Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between cardiothoracic surgeons and hand surgeons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a cardiothoracic surgeon and a hand surgeon. Additionally, a cardiothoracic surgeon has an average salary of $409,035, which is higher than the $327,249 average annual salary of a hand surgeon.
The top three skills for a cardiothoracic surgeon include private practice, surgical procedures and MRI. The most important skills for a hand surgeon are patients, EMR, and MRI.
| Cardiothoracic Surgeon | Hand Surgeon | |
| Yearly salary | $409,035 | $327,249 |
| Hourly rate | $196.65 | $157.33 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 3,612 | 22,502 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A cardiothoracic surgeon specializes in performing surgeries on the heart, esophagus, lungs, and other organs within the chest to treat different health conditions, some even life-threatening. A cardiothoracic surgeon is responsible for studying the patients' medical records and histories, conducting extensive tests and examinations, coordinating with physicians and other experts, and helping patients understand the extent and risks of the operations. They are also responsible for monitoring the patients' conditions after surgeries, conducting tests as necessary. Moreover, they maintain an open and transparent communication line with nurses and other staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
A hand surgeon is a health professional that is skilled in the field of medicine that deals with problems that relate to the hand, wrist, and forearm. Your job responsibility is to attend to the problems of clients and provide solutions. Most of these problems can be resolved without the need for surgery unless when necessary. Your job is to reduce and get rid of pain and restore movement and function.
Cardiothoracic surgeons and hand surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cardiothoracic Surgeon | Hand Surgeon | |
| Average salary | $409,035 | $327,249 |
| Salary range | Between $205,000 And $813,000 | Between $171,000 And $625,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Eau Claire, WI |
| Highest paying state | Michigan | Maine |
| Best paying company | Allina Health | Allina Health |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a cardiothoracic surgeon and a hand surgeon in terms of educational background:
| Cardiothoracic Surgeon | Hand Surgeon | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between cardiothoracic surgeons' and hand surgeons' demographics:
| Cardiothoracic Surgeon | Hand Surgeon | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9% | Male, 20.9% Female, 79.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 1.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |