Pulmonologist
Impact: Direct Patient Care
Diagnose and treat diseases of the respiratory system, such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, and lung cancer. Perform procedures like bronchoscopies and lung biopsies.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- Team-oriented with significant solo work
- Client facing
- Always
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Minimal
- Schedule flexibility
- Structured
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 50-60 hours/week
- Stress level
- High
At a glance
- Median salary
- $280,000
- Entry-level
- $180,000
- Senior
- $400,000
- Growth by 2033
- 7%
- Demand
- Growing
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- 25%
- Typical student debt
- $200,000 - $300,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Diagnostic Skills
- Bronchoscopy
- Critical Care Management
Soft skills
- Communication
- Empathy
- Problem-Solving
Technical complexity: Very High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Doctoral or Professional Degree
- Licensing
- Yes
- Years to mid-career
- 10
- Years to senior
- 15
- Career switching
- Very Hard
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Residency
- Fellowship
- Attending Pulmonologist
- Department Head/Medical Director
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 5%
- AI disruption risk
- Moderate
- Demand trend
- Growing
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 4/10
- Meaning
- 4/10
- Work-life balance
- 3.5/10
- Prestige
- 9/10
- Social perception
- High