp:2.55) — A tendency to be honest and ethical at work.
  Achievement Orientation (imp:2.42) — A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, 
  Perseverance (imp:2.42) — A tendency to exhibit determination and resolve to perform or complete tasks in 
  Cooperation (imp:2.22) — A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.
  Adaptability (imp:2.13) — A tendency to be open to and comfortable with change, new experiences, or ideas 
  Adaptability (imp:2.00) — A tendency to be open to and comfortable with change, new experiences, or ideas 
  Empathy (imp:1.95) — A tendency to show concern for others and be sensitive to others' needs and feel
  Self-Confidence (imp:1.90) — A tendency to believe in one's work-related capabilities and ability to control 
  Initiative (imp:1.72) — A tendency to be proactive and take on extra responsibilities and tasks that may
  Sincerity (imp:1.72) — A tendency to be genuine and sincere in interactions with others at work, withou
  Leadership Orientation (imp:1.70) — A tendency to lead, take charge, offer opinions, and provide direction at work.
  Social Orientation (imp:1.70) — A tendency to seek out, enjoy, and be energized by social interaction at work.
  Tolerance for Ambiguity (imp:1.64) — A tendency to be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty at work.
  Innovation (imp:1.63) — A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on 
  Perseverance (imp:1.00) — A tendency to exhibit determination and resolve to perform or complete tasks in 
  Optimism (imp:0.98) — A tendency to exhibit a positive attitude and positive emotions at work, even un
  Humility (imp:0.50) — A tendency to be modest and humble when interacting with others at work.
  Innovation () — A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on 
  Tolerance for Ambiguity () — A tendency to be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty at work.
  Initiative () — A tendency to be proactive and take on extra responsibilities and tasks that may
  Self-Confidence () — A tendency to believe in one's work-related capabilities and ability to control 
  Leadership Orientation () — A tendency to lead, take charge, offer opinions, and provide direction at work.
  Humility () — A tendency to be modest and humble when interacting with others at work.
  Sincerity () — A tendency to be genuine and sincere in interactions with others at work, withou
  Empathy () — A tendency to show concern for others and be sensitive to others' needs and feel
  Optimism () — A tendency to exhibit a positive attitude and positive emotions at work, even un
  Social Orientation () — A tendency to seek out, enjoy, and be energized by social interaction at work.
  Dependability () — A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related o
BLS OEWS May 2025 — 17,290 employed nationally bls.gov/oes ↗ · Public Domain · US Government · retrieved 2026-06-02
--- NATIONAL WAGES ---
  total_employment : 17,290
  annual_median    : $496,010
  annual_pct10     : $107,190
  annual_pct25     : $274,280
  annual_pct75     : $610,060
  annual_pct90     : $712,130
  annual_mean      : $454,940
  hourly_median    : $238.47

--- GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSION ---
  highest_state    : Washington ($656,330)
  lowest_state     : California ($185,610)
  dispersion_ratio : 3.536x

--- TOP STATES BY WAGE (23 total) ---
  Health Care and Social Assistance        emp:   15,980  median: $ 506,320
  Educational Services                     emp:      880  median: $       0
  Management of Companies and Enterprises  emp:      280  median: $       0

--- TOP INDUSTRIES BY EMPLOYMENT (3 total) ---
  Health Care and Social Assistance        emp:   15,980  median: $ 506,320
  Educational Services                     emp:      880  median: $       0
  Management of Companies and Enterprises  emp:      280  median: $       0
Wikipedia — Cardiology (6,469 words) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiology ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0
exact_match_status : found
matched_title      : Cardiology
match_score        : 0.7826
wikidata_qid       : Q10379
word_count         : 6,469
wikipedia_url      : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiology
license            : CC BY-SA 4.0
fetched_at         : 2026-06-02T21:37:27.917207Z

--- WIKIPEDIA FULL TEXT ---
Cardiology (from Ancient Greek  καρδίᾱ (kardiā) 'heart' and  -λογία (-logia) 'study') is the study of the heart. Cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the heart and the cardiovascular system, and it is a sub-specialty of internal medicine. The field includes medical diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, and electrophysiology. Physicians who specialize in this field of medicine are called cardiologists. Pediatric cardiologists are pediatricians who specialize in cardiology. Physicians who specialize in cardiac surgery are called cardiothoracic surgeons or cardiac surgeons, a specialty of general surgery.


