SCA salary survey
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Damn people are so cheap just like my family members worth 20 plus million and not wanting to pay for subscription streaming services.
sca membership is only $300/year bruh.
Asa membership is only $1100 a year
Anyways it’s every 2 years the survey. Last survey was Oct 2024. So that’s way outdated data now. And remember survey are always 2 years behind when they publish it. So the Oct 2026 survey will be based on 2024 salary. You will never get real time salary data.
sca membership is only $300/year bruh.
Asa membership is only $1100 a year
Anyways it’s every 2 years the survey. Last survey was Oct 2024. So that’s way outdated data now. And remember survey are always 2 years behind when they publish it. So the Oct 2026 survey will be based on 2024 salary. You will never get real time salary data.
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gross taxable income in U.S. currency? For international members, please use this Currency Conversion Calculator to convert to US dollars. Please enter dollar amount without decimals or symbols (e.g., 300000).
Mean
25th Percentile Median
75th Percentile 90th Percentile
S508,869.73$432,500.00
$520,000.00 $600,000.00
gross taxable income in U.S. currency? For international members, please use this Currency Conversion Calculator to convert to US dollars. Please enter dollar amount without decimals or symbols (e.g., 300000).
Mean
25th Percentile Median
75th Percentile 90th Percentile
S508,869.73$432,500.00
$520,000.00 $600,000.00
$650,000.00
gross taxable income in U.S. currency? For international members, please use this Currency Conversion Calculator to convert to US dollars. Please enter dollar amount without decimals or symbols (e.g., 300000).
Mean
25th Percentile Median
75th Percentile 90th Percentile
S508,869.73$432,500.00
$520,000.00 $600,000.00
gross taxable income in U.S. currency? For international members, please use this Currency Conversion Calculator to convert to US dollars. Please enter dollar amount without decimals or symbols (e.g., 300000).
Mean
25th Percentile Median
75th Percentile 90th Percentile
S508,869.73$432,500.00
$520,000.00 $600,000.00
$650,000.00
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This point has been beaten like a dead horse, but looking at salary in isolation is completely worthless. Without additional information like call frequency, average hours worked, weeks of vacation, overall badness of call shifts, compensation for call shifts, it is impossible to compare jobs. You need to know the hourly rate you will be reimbursed for your services.
Hospitals are jacking up salaries while messing with the details...ie. your workday is 7-5pm, 5 days a week... 10 hour days 5 days a week isn't sustainable. Or you no longer get post call day off or pre-call early relief. Or the call shift is no longer supported with a CRNA, just you and a load of high risk laboring patients. Or there is no limit on call frequency, and those extra call shifts you have to take because everyone left because the job is so bad don't lead to extra compensation because you're paid a flat salary.
The devil is in the details.
Hospitals are jacking up salaries while messing with the details...ie. your workday is 7-5pm, 5 days a week... 10 hour days 5 days a week isn't sustainable. Or you no longer get post call day off or pre-call early relief. Or the call shift is no longer supported with a CRNA, just you and a load of high risk laboring patients. Or there is no limit on call frequency, and those extra call shifts you have to take because everyone left because the job is so bad don't lead to extra compensation because you're paid a flat salary.
The devil is in the details.
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All those "memberships" plus my $700 bi yearly medical license renewal, my yearly $500 state "controlled substance" license, $888 for DEA license, plus $450 yearly for my ASA "MOCA" certification, I know I probably missed a few.
I totally agree.
But if I remember correctly the SCA salary survey mentioned call frequency, etc. I last saw the 2020 data and wasn't sure if they updated the salary survey with more recent data.
You may be young in your career. Or like to watch every penny like my sister. But it’s just be part of doing business. If you are w2. Your employer should take care of all or most of it.
If you are self employed. It’s all tax deductible and while the fees are annoying. 2-4k a year in professional “fees” is just a rounding error for most of us.
Why do u even care about these questions?
Don’t be a book worm. The market is the market. Walk if you don’t like ur salary/contract.
Again data on salary is so outdated.
By the time 2026 survey is published in October 2026. You are already 2 years behind real time true data.
Don’t drink the kool aid what you read about how to negotiate contracts.
Cardiac is high demand. U hold all the leverage and u gotta realize that
I am still very early in my career, 5 years out of fellowship. I am W2 and yes my employer does cover it all, but the non stop constant fees and memberships really gets me. Considering that these organizations do absolutely nothing for me.
I am part of a committee that looks at salaries for our group. 2 years ago we successfully negotiated a higher pay for our cardiac group based on the SCA salary survey. While I understand it is outdated by the time it is published, it does have some relevance.
