Looking for freelance or contract work as a cardiologist in Florida? Whether you want to supplement your income or transition to independent practice, Florida offers several high-paying options. Here's how the top opportunities compare.
Expert witness work involves reviewing cardiology-related legal cases, preparing reports, and testifying in depositions or trials on standards of care in cardiac procedures or diagnoses. Cardiologists analyze medical records for malpractice suits or personal injury claims involving heart conditions. Assignments are project-based with flexible review timelines.
Malpractice Insurance: No
Florida notes: Active med-mal market; South FL higher volume of cases; Trial testimony $475-650/hr; Deposition $375-525/hr; Record review $275-425/hr
Typical start timeline: 1-4 weeks
Consulting roles for cardiologists include advising healthcare organizations on cardiac program development, quality improvement, or compliance with guidelines like ACC/AHA standards. Work may involve strategy for hospital cardiac units, payer negotiations, or pharma advisory boards in Florida. Projects are short-term with deliverables like reports or workshops.
Malpractice Insurance: No
Florida notes: No state income tax enhances effective rate; growing healthcare/biotech sector in Miami/Jacksonville; Pharma advisory $350-500/hr; Expert networks $250-400/hr; Device consulting $200-350/hr
Typical start timeline: 2-8 weeks
Healthcare AI companies hire cardiologist professionals to review, annotate, and validate training data for medical AI systems. Work involves cardiology imaging and ecg interpretation ai training — tasks like ecg interpretation, echocardiogram annotation, arrhythmia detection.
Malpractice Insurance: No
Florida notes: Fully remote — available regardless of state. Pay based on specialty expertise, not location.
Typical start timeline: 1-2 weeks
Getting started: Join the expert community and make a free profile on Folio to browse current cardiologist AI training projects.
Locum tenens or per diem work for cardiologists involves temporary assignments filling staffing gaps at hospitals or clinics in Florida, providing outpatient consultations, inpatient care, and procedures like EKGs or stress tests. Assignments can range from days to months, often including call coverage for cardiac emergencies. This freelance model offers high hourly pay and variety in practice settings.
Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer
Florida notes: Rural FL +20-25% premium; Miami/Tampa metro average; no state income tax; aging population drives high volume; Interventional/EP $290-400/hr; General/Non-invasive $220-280/hr; Invasive $250-330/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-12 weeks
As Principal Investigator (PI) or Sub-Investigator (Sub-I), cardiologists oversee clinical trials for new cardiac drugs, devices, or therapies at Florida research sites. Duties include patient recruitment, protocol adherence, data collection, and regulatory compliance for studies on heart failure or arrhythmias. Freelance roles allow multiple trial participation.
Malpractice Insurance: Yes ($10,000-$20,000/year)
Florida notes: South FL and Orlando growing clinical trial markets; aging population drives cardiovascular trial enrollment; Cardiology PI $225-325/hr FMV; Sub-investigator $150-225/hr
Typical start timeline: 6-12 weeks
Telemedicine for cardiologists entails remote consultations via video for patient follow-ups, medication management, ECG interpretations, and pre/post-procedure counseling. Florida-based providers serve patients statewide or nationally, focusing on non-invasive cardiology without physical exams. This allows high-volume consults from home setups.
Malpractice Insurance: Yes ($5,000-$15,000/year)
Florida notes: No geographic variation (remote); no state income tax; large elderly patient population for RPM; Remote imaging reads $140-225/hr; Virtual consults $90-180/hr; RPM $110-160/hr
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks
Q: What are the highest-paying freelance options for cardiologists in Florida?
A: Based on current market data, the top 3 are: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($275-$575/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($200-$500/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($150-$415/hr).
Q: Which freelance options for cardiologists don't require malpractice insurance?
A: 3 options don't require malpractice insurance: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($275-$575/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($200-$500/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($150-$415/hr). This can save $20-$50K annually compared to options requiring coverage.
Q: Can cardiologists work remotely in Florida?
A: Yes, 5 options are fully or partially remote: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($275-$575/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($200-$500/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($150-$415/hr), Clinical Research (PI/Sub-I) ($150-$325/hr), Telemedicine / Telehealth ($90-$225/hr).
Q: What Florida license do cardiologists need for freelance work?
A: An active Florida license from Florida Board of Medicine is required for most clinical freelance options.
Q: How quickly can cardiologists start freelance work?
A: Timeline varies by option: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal typically takes 1-4 weeks, while Healthcare Consulting / Advisory typically takes 2-8 weeks, while AI Training & Annotation typically takes 1-2 weeks.
Q: What's the pay range for cardiologists doing AI training work?
A: AI training pays $150-$415/hour for cardiologists, varying by experience level and project complexity. No malpractice insurance required.
Folio connects Florida cardiologists with frontier research labs and healthcare AI companies looking for clinical expertise. The platform vets AI companies for project quality, handles contracting and payment, and matches projects to your area of expertise.
Typical timeline:
- Application: 3 minutes
- Credential review: 2-3 business days
- Platform orientation: 1 hour
- First project: 3-7 days from application
Current project focus (February 2026): ECG interpretation, echocardiogram annotation, arrhythmia detection
Most cardiologists start with 5-10 hours weekly, then scale based on preference. No minimum commitment.
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Questions? Email experts@folioworks.com
