General Internal Medicine Physicians Salary

The median general internal medicine physicians salary in the United States is $256,560 per year ($123.35/hour). Salaries range from $73,570 at the entry level to $475,430+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 67,150 general internal medicine physicians jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 3.3% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asInternistInternal Medicine Doctor
Median Salary
$256,560
per year
Hourly Rate
$123.35
per hour
Employment
67,150
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$73,570
25th percentile
$124,470
Median
$256,560
75th percentile
$374,850
90th percentile
$475,430

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+3.3%
As fast as average

Annual Openings

2,100
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Doctoral or professional degree

Training Needed

Internship/residency

General Internal Medicine Physicians Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for general internal medicine physicianss.

Internal Medicine physicians (Internists) diagnose + treat adult patients across a broad range of conditions β€” chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease), acute illness, preventive care. Career splits: primary care outpatient (traditional 'internist'), hospitalist (inpatient-only), sub-specialty (cardiology, oncology, GI, endocrinology, etc. β€” 2-3 year fellowship required), academic practice + research, concierge medicine, urgent care. Path: 4 yrs med school + 3-year internal medicine residency + optional 2-3 year subspecialty fellowship. Median compensation: primary care internist $230-310k; hospitalist $260-360k; subspecialty $350-750k+; concierge $250-500k+.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Chronic disease management
Diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, CHF, COPD, CKD. Evidence-based guidelines + individualized approach.
Acute care + hospital medicine (hospitalist)
Inpatient management of sepsis, MI, stroke, pneumonia, GI bleeds. Rapid diagnosis + treatment + discharge planning.
Diagnosis + clinical reasoning
Complex undifferentiated symptoms + differential diagnosis + rational testing + specialty consultation.
Preventive care + screening
USPSTF recommendations. Age + risk-appropriate cancer screening, vaccines, counseling.
Medication management + polypharmacy
Older adults on 8+ medications common. Drug interactions + deprescribing when appropriate.
Communication + patient education
Complex chronic disease education. Motivational interviewing + shared decision-making.
Care coordination + team-based care
Managing panel of 1,500-2,500 patients with team (nurses, MAs, care coordinators, specialists).
Basic procedures
Lumbar puncture, thoracentesis, paracentesis, central lines (hospitalists). Point-of-care ultrasound growing.

How to Become a General Internal Medicine Physicians

  1. 1
    Bachelor's + strong MCAT + medical school
    Standard med school. IM competitive but not most competitive.
  2. 2
    Internal Medicine Residency (3 years)
    PGY-1-3. Broad training across inpatient + outpatient + subspecialty rotations.
  3. 3
    Board certification (ABIM)
    Written boards after residency. Required for hospital privileges + insurance credentialing.
  4. 4
    State medical license + DEA registration
    State licensing + DEA for controlled substances.
  5. 5
    Optional Fellowship (2-3 years β€” Cardiology, Oncology, GI, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, ID, Nephrology, Pulmonary/CCM, Hem-Onc)
    Sub-specialty commands premium pay + specialty practice. Cardiology + Oncology + GI highest-paying.
  6. 6
    First practice setting
    Hospital-employed, hospitalist company, academic, or private practice. Hospitalist track increasingly popular for shift-based work + higher pay.

Career Progression

PGY-1 to PGY-3 Resident
0-3 yrs$62-78k/year salary
  • β€’Progressive inpatient + outpatient autonomy
  • β€’Broad rotations
  • β€’Board prep
Next: Attending or Fellowship.
Fellow (2-3 years subspecialty)
3-6 yrs$75-95k
  • β€’Sub-specialty training
  • β€’Research
  • β€’Board prep for subspecialty
Next: Sub-specialty attending.
Attending Internist / Hospitalist (New)
0-5 post-residency yrsPCP $220-290k Β· Hospitalist $260-340k
  • β€’Independent practice
  • β€’Panel management (PCP) or shift-based (Hospitalist)
  • β€’Building referral network
Next: Senior Attending.
Subspecialty Attending / Sr Internist
5-15 yrsPrimary care $260-360k Β· Cardiology $500-700k Β· Oncology $450-650k Β· GI $500-750k
  • β€’Established practice + panel
  • β€’Sub-specialty depth
  • β€’Leadership roles
Next: Senior Partner / Chief.
Chief / Practice Owner / Executive Track
12-20+ yrs$400-800k+ Β· Practice ownership $500k-$1.5M+
  • β€’Multi-provider oversight
  • β€’P&L (private practice)
  • β€’Health system leadership + executive roles