Cardiac demand is very location dependent. I currently practice in Massachusetts, the area is saturated with cardiac trained people. We are constantly turning down people for cardiac positions.
Well I hope you aren’t in Boston proper. Salaries are atrocious there
But it’s all about supply and demand. The lower groups take. The more the hospital will smile.
Boston suburbs.
Boston area sucks for pay.
I Recruited my current colleague from Boston area hospital in 2023. She’s cardiac. Worked like a dog for around low 600s up there. With 9 weeks off But that includes some general calls along with cardiac calls.
Now’s she chillin in Florida for only 575k. Cardiac calls light 17 weeks (300 total hearts including tavr split among 3 cardiac docs) and 9 regular weeks ) so 26 weeks off
They literally only worked a total of 4 weekend days out of 56 weekend days so far. So that’s how low cardiac volume is tons of time off
By the way saw this ad for cardiac
“
$725K Base - Cardiovascular Role in the Tulsa Region
Join a thriving cardiovascular anesthesia practice in the Tulsa area offering high-level cases, excellent income, and work-life balance. This full-time CV Anesthesiologist position features $725,000 annual 1099 compensation, and 10 weeks off each year.”
I cannot relocate, wife has a good job in our area, family close, kid in school.
My job base pay is ~500k, 7 weeks PTO, 1 week CME, also have 6 non clinical days a month (2 built in post call days, 3 academic days (TEE simulation with residents) and 1 administrative day). Only required to take cardiac call and call in rate is ~10%. Occasionally pick up incentive weekends covering regional team and/or general call. Total salary with extra weekends brings me close to 650. Also receive approximately 35k yearly in 401k/403b employer contributions. Good healthcare coverage for family.
My job base pay is ~500k, 7 weeks PTO, 1 week CME, also have 6 non clinical days a month (2 built in post call days, 3 academic days (TEE simulation with residents) and 1 administrative day). Only required to take cardiac call and call in rate is ~10%. Occasionally pick up incentive weekends covering regional team and/or general call. Total salary with extra weekends brings me close to 650. Also receive approximately 35k yearly in 401k/403b employer contributions. Good healthcare coverage for family.
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The mgh attendings get paid like crap. People in the Boston area want “titles” and willing to work for less.
That may be true for some, but the majority of my group are regular people who do not chase prestige. A lot of people grew up in the area, have family close by, good schools systems, good healthcare.
I get it that Oklahoma may pay 700k, but who wants to live there? How is the quality of life?
Many parts of the country to live in. I shared your same elitist attitude living both the northeast and west coast. Like why the heck do people live elsewhere. You do have some truth to good public schools and good healthcare statement. But again it all varies how much one knows about schools and healthcare.
Different strokes for different folks. And my family still lives on west and east coast. But I made a good life in Florida. New friends new family etc.
Quality of life means a lot of different things to different people.
My brother in law and his in laws are from the Boston area. Grew up there. Both parents university professors. lived there 40 plus years. Typical Harvard/hopkins undergrad/med school track for their son. Very elitist attitudes. But they moved to Arizona and love it there and wished they moved decades ago.
While Arizona isn’t Tulsa. It’s very similar to what you would say. What’s in Arizona for me?
To be honest. 500k cardiac with low stress low and 7 weeks plus holiday etc isn’t too bad especially with non clinical days. Very similar job down south (7 weeks off and 1 week cme) for the university as well for similar 505k pay (40k cardiac stipend) soveign immunity etc. 1:2 staffing and optional calls. But the docs down south were also complaining about pay. But overall they dont work that hard home to their families by 4pm 90% of days.
Different strokes for different folks, but I'm picking Oklahoma over Boston or any of the major cities in the NE.
Great schools exist everywhere, and I would rather have my children attend a school system outside of a major metropolitan area.
I can't argue that there is better healthcare in these cities, but hopefully it will be decades before I need it.
I saw "titles" and read something else
Who wants to live in Tulsa...
I went to med school in Kansas City. Tulsa wasn’t that far away. Same drive from Orlando to Miami as Tulsa to Kansas City.
Tulsa 4 hrs from Dallas.
It’s not a small city. Around a 1 million people in Tulsa metro area. My next door neighbors are from Tulsa.
I think people have different perception of where they want to live. But Tulsa is not the boonies.
Miami people always tell others in Florida. Who wants to live in orlando or Jacksonvile and make fun of those two metro area.
My LA friends say who wants to live in Philadelphia etc.
