ArticleAnesthesia and analgesia2026
Trends in US Cardiac Anesthesiologist Income, Work Patterns, and Compensation Satisfaction From 2020 to 2024: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Salary Survey.
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Abstract
backgroundFrom 2010 to 2020, US cardiac anesthesiologist inflation-adjusted income decreased despite rising clinical volumes and formal training. The 2020-2024 pandemic era was associated with significant disruptions including staffing shortages, increased burnout, and reduced inflation-adjusted income for general anesthesiologists. We sought to assess changes in cardiac anesthesiologist nominal and inflation-adjusted income, work patterns, and compensation satisfaction in this period. We hypothesized that nominal income and work intensity would increase, while inflation-adjusted income and compensation satisfaction would not change significantly.
methodsWe analyzed 2020-2024 Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Salary Survey data to model changes in nominal and inflation-adjusted income, supervision intensity, cardiac case volumes, and compensation satisfaction, adjusting for confounders. Inflation adjustments used the Consumer Price Index. An exploratory analysis assessed if higher work intensity was associated with reduced compensation satisfaction.
resultsFive hundred and twenty-six, 416, and 353 US respondents were included in survey years 2020, 2022, and 2024, respectively. From 2020 to 2024, respondents reported median (interquartile range [IQR]) nominal annual income significantly increased from $425,000 ($365,000-$500,000) in 2020 to $525,000 ($450,000-$600,000) in 2024, for a confounder-adjusted continuously compounded rate of 5.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.4%-5.9%; P < .001). However, inflation-adjusted income did not significantly change (median [IQR] 2020 inflation-adjusted income in 2024 dollars $517,000 [$444,000-$608,000] compared to a median 2024 inflation-adjusted income $525,000 [$450,000-$600,000]), adjusted continuously compounded rate of 0.1% (95% CI, -0.6% to 0.8%; P = .84). No significant changes were observed in the proportion of respondents reporting high (>150 cases annually) cardiac anesthetic case volumes (43% in 2020 to 42% in 2024; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.97 per year; 95% CI, 0.90-1.06; P = .53) or high (≥1:2) supervision ratios (41% in 2020 to 44% in 2024; aOR = 1.0 per year; 95% CI, 0.92-1.09; P = .97). Compensation satisfaction declined from 57% of respondents in 2020 to 47% in 2024 (aOR: 0.90 per year; 95% CI, 0.83-0.98; P = .014). Exploratory analyses suggested that higher-intensity work patterns may be associated with lower compensation satisfaction.
conclusionsIn contrast to the 2010-2020 period, cardiac anesthesiologist inflation-adjusted income and work patterns stabilized; however, compensation satisfaction declined. In exploratory analyses, higher supervision intensities, greater call burden, and lower amounts of paid time off are each modestly and independently associated with reduced compensation satisfaction. Addressing these high-intensity work patterns may improve cardiac anesthesiologist retention and compensation satisfaction.
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