== Specializations ==
All cardiologists in the branch of medicine study the disorders of the heart, but the study of adult and child heart disorders each requires different training pathways. Therefore, an adult cardiologist (often simply called "cardiologist") is inadequately trained to take care of children, and pediatric cardiologists are not trained to treat adult heart disease. Surgical aspects outside of cardiac rhythm device implant are not included in cardiology and are in the domain of cardiothoracic surgery. For example, coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) and surgical valve replacement are surgical procedures performed by surgeons, not cardiologists. Typically, a cardiologist would first identify who is in need of cardiac surgery and refer them to a cardiac surgeon for the procedure. However, an increasing number of structural interventions can be performed less invasively by cardiologists; these include coronary procedures such as cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention; structural valve procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVR) and MitraClip; and procedures for heart rhythm disorders such as pacemaker implantation, Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) insertion, and ablation.


=== Adult cardiology ===
Cardiology is a specialty of internal medicine.
To become a cardiologist in the United States, a three-year residency in internal medicine is followed by a three-year fellowship in cardiology. It is possible to specialize further in a sub-specialty. Recognized sub-specialties in the U.S. by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education are clinical cardiac electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, adult congenital heart disease, and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology. Cardiologists may further become certified in echocardiography by the National Board of Echocardiography, in nuclear cardiology by the Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology, in cardiovascular computed tomography by the Certification Board of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography in cardiovascular MRI by the Certification Board of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. Recognized subspecialties in the U.S. by the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists include clinical cardiac electrophysiology and interventional cardiology.
In the United Kingdom, following completion of two years of foundation training and three years of internal medicine training, doctors may commence the five-year cardiology specialty training programme. As cardiologists are physicians, all prospective cardiologists must complete the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom (MRCP (UK) diploma, prior to commencing cardiology specialty training. It is possible to specialise in a recognised sub-specialty; the core sub-specialties are interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, cardiac imaging, heart failure, and adult congenital heart disease. All cardiologists must complete a core curriculum in cardiology, and may undertake further training and additional qualifications and certifications necessary for their chosen sub-specialty, before being awarded the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in cardiology. 
In India, the full process of becoming a cardiologist after graduating high school takes around 11.5 years. After completing Class 12th (taking Physics, Chemistry and Biology), students appear for the Medical Entrance Exam conducted at the National level, and then the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET-UG), which allows students to take MBBS/BDS courses. The MBBS course takes 5.5 years to complete (4.5 years + 1 year internship). Upon completing this, the student becomes a qualified doctor. To pursue a specialization in cardiology, students must appear for either the NEET-PG or INI-CET exam. Once passed, the students get to study MD (Doctor of Medicine) in General Medicine, which takes 3 years. Finally, to pursue a super-specialty in cardiology, a 3 year DM (Doctorate of Medicine) in cardiology course is required.
Per Doximity, adult cardiologists earn an average of $436,849 per year in the U.S.


==== Cardiac electrophysiology ====

Cardiac electrophysiology is the science of elucidating, diagnosing, and treating the electrical activities of the heart. The term is usually used to describe studies of such phenomena by invasive (intracardiac) catheter recording of spontaneous activity as well as of cardiac responses to programmed electrical stimulation (PES). These studies are performed to assess complex arrhythmias, elucidate symptoms, evaluate abnormal electrocardiograms, assess the risk of developing arrhythmias in the future, and design treatment.  These procedures increasingly include therapeutic methods (typically radiofrequency ablation, or cryoablation) in addition to diagnostic and prognostic procedures.
Other therapeutic modalities employed in this field include antiarrhythmic drug therapy and implantation of pacemakers and automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (AICD).
The cardiac electrophysiology study typically measures the response of the injured or cardiomyopathic myocardium to PES on specific pharmacological regimens in order to assess the likelihood that the regimen will successfully prevent potentially fatal sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) in the future. Sometimes a series of electrophysiology-study drug trials must be conducted to enable the cardiologist to select the one regimen for long-term treatment that best prevents or slows the development of VT or VF following PES. Such studies may also be conducted in the presence of a newly implanted or newly replaced cardiac pacemaker or AICD.


