Cardiologists
Machines can already do 35% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 57%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Cardiologists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 35% of this job's tasks.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2033, and 57% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 17,290 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $496,010 a year.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obtain and record patient information, including patient identification, medical history, and examination results | 12% | 64% to 78% | |
| Design and explain treatment plans, based on patient information such as medical history, reports, and examination results | 8% | 34% to 60% | |
| Diagnose medical conditions of patients, using records, reports, test results, or examination information | 8% | 64% to 78% | |
| Monitor patients' conditions and progress, and reevaluate treatments, as necessary | 8% | 36% to 68% | |
| Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients | 6% | 70% to 82% | |
| Talk to other physicians about patients to create a treatment plan | 6% | 27% to 51% | |
| Answer questions that patients have about their health and well-being | 5% | 32% to 55% | |
| Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments | 5% | 3% to 25% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills cardiologists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric38% of tasks by 2035 · US median $358,550
- Pediatric Surgeons39% of tasks by 2035 · US median $559,030
- General Internal Medicine Physicians50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $256,560
- Allergists and Immunologists56% of tasks by 2035 · US median $265,930
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Cardiologists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2033. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of cardiologists?
Machines can do 35% of the tasks of cardiologists today and 57% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 29-1212.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Cardiologists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/cardiologists/