Pulmonologist Salaries in USA

Q. How do you become a Pulmonologist or a Physician in Pulmonary Medicine in USA ?

This specialty, classified as an Internal Medicine Sub-specialty, is accessible as a fellowship after completing a residency in Internal Medicine - ( a big reason why Internal Medicine is attractive - loads of specialization options !!) Salaries are impressive, as they are for most specialists. (By the way, for the non-medicos who happen to read this blog, a pulmonologist is the physician who checks out your lungs - or the lung doctor)


Here are what their earnings typically look like, per year:

• Houston, TX: $203,425 / -
• Los Angeles, CA: $221,493 /-
• New York, NY: $231,906/-
• Seattle, WA: $215,938/-

But despite good incomes, Pulmonology-Critical Care has failed to be a very attractive specialty, given the hectic lifestyle around managing ICU patients and higher compensation for other options an Internal medicine resident has - such as Cardiology, Gastroenterology, etc. - You might wanna read this article by Dr. Kevin Kovtiz : "Pulmonary and Critical Care - The Unattractive Specialty"


Examples of Pulmonary Medicine include Mayo Clinic at Jacksonville, FL, Maimonides Hospital at Brooklyn, NY, etc

Q. How long is Pulmonology Fellowship training ?

A. Usually the duration for a Pulmonary medicine fellowship is 2 years, but could be more at some places with advanced training options or when it is combined with another related specialty like Critical Care fellowship - for example the University California San Diego Fellowship program.

A recently emerging specialization after pulmonary fellowship is Interventional Pulmonology - about which I shall write elsewhere


Interesting Pulmonologist News Snippets:

- Since we are talking about Pulmonologist, you migh wanna read this moving article by Sandy Phillips Britt - a woman diagnosed of advanced lung cancer because her Pulmonologist doctor failed to suspect lung cancer in her abnormal X-ray in the early operable stages...
- So what if you get trained in advance American Pulmonary medicine, Yoga is still what this Indian Pulmonologist totally digs.


NOTE: Salaries here are the 50th Percentile Salaries and may apply to mid-career levels - the lower percentile salaries (for fresh physicians) may actually be lower by 30,000- 40,000 $



Also Read:

- 2008 MD salary Survey by M,H and A : Pulmonology Demand is Up !

Good Books:

- Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Pulmonary Medicine
- Interventional Pulmonology
- An Atlas of Lung Infections



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