Career comparison
Cardiologist vs. Cardiovascular Technologist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Cardiologists earn more at the median ($496,010 vs. $74,310), while cardiovascular technologists usually get to work faster (2 years of training). Cardiologists diagnose and treat diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Cardiovascular technologists run heart and blood vessel tests that help doctors diagnose disease.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Cardiologist | Cardiovascular Technologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $496,010 ($238.47/hr) | $74,310 ($35.73/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $107,190 – $712,130 | $39,000 – $121,350 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.8% (about as fast as average) | +3.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 500 | 3,400 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 14+ years after high school | 2 years |
| Key credential | ABIM cardiovascular disease certification | RDCS |
| Work setting | Cardiologists work in hospitals, catheterization labs and outpatient clinics.. | Technologists work in hospitals, cardiology clinics and imaging centers, including cath labs.. |
What each job does
Cardiologist
- Evaluate heart symptoms
- Read EKGs and imaging
- Manage heart failure and hypertension
- Treat arrhythmias
- Perform catheterizations and stents
Cardiovascular Technologist
- Perform EKGs and stress tests
- Do echocardiograms
- Scan blood vessels with ultrasound
- Assist in cardiac catheterization
- Monitor patients during procedures
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, high responsibility, helping others, and indoor work. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose cardiologist if…
- I’m fascinated by the heart
- I want to do life-saving procedures
- I handle emergencies well
Choose cardiovascular technologist if…
- I’m interested in the heart
- I like technology
- I stay calm in emergencies
Still torn? Take the Cardiologist fit quiz and the Cardiovascular Technologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, cardiologist or cardiovascular technologist?
Cardiologists earn more at the median: $496,010 versus $74,310 for cardiovascular technologists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Cardiovascular Technologists typically train faster (2 years) than cardiologists (14+ years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects cardiologists to grow +4.8% from 2025–35, compared with +3.7% for cardiovascular technologists.