Career comparison
Cardiologist vs. Emergency Medicine Physician
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. $335,550), while emergency medicine physicians usually get to work faster (11–12 years after high school of training). Cardiologists diagnose and treat diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Emergency medicine physicians diagnose and treat anyone who walks into the emergency room.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Cardiologist | Emergency Medicine Physician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $496,010 ($238.47/hr) | $335,550 ($161.32/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $107,190 – $712,130 | $103,610 – $495,910 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.8% (about as fast as average) | +3.2% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 500 | 900 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 14+ years after high school | 11–12 years after high school |
| Key credential | ABIM cardiovascular disease certification | ABEM board certification |
| Work setting | Cardiologists work in hospitals, catheterization labs and outpatient clinics.. | Emergency physicians work in hospital emergency departments, urgent care and freestanding ERs.. |
What each job does
Cardiologist
- Evaluate heart symptoms
- Read EKGs and imaging
- Manage heart failure and hypertension
- Treat arrhythmias
- Perform catheterizations and stents
Emergency Medicine Physician
- Evaluate patients quickly
- Resuscitate critically ill patients
- Perform emergency procedures
- Order and interpret tests
- Treat injuries and acute illness
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, high responsibility, and hands-on 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 emergency medicine physician if…
- I love fast-paced work
- I stay calm in chaos
- I like variety
Still torn? Take the Cardiologist fit quiz and the Emergency Medicine Physician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, cardiologist or emergency medicine physician?
Cardiologists earn more at the median: $496,010 versus $335,550 for emergency medicine physicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Emergency Medicine Physicians typically train faster (11–12 years after high school) 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 +3.2% for emergency medicine physicians.