Is Pulmonology a Good Career in 2026?
Managing respiratory diseases and providing critical care for the sickest patients.
Based on 85 approved physician salary reports
SalaryDr Career Intelligence
Based on 85 approved physician salary reports
Score Breakdown
Pulmonology Compensation & Earnings
Pulmonology Compensation
$460,000
$360,000 – $530,000(P25–P75)
Pulmonology Salary Progression
From medical school to senior attending — based on 85 approved salary reports
21 submissions
54 submissions
10 submissions
+16% salary growth from early career ($395,000) to mid-career ($460,000)
Estimate Your Take-Home
Based on median Pulmonology salary of $460K/yr
Select a state to see your estimated take-home pay
Take-Home Pay by State
How much a Pulmonology physician actually keeps after federal, state, and FICA taxes
Highest Take-Home States
Lowest Take-Home States
Tax impact: A Pulmonology physician keeps $42,320 more per year in Alaska vs. California — a 9.2% difference on gross income of $460,000.
Assumes single filer, standard deduction, W-2 employment. State rates from Tax Foundation 2025. Gross salaries from BLS OEWS May 2024. FICA includes Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600) and Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% above $200K). Actual take-home varies with deductions, filing status, and local taxes.
How does your compensation compare?
Benchmark yourself against 85 approved pulmonology salary reports — add yours in 2 minutes and see your percentile instantly.
Career Lifestyle
Career Reality: By the Numbers
Real data from 85 Pulmonology physician reports — not job board estimates.
What Physicians Actually Say
Thematic analysis of career insights from Pulmonology physicians. Based on 11 anonymized responses.
About the Career (5 responses)
Lifestyle
20%1 physician mentioned this
“Better work life balance but that’s what comes with the territory owning a medical group”— Private Practice, 5 yrs
Call Burden
20%1 physician mentioned this
“More time with family and less call would be nice as I cannot be present with family.”— Hospital Employed, 4 yrs
About the Lifestyle (6 responses)
Family Time
33%2 physicians mentioned this
“A lot of call and some weeks are 89 hours depending on ICU coverage and procedures. Some weeks are easier however other weeks suck the life out of me and can take a toll on family time.”— Hospital Employed, 4 yrs
“This is a 4 day a week job, but working the 5th day at home common. No protected time to read sleep studies. Fantastic monthly bonus and productivity adjustment for PTO/CME/Holidays”— Community Hospital, 25 yrs
Good Work-Life Balance
17%1 physician mentioned this
“Flexible in how much hours I pick.”— Large Group Practice, 9 yrs
Exercise & Hobbies
17%1 physician mentioned this
“This is a 4 day a week job, but working the 5th day at home common. No protected time to read sleep studies. Fantastic monthly bonus and productivity adjustment for PTO/CME/Holidays”— Community Hospital, 25 yrs
Call Impact
17%1 physician mentioned this
“A lot of call and some weeks are 89 hours depending on ICU coverage and procedures. Some weeks are easier however other weeks suck the life out of me and can take a toll on family time.”— Hospital Employed, 4 yrs
Job Market & Future Outlook
Training & Getting Started
4 years of post-medical-school training, with subspecialty fellowship options
Subspecialty Fellowships
Physicians Also Consider
Explore Pulmonology
Take the Next Step in Your Pulmonology Career
Real, physician-reported compensation data. Know your market value before your next contract negotiation.
Powered by SalaryDr Career Intelligence
Career Score methodology: salarydr.com/methodology
According to SalaryDr Career Intelligence data from 85 approved reports by Pulmonologists (as of September 2026), the Physician Career Score for Pulmonology is 67/100. Median total compensation is $460,000, career satisfaction is 4.2/5, and 95% would choose the specialty again.