A 9-page brief on reading published compensation data for cardiothoracic and vascular roles. Rather than restating figures out of context, it explains what each published source measures, how role families differ, what a complete offer contains, and where to read the primary sources directly.
Programs building an offer and clinicians evaluating one
Population surveyed, survey year, what counts as compensation, and how large the specific cut is. General information only, not compensation advice.
What tends to drive differences across surgeons, cardiologists, APPs, certified perfusionists, ECMO and MCS clinicians, CVOR nurses, surgical technologists, and first assistants.
Base or guarantee, productivity, call pay, sign-on, retention, relocation, malpractice and tail, benefits, and restrictive covenants.
A side by side worksheet for two offers, plus the questions that surface terms a summary sheet leaves out.
Compensation decisions, benchmarking, and fair market value review stay with the hiring organization.
Links to the primary sources, including BLS, MGMA, AAPA, STS, ABCP, and AmSECT, with a note on access and methodology.