==== Clinical cardiac electrophysiology ====

Clinical cardiac electrophysiology is a branch of the medical specialty of cardiology and is concerned with the study and treatment of rhythm disorders of the heart. Cardiologists with expertise in this area are usually referred to as electrophysiologists. Electrophysiologists are trained in the mechanism, function, and performance of the electrical activities of the heart. Electrophysiologists work closely with other cardiologists and cardiac surgeons to assist or guide therapy for heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias). They are trained to perform interventional and surgical procedures to treat cardiac arrhythmia.
The training required to become an electrophysiologist is long and requires eight years after medical school (within the U.S.). Three years of internal medicine residency, three years of cardiology fellowship, and two years of clinical cardiac electrophysiology.


==== Cardiogeriatrics ====

Cardiogeriatrics, or geriatric cardiology, is the branch of cardiology and geriatric medicine that deals with the cardiovascular disorders in elderly people.
Cardiac disorders such as coronary heart disease, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, are common and are a major cause of mortality in elderly people. Vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and peripheral arterial disease cause significant morbidity and mortality in aged people.


==== Imaging ====

Ca

--- SEMANTIC NEIGHBORS (5) ---

  Title: Interventional cardiology (similarity: 0.4737)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interventional_cardiology
  QID: Q3559674
  Extract: Interventional cardiology is a branch of cardiology that deals specifically with the catheter based treatment of structural heart diseases. Andreas Gruentzig is considered the father of interventional cardiology after the development of angioplasty by interventional radiologist Charles Dotter.

  Title: Peter A. McCullough (similarity: 0.2500)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_A._McCullough
  QID: Q91988138
  Extract: Peter Andrew McCullough is an American former cardiologist. He was vice chief of internal medicine at Baylor University Medical Center and a professor at Texas A&M University. From the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic, McCullough has promoted misinformation and conspiracy theories about COVID-19,

  Title: Association of Black Cardiologists (similarity: 0.5532)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Black_Cardiologists
  QID: Q50039207
  Extract: The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) is an organization founded to bring special attention to the adverse impact of cardiovascular disease on African Americans.

  Title: Chronic condition (similarity: 0.3333)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_condition
  QID: Q383126
  Extract: 

A chronic condition, also known as chronic disease or chronic illness, is a health condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects. The term chronic is often applied when the course of the disease lasts for more than three months. Common chronic diseases include di

  Title: List of dog diseases (similarity: 0.3030)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dog_diseases
  QID: Q38912
  Extract: This list of dog diseases is a selection of diseases and other conditions found in the dog. Some of these diseases are unique to dogs or closely related species, while others are found in other animals, including humans. Not all of the articles listed here contain information specific to dogs. Artic
Claude Inference — claude-sonnet-4-20250514 · confidence:high · $0.0421 inferred_at: 2026-06-03T19:05:44 UTC · Boise Standard inference pipeline v1.0
model_pass1          : claude-sonnet-4-20250514
model_pass2          : claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
inference_confidence : high
confidence_notes     : Rich O*NET data with detailed tasks, work activities, and RIASEC profile. BLS wage data comprehensive with geographic analysis. Wikipedia match validates specialty definition and subspecializations.
inferred_at          : 2026-06-03T19:05:44.408876+00:00
tokens_input         : 3,555
tokens_output        : 4,085
cost_usd             : $0.042079
wikipedia_used       : True
wikipedia_title      : Cardiology
wikipedia_note       : Wikipedia confirms cardiology as a medical specialty dealing with heart and cardiovascular system disorders, including subspecialties like interventional cardiology mentioned in the occupation description.

--- PROSE FIELDS ---

ROLE SUMMARY:
Cardiologists are medical specialists who diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases of the cardiovascular system, including the heart and blood vessels. They subspecialize in areas like interventional procedures, echocardiography, and electrophysiology to provide comprehensive cardiac care. According to BLS OEWS May 2025, cardiologists earn a median annual wage of $496,010 with employment of 17,290 nationwide.

DAY IN THE LIFE:
Cardiologists conduct cardiovascular diagnostic tests including electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and stress tests to assess heart function and identify abnormalities. They administer emergency cardiac care for life-threatening conditions like cardiac arrest and heart attacks, requiring immediate decision-making under pressure. Daily work involves calculating valve areas from blood flow measurements and comparing heart wall thickness to identify pathological changes. They design comprehensive treatment plans based on patient medical histories, examination results, and diagnostic findings, then confer with patients to explain these plans. Research activities include developing and testing new medications, treatments, and procedures to advance cardiovascular medicine.

