Best cities for a thoracic surgeon
The best cities for thoracic surgeons are Minneapolis, MN, Anchorage, AK, and Saint Paul, MN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for thoracic surgeons vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for thoracic surgeons in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a thoracic surgeon or considering a move, this list of the best cities for thoracic surgeons to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for thoracic surgeons. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a thoracic surgeon. While the absolute best city for thoracic surgeons is Minneapolis, MN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for thoracic surgeons in 2024.
If you're looking for a thoracic surgeon job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for thoracic surgeons in 2026
1. Minneapolis, MN
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $490,616 Lowest 10 percent warn: $246,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $974,000 Location quotient: 3.13 2. Anchorage, AK
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $553,966 Lowest 10 percent warn: $257,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $1,193,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Saint Paul, MN
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $489,894 Lowest 10 percent warn: $246,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $972,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Seattle, WA
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $441,520 Lowest 10 percent warn: $215,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $905,000 Location quotient: 1.86 5. Fort Wayne, IN
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $433,228 Lowest 10 percent warn: $224,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $837,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Madison, WI
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $432,983 Lowest 10 percent warn: $220,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $848,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Memphis, TN
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $332,009 Lowest 10 percent warn: $176,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $624,000 Location quotient: 7.96 8. Milwaukee, WI
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $431,592 Lowest 10 percent warn: $220,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $843,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Indianapolis, IN
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $415,116 Lowest 10 percent warn: $215,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $799,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Cleveland, OH
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $347,263 Lowest 10 percent warn: $181,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $665,000 Location quotient: 2.48
Best cities for thoracic surgeons
- Minneapolis, MN
- Anchorage, AK
- Saint Paul, MN
- Seattle, WA
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Madison, WI
- Memphis, TN
- Milwaukee, WI
- Indianapolis, IN
- Cleveland, OH
- (3 thoracic surgeon jobs)
- (0 thoracic surgeon jobs)
- (0 thoracic surgeon jobs)
- (4 thoracic surgeon jobs)
- (0 thoracic surgeon jobs)
- (0 thoracic surgeon jobs)
- (4 thoracic surgeon jobs)
- (0 thoracic surgeon jobs)
- (0 thoracic surgeon jobs)
- (1 thoracic surgeon jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a thoracic surgeon
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $490,616 | $246,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | $553,966 | $257,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 3 | Saint Paul, MN | $489,894 | $246,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $441,520 | $215,000 | 704,352 | 4 |
| 5 | Fort Wayne, IN | $433,228 | $224,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 6 | Madison, WI | $432,983 | $220,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 7 | Memphis, TN | $332,009 | $176,000 | 652,717 | 4 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $431,592 | $220,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | $415,116 | $215,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $347,263 | $181,000 | 385,809 | 1 |
| 11 | Louisville, KY | $395,671 | $207,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 12 | Lexington, KY | $393,530 | $206,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $391,030 | $203,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 14 | Cincinnati, OH | $323,505 | $168,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 15 | Omaha, NE | $395,531 | $200,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 16 | Lincoln, NE | $388,541 | $197,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $356,701 | $190,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 18 | Pittsburgh, PA | $375,379 | $197,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 19 | Oklahoma City, OK | $332,153 | $176,000 | 638,367 | 2 |
| 20 | Wichita, KS | $376,838 | $195,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 21 | Chicago, IL | $395,623 | $203,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 22 | Toledo, OH | $351,900 | $182,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 23 | Nashville, TN | $343,093 | $181,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 24 | Tulsa, OK | $341,451 | $179,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 25 | Aurora, CO | $364,160 | $185,000 | 361,710 | 2 |
| 26 | Columbus, OH | $331,643 | $173,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 27 | Garland, TX | $331,518 | $179,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 28 | Lubbock, TX | $333,616 | $180,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 29 | Irving, TX | $330,771 | $179,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 30 | Plano, TX | $332,382 | $180,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 31 | Dallas, TX | $330,306 | $179,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 32 | Fort Worth, TX | $329,751 | $178,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 33 | Arlington, TX | $329,611 | $178,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 34 | Denver, CO | $364,825 | $185,000 | 693,060 | - |
| 35 | Buffalo, NY | $341,084 | $179,000 | 256,902 | 2 |
| 36 | Atlanta, GA | $332,212 | $178,000 | 472,522 | - |
| 37 | Portland, OR | $355,277 | $175,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 38 | San Antonio, TX | $311,255 | $169,000 | 1,492,510 | 1 |
| 39 | Colorado Springs, CO | $353,333 | $181,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 40 | New Orleans, LA | $319,335 | $174,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 41 | Houston, TX | $316,196 | $172,000 | 2,303,482 | 1 |
| 42 | Austin, TX | $315,198 | $172,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 43 | Baltimore, MD | $372,631 | $198,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 44 | Chandler, AZ | $290,064 | $158,000 | 247,477 | 1 |
| 45 | Newark, NJ | $356,964 | $191,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 46 | Jersey City, NJ | $356,418 | $190,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 47 | El Paso, TX | $311,146 | $170,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 48 | Kansas City, MO | $307,891 | $158,000 | 481,420 | - |
| 49 | Corpus Christi, TX | $308,461 | $167,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 50 | Phoenix, AZ | $291,385 | $159,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for thoracic surgeons
| Rank | City | Avg. thoracic surgeon salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $490,616 |
| 2 | Grand Forks, ND | $486,378 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $462,477 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $432,983 |
| 5 | Grand Rapids, MI | $404,226 |
| 6 | Erie, PA | $395,777 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $372,632 |
| 8 | Aurora, CO | $364,160 |
| 9 | Hartford, CT | $357,390 |
| 10 | Jersey City, NJ | $356,418 |
| 11 | Wheeling, WV | $356,270 |
| 12 | Watertown, NY | $349,991 |
| 13 | Ogden, UT | $345,309 |
| 14 | Carbondale, IL | $343,879 |
| 15 | Oklahoma City, OK | $332,153 |
| 16 | Memphis, TN | $332,009 |
| 17 | Bossier City, LA | $328,714 |
| 18 | Mobile, AL | $326,538 |
| 19 | Cincinnati, OH | $323,505 |
| 20 | Albany, GA | $321,465 |
Thoracic surgeon best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
Search for thoracic surgeon jobs
Updated January 8, 2025