Allergist Salary

An allergist is a medical doctor who specializes in immunology allergy-related diseases. Salaries for allergists differ across the country depending on the location and average median salary for health practitioners in the same field. Read on to learn more about salary averages and how to become a board-certified allergist in the US and other countries.

Allergist Salary

An allergist receives an average of $200,000 per year. Salary ranges vary from around $150,000 at the lowest to $299,000 at the highest in different parts of the country. Slight differences may be seen between those who practice independently, those who work as hospital affiliates and those who go into pure medical research and education.

Pay Scale in Different Parts of the US

Average salaries for allergists differ from state to state. For example, an allergist may command an average salary of $150,000 in small towns in the Midwest and command a higher salary of $250,000 to $299,000 in large cities like New York or Boston. The average salary for an allergist in Iowa is $170,000 while the average salary for an allergist in Minnesota runs at about $218,000. Allergists who work in finance and insurance may fetch around $209,000 a year. The recent trend shows an increase in average salaries for people in this field, with the median salary nearing the $200,000 level in 2010. The most recent data says that salaries for allergists are lowest in Rhode Island, Virgin Islands, Nebraska, Delaware and Illinois.

Allergist job description

An allergist is a professional who studies allergies and immunosensitivity reactions and prescribes various treatments for hypersensitivity conditions. Allergists are medical doctors who chose to specialize in this medical field. The most common conditions treated by allergists include asthma and the common diseases that affect the immune system. Other conditions treated by allergists include:

• allergic rhinitis
• asthma
• allergic eye conditions
• urticaria
• chronic cough
• sinus infection
• food allergies
• medication-induced allergies
• insect-induced allergies
• latex allergies

Allergists provide medical advice as well as treatment for allergies. They may also create a management and evaluation plan to make sure that patients are able to manage their allergies at home and minimize further trips to the doctor. Allergists may also provide regular testing and prescribe and administer allergy shots.

Allergists are recommended by general practitioners but most allergists also receive clients who walk-in for consultations. Since immunology is a specialized field of medicine, allergists work with a team of doctors in treating allergies that arise as a consequence of underlying medical conditions. For example, aside from general practitioners, allergists also work with pulmonologists or ear-nose-throat specialists. They may also work with hospital teams to ensure that post-surgery patients do not suffer from the usual allergies caused by surgery medication. Allergists can also practice in other fields such as social assistance, management companies, pharmaceutical companies, manufacturing, education, and public administration.

How to Become an Allergist

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To be an allergist, a person must first get the requisite four years of medical school after attending four years of undergraduate courses. Once the four-year medical training is done, the student must undergo further residency training either in internal medicine which can take up to four years or pediatric medicine, which can take up to three years. Anyone who wishes to become an allergist must take and pass a board certification exam after residency training to become a licensed internist or pediatrician. After that, he or she must undergo a final specialty training in immunology. This two-year fellowship is the final step to becoming a full-fledged allergist. Depending on previous training, a person can specialize on pediatric allergies or limit his practice to treating adult patients. However, most states require allergy fellows to take a board certification exam that prepares them for both adult and pediatric immunology. Learn more about allergist schools here.

Certification

Certification is required in various levels before a person can become an allergist. In the US, a person must first be board certified in internal medicine or pediatric medicine before he or she can undergo training in an accredited immunology program. Fellowship programs for immunology are processed through ERAS or the Electronic Residency Application Service. To be a board certified allergist, a certification by the American Board of Allergy & Immunology is also required.

Allergist Salaries in Other Countries

Salary averages for allergists also differ from country to country. A comparison of different salary averages in Canada, Australia and the UK will reveal the following:

Canada

In Canada, the lowest salary for an allergist is about $77,000 with a median salary of $150,000. Allergists who work in the top industries such as pharmaceutics and research as well as those who work in the academe command salaries of up to $270,000. There has been a downward trend in the salary index for allergists in Canada, with salaries at the start of 2013 lower than salaries in the previous year. Those who work in small towns tend to receive lower salaries. However, the overall job outlook for professionals in this field remain favorable.

Australia

An allergist’s salary in Australia ranges from $105,000 to $200,000 depending on the length of practice and specialization. Those who practice in larger cities and metropolitan areas tend to make more. The median salary is about $140,000.

UK

The average salary for an allergist in the UK runs at around £100,000. Salaries vary according to the length of practice, with those with more years in practice normally commanding up to twice the rates of younger medical professionals. For example, a beginning allergist can make an average of £75,000 while one with ten years of practice can earn up to £1500,000 a year. Professionals must have the requisite professional certification in order to practice in the UK.

Conclusion

An immunology practice is relatively lucrative in these countries. The current trend also shows an increase in national average trends, which means that a career in immunology is a great career option for anyone in the medical field. Of course, salaries will differ based on certain factors, such as length of practice, expertise, and the specific field of practice. Generally, those who practice in the medical field and those who practice as instructors in medical schools can expect to receive favorable salaries no matter where they are in the US.