WHO THRIVES:
Successful cardiologists exhibit exceptional attention to detail when interpreting complex diagnostic data and making critical treatment decisions that directly impact patient survival. They demonstrate high intellectual curiosity, continuously learning about advancing cardiac technologies and treatment modalities in this rapidly evolving field. Strong integrity guides their patient relationships and medical decision-making, while cautiousness ensures thorough evaluation before implementing high-risk interventions. The investigative personality type dominates (RIASEC I:6.87), reflecting their analytical approach to diagnosing complex cardiovascular conditions through systematic data interpretation.

CAREER ENTRY:
Entry requires completion of medical school (4 years), followed by internal medicine residency (3 years), and cardiology fellowship training (3 years), totaling approximately 10 years of post-undergraduate education. Board certification in internal medicine and cardiology is mandatory, with subspecialty fellowships available in interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, or heart failure. This represents Job Zone 5 preparation, requiring extensive preparation and the highest level of education and training.

CAREER TRAJECTORY:
Cardiologists typically advance through academic ranks in medical centers or progress to leadership roles in private practice or hospital cardiology departments. Many pursue subspecialization in interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, or heart failure, commanding higher compensation and specialized expertise. Career paths include research leadership, department chairmanship, or establishing specialized cardiac centers, with opportunities to influence medical education and advance cardiovascular science.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE:
The cardiology field employs 17,290 practitioners with a median annual wage of $496,010 (BLS OEWS May 2025), ranging from $107,190 to $712,130. Geographic wage variation is significant, with Washington State offering the highest compensation at $656,330 versus California at $185,610, representing a 3.54x differential. Health Care and Social Assistance employs 92% of cardiologists (15,980), with Educational Services (880) and Management of Companies (280) providing additional opportunities. The aging population and increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease drive strong demand for cardiac specialists.

AUTOMATION OUTLOOK:
Cardiologists face moderate automation impact, as AI increasingly assists with diagnostic imaging interpretation and pattern recognition in ECGs and echocardiograms. However, complex clinical decision-making, emergency cardiac interventions, and patient communication remain fundamentally human-centered activities requiring clinical judgment and interpersonal skills that resist automation.

--- REASONED EDGES ---
  [career_pathway] General Internal Medicine Physicians (29-1216.00) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Cardiology is a subspecialty of internal medicine, requiring internal medicine residency as prerequisite training.
    data: Related occupation Primary-Short
    data: Cardiology subspecialty of internal medicine per Wikipedia
  [task_similarity] Emergency Medicine Physicians (29-1214.00) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Both specialties administer emergency cardiac care for life-threatening conditions like cardiac arrest.
    data: Emergency cardiac care task
    data: Related occupation Primary-Short
  [skill_overlap] Radiologists (29-1224.00) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Both analyze diagnostic images and test data to inform diagnosis, requiring similar analytical interpretation skills.
    data: Analyze test data or images DWA
    data: Related occupation Primary-Long
  [riasec_cluster] Neurologists (29-1217.00) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Both are investigative-dominant medical specialists (I:6.87) requiring analytical diagnosis of complex systemic conditions.
    data: RIASEC I:6.87
    data: Related occupation Primary-Long
    data: Job Zone 5
  [wage_band] Anesthesiologists (29-1211.00) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Both are high-earning physician specialists with median wages exceeding $400,000 annually in similar medical practice settings.
    data: Median wage $496,010
    data: Related occupation Primary-Short
    data: Health Care employment

