25th pctl
$580K
Cardiothoracic Surgeon Salary in Chicago
What you should make. What you should ask for. Calculated from 1M+ data points, refreshed monthly.
Median (p50)
$677K
75th pctl
$800K
90th pctl
$940K
Adjusted for Chicago at 1.05× the national baseline. See the math →
What this number means.
Cardiothoracic Surgeon in Chicago pulls a median of $677,250 at mid-IC, with a top-quartile band reaching $800,100 and the 90th percentile at $939,750. Chicago sits at 1.05× the national average for comp. If you're up for review, the right ask sits at p75: $800,100.
How to negotiate this
- Anchor$800,100 — the top-quartile number. This is the number you say first.
- Target$738,675 — where a fair counter lands. Above the median, below the anchor.
- Floor$677,250 — below this, you're underpaid. Walking away gets cheaper than staying.
Carry the math. Not the maybe.
AMMO is the corner man for the conversation that decides your year. Real comp data, an offer grader, and counter language drafted from your numbers. Get on the list before iOS launch.
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Cardiothoracic Surgeon elsewhere
Adjacent metros
Read how these numbers are computed →
Numbers are estimates. Your offer depends on company, level, equity structure, and the conversation you're about to have. AMMO is a tool. You are the negotiator.