The salary of a vascular surgeon ranges between $250,000 to $450,000 annually, depending on the location of employment and experience. It is a specialized field, dealing with diseases that affect the veins and arteries.
Surgeons are some of the top wage earners in the healthcare industry, due to their specialized skills, which include cardiothoracic and vascular surgery. In America, vascular surgery got recognition as a specialty in the 1970s. It deals with blood cells in the entire body, except for the heart and brain. It is performed to treat patients who have clots in their veins, affecting the blood supply. People with aneurysms are also prime candidates.
Other conditions like blockages in the arteries, caused by conditions like diabetes and high-cholesterol levels are also treated by vascular surgeons. The salary for these professionals goes over the $200,000 per year mark, in most work settings.
Like most other professions, the salary depends on various mitigating circumstances like geographical location of the job and the experience of the individual. Healthcare settings in urban areas will pay higher salaries to vascular surgeons, compared to rural areas.
Statistics reveal that a vascular surgeon employed in a state like California can expect to earn wages around $270,000 annually. Similarly, individuals employed in the state of New York can expect salaries that touch the $300,000 a year number. Here is a table depicting the variation in salaries, depending on the geographical location of the job.
| State | Salary |
| Alaska | $210,000 |
| Michigan | $240,000 |
| Florida | $250,000 |
| Montana | $260,000 |
| Illinois | $280,000 |
One of the other deciding factors for salaries is the number of years of experience a candidate has. Individuals with more than 10 years of experience in this specialty are known to earn enviable wages. Though the salary at the entry-level isn’t too bad either, compared to other surgeons in healthcare industry. Here is a look at the average salary, taking the number of years of experience into consideration.
| Experience | Salary |
| 0 to 5 years | $210,000 to $260,000 |
| 5 to 10 years | $260,000 to $350,000 |
| 10 to 20 years | $350,000 to $450,000 |
The salary range for this profession also varies as per the employers – individuals working with private hospitals earn considerably more than the ones employed by the federal government. Education and other personal qualities of an individual also decide the annual wages.
Education and Job Description
Aspiring candidates need to complete 4 years of undergraduate study, 4 years of medical school from an accredited institute, and need to clear a licensure exam for entry into a residency program. After getting into a residency program, they can work on getting a specialization in vascular surgery. Residency programs can range anywhere between 3-8 years and candidates work under other doctors to hone their skills.
The job involves the use of catheters to ensure proper functioning of arteries. The surgeon will also order non-invasive diagnostic tests that will help determine the course of the treatment. They are also requisitioned to treat aneurysms and blood clots that affect the normal functioning of the veins and arteries. Vascular surgeons also treat complications arising due to conditions like diabetes. They perform critical procedures like bypassing diseased arteries and replacing or strengthening weak arteries.
As problems in the arteries and veins can be fatal, the importance of the work of these surgeons can never be underestimated. Monetary compensation for these professionals is quite enviable, as most earn salaries upward of the $250,000 per year mark.