How to become a Respiratory Physician
Investigates, diagnoses and treats diseases and disorders of the human respiratory system.
Main tasks
- Consults and conducts respiratory examinations on patients to form a comprehensive medical assessment
- Requests laboratory tests, imaging, respiratory function tests and other diagnostic procedures
- Diagnoses patients by analysing test results and evaluating other health information related to respiratory conditions
- Performs or supervises pleural procedures and bronchoscopy
- Prescribes and manages medications and non-pharmacological treatments, including oxygen therapy and non-invasive ventilation
- Liaises and consults with a multidisciplinary team for optimised treatment of respiratory conditions
- Provides ongoing support in treating acute and chronic respiratory conditions
- Develops management plans for the prevention and treatment of both acute and long-term respiratory conditions
- May oversee respiratory function and sleep scientists and laboratories, and interpret results of respiratory function and sleep tests
Ways in
- University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
- Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $188,240 a year
- About 16,100 people work in this job group now, and about 21,400 are projected by 2035. (+32.8%)
- AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Respiratory Physician?
Ways in include: Medicine & Dentistry degrees.
How much does a Respiratory Physician earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $188,240 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Respiratory Physician a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 33% by 2035, from about 16,100 to about 21,400 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Respiratory Physician?
Usually. 97% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Respiratory Physician?
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04