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Pulmonologist Salary 2026: Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and State Pay
Pulmonology compensation has risen in 2026 as critical care demand continues post-pandemic, sleep medicine volumes grow, and interventional pulmonology matures into a recognized subspecialty. Median pulmonologist salary reached $415,000, with critical care-trained pulmonologists routinely exceeding $475,000.
Subspecialty Benchmarks (2026)
| Subspecialty | Median Base | Top Quartile |
|---|---|---|
| General Pulmonology | $385,000 | $465,000 |
| Pulmonary + Critical Care (PCCM) | $445,000 | $545,000 |
| Critical Care Only | $425,000 | $515,000 |
| Sleep Medicine (Pulm) | $385,000 | $475,000 |
| Interventional Pulmonology | $475,000 | $585,000 |
| Pediatric Pulmonology | $295,000 | $370,000 |
| Pulmonary Hypertension | $405,000 | $495,000 |
| Academic Pulmonology | $340,000 | $430,000 |
Top 10 Highest-Paying States for Pulmonology
| Rank | State | Median Base |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $475,000+ |
| 2 | Indiana | $465,000+ |
| 3 | Oklahoma | $460,000+ |
| 4 | Nebraska | $455,000+ |
| 5 | Missouri | $450,000+ |
| 6 | Kentucky | $445,000+ |
| 7 | Florida | $440,000+ |
| 8 | Ohio | $438,000+ |
| 9 | Texas | $435,000+ |
| 10 | Iowa | $432,000+ |
Sleep Medicine Add-On
Many pulmonologists add sleep medicine certification for:
- Higher-margin outpatient sleep studies (take-home WatchPAT, HST)
- Lower-acuity ambulatory volume
- Sleep center partnership opportunities
- Outpatient lifestyle balance after critical-care-heavy careers
What Pulmonologists Negotiate in 2026
- ICU coverage weeks per year (typically 12-16 weeks split with PCCM colleagues)
- Procedure block time (bronchs, EBUS, thoracentesis)
- Outpatient clinic vs inpatient split
- Sleep medicine allocation if certified
- Sign-on + loan repayment
- Tail malpractice coverage
Ava Health places pulmonologists and PCCM specialists nationwide. Contact us for openings.
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