An Allergist / Immunologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients suffering from allergies, asthma, and immune diseases. This actually comprises a large subset of patients than you think.
Imagine all patients suffering from food allergies, medication allergies, or a consistent runny nose. Asthma alone affects over 15 million people in the United States. Immune diseases are a rarer breed and can cross paths with genetic physicians.
Just how much do Allergist / Immunologist physicians make? More than primary care physicians. The national average for starting right out of residency is $158,000. The median average salary is $215,543.
Majority of allergy & immunology physicians reported earning between $194,042 and $247,988. However, maximum salaries have been reported up to $487,000 dollars! It’s a good life, a specialist.
Allergists & Immunologists are physicians with 5-6 years total of training. In order to become one, you need to complete either an Internal Medicine residency or a Pediatrics residency. Then, you can apply for a fellowship in Allergy / Immunology.
The fellowship is 2-3 years long. The first year is geared towards learning clinical knowledge where as the second and third years are concentrated on conducting and publishing research.
There are currently 72 programs offering this fellowship as of this post. Although some programs offer conjoined board certification in Allergy/Immunology, be sure to identify which residency programs accept your previous specialty. Meaning, not every fellowship program allows either Internal Medicine or Pediatric physicians to apply. Some of the programs are specialized to only IM or Peds.
Allergy & Immunology physicians are specialists in treating allergies, asthma, and immune deficiencies. A fellowship in this field will set you back an extra 2-3 years but the earning potential is great. If you enjoy antibodies, antigens, and research, take a look into this field to see if it suits you.
Sources
Salary.com, Physician – Allergy / Immunology Physician Salary
Allied Physicians – Physician Salary Survey
ACGME