Cardiologists Salary
Cardiologists in Virginia make a median of $461,450 a year, or about $221.85 an hour. The range runs from $218K at the entry level to $590K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $486,813 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 6.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $461K get you in Virginia?
About cardiologists
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What this looks like in Virginia
Cardiologists pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $461K locally vs. $496K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 6.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level cardiologists (10th percentile) start around $218K. Mid-career wages sit at $461K. Top earners bring in $590K or more, a $373K spread from bottom to top.
Cardiologists salary by metro in Virginia
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester | $500K | +8% | 40 |
| Richmond | $450K | -2% | 120 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $431K | -7% | 230 |
Compare to other states
Track cardiologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cardiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $461K, rent takes 6.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cardiologists in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cardiologists typically earn — is $218K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $13,050/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 13% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is cardiologist a high-paying job in Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $461K locally vs. $496K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for cardiologists?
Virginia pays $461K median vs. the U.S. average of $496K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $487K — below the national median.
How much do cardiologists make in Virginia?
The median is $461,450 a year, that works out to about $222 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $217,500, and experienced cardiologists can clear $590,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $461K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $24,139/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 6.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a cardiologists salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cardiologists salary is worth about $486,813 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cardiologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.