--- NORMALIZER SIGNALS ---
  match_keywords   : ['cardiologist', 'cardiac specialist', 'heart doctor', 'cardiovascular physician', 'interventional cardiologist', 'electrophysiology cardiologist', 'heart failure specialist', 'cardiology physician']
  exclude_keywords : ['cardiac surgeon', 'cardiovascular technician', 'echo tech', 'cardiac nurse', 'perfusionist']
  title_patterns   : ['*cardiologist*', '*cardiology physician*', '*cardiac specialist*', '*heart specialist*', 'electrophysiology*']
  common_variations: ['interventional cardiologist', 'non-invasive cardiologist', 'invasive cardiologist', 'general cardiologist', 'heart failure cardiologist', 'electrophysiology cardiologist', 'cardiology physician', 'cardiac specialist']
Semantic Manifold — 40 terms · 5 provenance layers employment_word_extractor.py · sources: onet_tasks | onet_dimensions | dwas | wikipedia | inference · Constitutional Law III
total_terms    : 40
top_words      : ['heart', 'cardiology', 'cardiac', 'blood', 'disease', 'tendency', 'medical', 'cardiovascular', 'failure', 'include', 'treatment', 'coronary', 'procedures', 'pressure', 'pulmonary', 'congenital', 'cardiologists', 'diseases', 'medicine', 'artery']
source_layers  : onet_tasks | onet_dimensions | dwas | wikipedia | inference

TERM                    COUNT     FREQ  DOMINANT SOURCE      SOURCE BREAKDOWN
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
heart                     179  0.03872  wikipedia            wikipedia:91%  inference:4%  onet_tasks:3%
cardiology                 84  0.01817  wikipedia            wikipedia:89%  inference:10%  onet_tasks:1%
cardiac                    83  0.01795  wikipedia            wikipedia:87%  inference:8%  onet_tasks:5%
blood                      64  0.01384  wikipedia            wikipedia:92%  onet_tasks:5%  inference:3%
disease                    49  0.01060  wikipedia            wikipedia:94%  onet_tasks:4%  inference:2%
tendency                   42  0.00908  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
medical                    35  0.00757  dwas                 dwas:37%  wikipedia:31%  inference:20%
cardiovascular             32  0.00692  wikipedia            wikipedia:66%  inference:22%  onet_tasks:12%
failure                    32  0.00692  wikipedia            wikipedia:94%  inference:6%
include                    28  0.00606  wikipedia            wikipedia:93%  inference:7%
treatment                  27  0.00584  wikipedia            wikipedia:63%  dwas:19%  inference:11%
coronary                   25  0.00541  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
procedures                 24  0.00519  wikipedia            wikipedia:62%  onet_tasks:21%  dwas:8%
pressure                   24  0.00519  wikipedia            wikipedia:92%  onet_tasks:4%  inference:4%
pulmonary                  23  0.00498  wikipedia            wikipedia:96%  onet_tasks:4%
congenital                 23  0.00498  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
cardiologists              23  0.00498  wikipedia            wikipedia:70%  inference:30%
diseases                   23  0.00498  wikipedia            wikipedia:96%  inference:4%
medicine                   21  0.00454  wikipedia            wikipedia:86%  inference:14%
artery                     21  0.00454  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
patients                   20  0.00433  onet_tasks           onet_tasks:40%  dwas:40%  wikipedia:15%
risk                       20  0.00433  wikipedia            wikipedia:85%  onet_dimensions:10%  inference:5%
hypertension               19  0.00411  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
clinical                   18  0.00389  wikipedia            wikipedia:83%  inference:11%  dwas:6%
electrophysiology          18  0.00389  wikipedia            wikipedia:83%  inference:17%
known                      18  0.00389  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
ventricular                17  0.00368  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
cause                      17  0.00368  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
right                      17  0.00368  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
ventricle                  17  0.00368  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
patient                    16  0.00346  dwas                 dwas:50%  inference:25%  onet_tasks:19%
disorders                  16  0.00346  wikipedia            wikipedia:94%  inference:6%
tests                      15  0.00325  wikipedia            wikipedia:47%  onet_tasks:27%  dwas:13%
others                     15  0.00325  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:67%  wikipedia:33%
called                     15  0.00325  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
interventional             15  0.00325  wikipedia            wikipedia:73%  inference:27%
arteries                   15  0.00325  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
defect                     15  0.00325  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
diagnostic                 14  0.00303  dwas                 dwas:36%  wikipedia:29%  inference:29%
years                      14  0.00303  wikipedia            wikipedia:71%  inference:29%
◈ Boise Standard Employment Graph · 29-1212.00 · built 2026-06-02 · Sources declared above are authoritative originals. This page synthesizes but does not replace them. Every claim traceable. Full provenance. Constitutional Law I.
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