12. Pulmonologist
Average annual salary: $296,000
There is a reason pulmonologists often earn nearly $300,000; they deal with diseases which affect the respiratory tract of the patient, and this field of medicine is considered to be related to intensive care or critical care medicine as well. Pulmonologists specialize in diseases affecting the chest, in particular, some of the most common and dangerous diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia. While the actual surgery is left to thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists may often carry out specific incisions in order to obtain necessary samples from the lung or the chest.
In addition to the above, pulmonologists often partake in scientific research in respect of the respiratory system, which tends to look for explanations regarding the origins of various chest diseases as well as the most effective way to combat and prevent them.
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