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Allergists and Immunologists

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Diagnose, treat, and help prevent allergic diseases and disease processes affecting the immune system.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $265,930 Median per year · $127.85/hr Most earn $69,170–$452,360

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Diagnose or treat allergic or immunologic conditions.
  • Perform allergen provocation tests such as nasal, conjunctival, bronchial, oral, food, or medication challenges.
  • Provide therapies, such as allergen immunotherapy or immunoglobin therapy, to treat immune conditions.
  • Prescribe medication such as antihistamines, antibiotics, and nasal, oral, topical, or inhaled glucocorticosteroids.
  • Order or perform diagnostic tests such as skin pricks and intradermal, patch, or delayed hypersensitivity tests.
  • Conduct physical examinations of patients.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 9,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of physicians42.1%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals27.8%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service10.5%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools5.8%
  • Self-employed (their own business)3.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Allergists and immunologists are doctors, so this is not an entry-level job. Most people spend about 13 years after high school in college, medical school, and specialty training before they practice on their own.

  1. Bachelor's degree in biology or another science

    4 years

    You build a foundation in biology, chemistry, and math, and you complete the science courses medical schools require.

  2. Medical school (MD or DO)

    4 years

    You learn how the body works, how diseases develop, and how to care for patients, and you pass the national licensing exams.

  3. Internal Medicine Resident Physician

    3 years

    You train in hospitals and clinics as a doctor for adults, which gives you broad experience with immune and allergic conditions.

  4. Allergy and Immunology Fellow

    2 years

    You specialize in allergic diseases and immune system disorders under experienced allergists, and you earn board eligibility in the specialty.

  5. Allergist and Immunologist

    Ongoing

    You diagnose and treat allergies, asthma, and immune disorders, either in private practice, a clinic, or a hospital.

Where it can lead

  1. Clinical Director of Allergy and Immunology

    5-10 years of experience first

    You take on leadership of a clinic or department, managing staff, budgets, and care quality while seeing fewer patients yourself.

  2. Program Director, Allergy and Immunology Fellowship

    5-10 years of experience first

    You lead a training program and teach the next generation of allergists, which usually requires years of experience and strong teaching skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and mathThese classes build the foundation you'll need for college science and medical school.
  • Volunteer at a hospital, clinic, or nursing homeHands-on time with patients shows you what healthcare work is really like and looks good on future applications.
  • Join a science or health occupations clubClubs like these let you learn about healthcare careers, meet mentors, and sometimes compete in health-related events.
  • Get a starter job in a medical officeWorking as a receptionist or medical assistant in a clinic teaches you how doctors' offices run and how to talk with patients.

In college

  • Major in biology, chemistry, or another scienceA science major covers the prerequisites for medical school and prepares you for the MCAT.
  • Work in a research labWorking with a professor on immunology or biology research shows you how scientists study the immune system and strengthens your medical school application.
  • Volunteer or work in a clinical settingRoles like patient care assistant, scribe, or hospital volunteer give you real medical experience and teach you how to work with patients.
  • Join a pre-health student organizationThese groups bring together students planning medical careers, offer advising, and often host speakers and shadowing opportunities.
  • Get an EMT or CNA certificationCertifications like these teach hands-on patient care skills and show that you can handle real healthcare responsibilities.

Tips for getting started

  • Shadow an allergist or another doctor if you can. Seeing the daily work helps you decide if it's the right path before you commit to many years of school.
  • Keep your grades strong in science and math from the start, since medical schools look closely at your academic record and your MCAT score.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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