I'm in the Bay Area and even I agree with this. at a million people, you're going to have hipster coffee, artisanal microbrew, an apple store, a Porsche dealer, and a Whole Foods. 99% of the time, that'll cover your bases. And at $725K you'd live like an absolute KING/QUEEN. Flight options are pretty rough, though.
*edit: god, I'm hoping I can turn this into another "your city sucks, my city rocks, I can't believe you don't like what I like" thread...
Yup and the only thing I miss about living inside New York City is the ability to watch a show almost any day I want or grab a pizza at odd hours. But the reality is it happens so little. I’m not missing out on much.
I make fun of Philadelphia because my mom went to Temple. And damn so many parts of the city is still ugly after all these years. But most everyone I know has moved to the suburbs.
gaspasser101
New Member
I am assuming that's W2 income? is the university willing to pay college tuition for your kids? that would be decent deal
Yes. University pays for kids education. Decent package.
I’m down to crash that party. I’ve lived from completely undesirable to meh to desirable based on prevailing opinions. Philly I could do. I’ve had fun in the Bay and Miami, but neither is my speed. Of the top 10 metros, I prefer going to Chicago.
Orlando or Jacksonville, woof, only if I had family there. Sprawls with no character.
Rochester and Buffalo both have 1M, hard no for me dog. Grand Rapids and Birmingham, too, and I bet most people couldn’t find them on a map. Some good times in Memphis, St. Louis, and Baltimore, but 3 of the most dangerous cities in the country are a hard sell with a family. Of the 500k-1M metro club, I’d be cool with Charleston, Madison, Colorado Springs, and Winston-Salem, in that order.
I love Chicago. It’s just a cleaner New York. Probably because Chicago burned down. Maybe New York needs to burn down to become a cleaner Chicago.
Anyways. You can make a home almost anywhere. Just depends on your tastes , interests, family etc.
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jUST negotiate a per minute contract and you wont get screwed. For every minute your in the hospital youre getting a set amount.
Doesn’t work with beeper call.
And that where docs lose a ton of money while being out of the OR
Administration try to play dumb and want to count beeper as close to zero value. They will cite low call back percentages. Well that percentage isn’t zero.
Thats even easier. Negotiate 2500 to carry the beeper and when you get called in it is your usual and customary hourly rate If not Kick Rocks find a CRNA
I don’t do beeper rates plus call back. Too many unknowns with how much I get paid. $2500 is decent but if no cases. I’m not getting anything else. I find that disturbing.
I negotiate minimum flat beeper rates. $400/hr min per 12 hr from 7p-7a. Or 10k flat 24/hr beeper. I have so many gigs running at the same time. I can pick and choose and mix and match. I can work elsewhere daytime if they wont give me the flat 10k rate. Like I worked 10 hr at hospital A last Monday. $3500 plus $1500 daily stipend (surge demand). Drove 15 minutes home. Took a 40 min power nap. Had dinner with the family at 6pm. Drove 20 minutes to hospital B to do night call beeper at 7p. Finished at 830pm. Drove back home and slept all night and got $4800 for 1.5 hr of work. Total for the day was $9800 for what amounted to 11.5 total hours worked. It’s all a gamble on call. 90% of the time I’m done before 10/11pm.
So I don’t really understand why people do beeper plus call back rate. It’s stupid. Just pay flat rate. The numbers are much easier to understand with flat rate pay. It’s just a way for the system to rip u off.
I cant believe you are getting 400/hr just to sit at home waiting for a call. If I was the negotiator I would agree to your 400, but you'd be in house for the entirety of your shifts. And I would attach a nother title to you, house officer. You know what that is dont you?
Anyway, just reading your shifts is exhausting why are you doing this? are you divorced? gambling addiction?
No. I have multiple hospitals surgery center got to. Sometimes. 4 in one week. I’m at 4 different places next week. I like to mix and match. Some gigs are easier than others.
It’s just a game to me these days. That’s why I can pick and choose. I didn’t work a lot earlier this year. Ramping up a little and will wind down near the end of the year.
Still looking at 15 true weeks off total for the year. Mutiple vacations. New cars. Only got one wife. I’m not Mormon lol.
Sometimes when the money presents itself. It’s hard to turn down. Me and my buddies call this easy cash.
I love Chicago - it’s probably cleaner because taxes are high and people do take pride in their city.
Well the cardiac aren’t exactly happy with that setup either
Everyone wants more. And more.
More time off. Or more money.
But I tell everyone the market dictates. If no one is leaving and they aren’t short staff. Deal with it.
