← 2026 Salary Report / Pulmonology
Pulm/critical care combination drives the majority of positions. ICU coverage and procedures boost compensation.
Training: 6 years post-medical school | 5-Year Change: +9% | Range (25th-75th): $300,000-$490,000
Pulmonary/critical care physicians start at $320,000-$380,000 with combined pulm/crit roles. Pure outpatient pulmonology pays $280,000-$340,000. Interventional pulmonologists with bronchoscopy and pleural procedure volumes earn $400,000-$500,000. Sleep medicine adds $30,000-$60,000 through lab directorship or home sleep testing.
Midwestern and Southern states with higher smoking rates and respiratory disease burden have the strongest pulmonology demand. Rural ICU coverage commands $400,000-$500,000+ due to critical care shortages. Locum tenens pulm/crit care rates are among the highest in medicine.
Employed pulm/crit care physicians earn $340,000-$430,000. Private practice pulmonologists earn $380,000-$520,000, with interventional pulmonary procedures being the main revenue driver. Sleep lab ownership can add $50,000-$100,000 in ancillary revenue.
Three highest-leverage actions: (1) Interventional pulmonology procedures (EBUS, navigational bronchoscopy) command premium reimbursement. (2) Sleep medicine certification plus home sleep testing adds a low-effort revenue stream. (3) ICU medical directorship or co-management fees supplement clinical income by $30,000-$80,000. Use the PhysicianWealth Salary Benchmark for a personalized comparison.
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© 2026 PhysicianWealth | Full 2026 Salary Report (10,000+ words)