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 12 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through managing a newly-diagnosed diabetic.case
Concrete: Initial workup (HbA1c, kidney function, feet, eyes referral). Lifestyle counseling. First-line metformin. BP + statin. Follow-up q3 months. Escalation ladder. Screens for evidence-based primary care.
Q2. Tell me about a difficult patient interaction.behavioral
STAR. Real interaction. Empathy + boundaries + evidence-based practice. Never bad-mouth.
Q3. Why internal medicine vs another specialty?culture
Concrete: 'Complexity + continuity + breadth. Complex diagnostic challenges + long-term relationships with patients.' Not: 'Lifestyle' alone. Screens for genuine motivation.
Q4. How would you handle a hospitalized patient with unclear diagnosis?case
Concrete: Systematic approach + focused workup + specialist consultation when appropriate. Communicate uncertainty to patient + family. Screens for diagnostic maturity.
Q5. Why hospitalist vs outpatient PCP?culture
Concrete + honest tradeoffs: 'Hospitalist = shift-based + high acuity + no clinic. PCP = continuity + relationships.' Show self-awareness.

Resume Template β€” Attending Internist (0-5 yrs post-residency)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Attending Internist (0-5 yrs post-residency)
  • β–ΈAttending Internal Medicine Physician, [Practice/Hospital]. Board eligible ABIM. Panel of 2,000 active patients.
  • β–ΈDiabetes management: 76% of my panel at HbA1c <7 (vs practice average 62%).
  • β–ΈPrecept 3 residents on outpatient rotation. Rated top-quartile teacher on evaluations.
  • β–ΈCertified in point-of-care ultrasound + basic procedures + hospital emergency medicine.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Weak diagnostic reasoning or clinical judgment.
  • βœ—Poor communication with patients + families.
  • βœ—Bad-mouthing patients, peers, or prior practice.
  • βœ—Weak understanding of value-based care metrics.
  • βœ—Missing continuing education or recertification.
  • βœ—Weak documentation habits.
  • βœ—Discomfort with chronic disease complexity or hospital medicine acuity.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Base + wRVU productivity + quality metrics.
  • βœ“Sign-on bonus $30-100k common; higher for hospitalist + rural.
  • βœ“Loan repayment $100-300k over 3-5 years.
  • βœ“PSLF eligibility (FQHC, nonprofit hospitals, government).
  • βœ“Hospitalist shift differentials + weekend + holiday premiums.
  • βœ“CME budget $5-12k/year.
  • βœ“Vacation (4-6 weeks outpatient; 26 weeks for hospitalist 7-on/7-off).
  • βœ“Malpractice tail coverage.
  • βœ“Partnership track (private practice).
  • βœ“Value-based care bonus.
  • βœ“Call schedule + coverage.

General Internal Medicine Physicians Resume Review β€” $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired general internal medicine physicianss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

  • βœ“ Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
  • βœ“ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
  • βœ“ Missing skills / keywords flagged
  • βœ“ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
  • βœ“ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

General Internal Medicine Physicians Career Kit β€” $19

  • βœ“ All 12 interview questions with expert answers
  • βœ“ 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
  • βœ“ Interview format intel for 8 top employers
  • βœ“ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
  • βœ“ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
  • βœ“ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
  • βœ“ Downloadable PDF for offline access
  • βœ“ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
βœ“ 7-day money-back guarantee β€” no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

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General Internal Medicine Physicians Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$73K
$425Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Georgia
$425K
+66%
Rhode Island
$379K
+48%
Minnesota
$374K
+46%
Wisconsin
$367K
+43%
Alaska
$366K
+43%
South Carolina
$360K
+40%
Idaho
$355K
+39%
Washington
$340K
+33%
North Dakota
$338K
+32%
Utah
$332K
+29%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Georgia$425,460+65.8%
Rhode Island$379,490+47.9%
Minnesota$373,700+45.7%
Wisconsin$367,160+43.1%
Alaska$366,080+42.7%
South Carolina$359,500+40.1%
Idaho$355,390+38.5%
Washington$340,010+32.5%
North Dakota$338,400+31.9%
Utah$331,720+29.3%
1–10 of 44

General Internal Medicine Physicians Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI$485,900+89.4%
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$430,970+68.0%
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN$416,860+62.5%
Jackson, TN$412,460+60.8%
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI$385,880+50.4%
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$379,490+47.9%
Tulsa, OK$377,580+47.2%
Ithaca, NY$370,320+44.3%
Lincoln, NE$369,980+44.2%
Worcester, MA$369,930+44.2%
1–10 of 139
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A general internal medicine physicians earning $256,560/year would need 232 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 249 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how general internal medicine physicians salaries have changed over the past decade.
View General Internal Medicine Physicians salary trend (2011–2024) β†’