General surgeon vs cardiothoracic surgeon

The differences between general surgeons and cardiothoracic 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 general surgeon and a cardiothoracic surgeon. Additionally, a cardiothoracic surgeon has an average salary of $409,035, which is higher than the $223,321 average annual salary of a general surgeon.

The top three skills for a general surgeon include patients, EMR and medical education. The most important skills for a cardiothoracic surgeon are private practice, surgical procedures, and MRI.

General surgeon vs cardiothoracic surgeon overview

	General Surgeon	Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Yearly salary	$223,321	$409,035
Hourly rate	$107.37	$196.65
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	45,174	3,612
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age	49	49
Years of experience	6	6

What does a general surgeon do?

The General Surgeon's role is to perform operations to treat or prevent diseases, repair damage caused by injuries, and improve the functions of the human body through the use of different surgical instruments. They also assess patients and explain different diagnostic tests that are performed.

What does a cardiothoracic surgeon do?

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.

General surgeon vs cardiothoracic surgeon salary

General surgeons and cardiothoracic surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.

	General Surgeon	Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Average salary	$223,321	$409,035
Salary range	Between $121,000 And $411,000	Between $205,000 And $813,000
Highest paying City	Watertown, NY	Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Michigan
Best paying company	Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County	Allina Health
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between general surgeon and cardiothoracic surgeon education

There are a few differences between a general surgeon and a cardiothoracic surgeon in terms of educational background:

	General Surgeon	Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common major	Medicine	Nursing
Most common college	Duke University	University of Pennsylvania

General surgeon vs cardiothoracic surgeon demographics

Here are the differences between general surgeons' and cardiothoracic surgeons' demographics:

	General Surgeon	Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Average age	49	49
Gender ratio	Male, 53.9% Female, 46.1%	Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9%
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%

Differences between general surgeon and cardiothoracic surgeon duties and responsibilities

General surgeon example responsibilities.

Manage insurance authorization and hospital bookings for surgery.
Provide preoperative diagnosis of patients, perform the necessary emergency or elective surgery, and provide postoperative surgical care and treatment.
Provide patient ancillary testing such as EKG, NDX and NCV.
Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.
Assist the physician during angioplasty and endovenous laser ablation procedures.
Clean operating room and wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.

Cardiothoracic surgeon example responsibilities.

Manage all incoming medical records requests (ensuring office is within HIPPA guidelines).
Coordinate with patients and medical staff at civilian and military treatment facilities to schedule medical appointments and retrieve medical documentation.
Observe fracture plating, skin grafting, wind cleaning, amputation, and other Orthopaedic surgeries.

General surgeon vs cardiothoracic surgeon skills

Common general surgeon skills

Patients, 34%
EMR, 14%
Medical Education, 9%
Patient Care, 8%
Endoscopy, 6%
Private Practice, 3%

Common cardiothoracic surgeon skills

Private Practice, 38%
Surgical Procedures, 28%
MRI, 19%
Post-Operative Care, 7%
Chest Tubes, 7%
Direct Care, 2%

General Surgeon vs. similar jobs

General Surgeon related careers

General Surgeon related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
General Surgeon
General Surgeon vs Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs