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Internist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$256,560median pay per year, or $123.35 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $73,570lowest 10% earn less
  2. $124,47025th percentile
  3. $256,560median
  4. $374,85075th percentile
  5. $475,430top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

An internist, which BLS calls a general internal medicine physician, had a median pay of $256,560 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, a little faster than the 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4%[2]
Openings per year
1,900[6]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[7]

How much do internists make?

The median pay for general internal medicine physicians was $256,560 a year, or $123.35 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $267,200 a year, or $128.46 an hour[8]. For comparison, the median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[5].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $73,570, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $124,470[4]. At the top, the highest-paid 25% earned more than $374,850, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $475,430[4]. Hourly, those boundaries were $35.37, $59.84, $180.22 and $228.57[9].

BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10]. These figures also leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11]. In 2025, 3.6% of internists were self-employed[12].

Pay by state and city

Georgia had the highest median pay at $425,460 a year, followed by Rhode Island at $379,490 and Minnesota at $373,700[13]. West Virginia had the lowest published median, $72,680[13]. New Jersey, at $89,990, was the next lowest[13].

New York had the most jobs, about 10,000[14]. California (6,370), Georgia (5,440), Texas (3,850) and Maryland (3,250) followed[14]. New York's median was $183,460[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI had the highest median at $485,900[15]. Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN ($416,860) and Jackson, TN ($412,460) came next[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 10,380, with a median of $105,960[16].

Show median pay in 44 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Georgia[13]$425,4605,440
Rhode Island$379,490300
Minnesota$373,7002,270
Wisconsin$367,1601,450
Alaska$366,080110
South Carolina$359,5001,260
Idaho$355,390130
Washington$340,0101,100
North Dakota$338,400200
Utah$331,720210
Mississippi$325,610390
Maine$316,880270
Indiana$314,3902,380
California$313,8906,370
Alabama$311,180310
Colorado$299,990450
North Carolina$289,7801,700
Massachusetts$285,2501,590
South Dakota$280,520160
Texas$269,1103,850
Oregon$268,570230
Maryland$260,4103,250
Arizona$259,3202,570
Ohio$249,9901,540
Kentucky$241,5301,060
Hawaii$239,200+220
Arkansas$233,130290
Tennessee$232,2201,370
New Hampshire$229,210450
Vermont$228,670180
District of Columbia$223,250490
Florida$222,6002,390
Nebraska$221,360900
Missouri$216,570160
Oklahoma$216,570490
Pennsylvania$213,310990
Louisiana$210,390n/a
Connecticut$208,000980
New York$183,46010,000
Michigan$149,9902,060
Illinois$140,6801,130
Iowa$122,920380
Nevada$114,090390
New Jersey$89,9902,920
West Virginia$72,680630

How to become an internist

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education, with no related work experience needed and internship or residency as the typical training[7]. The BLS profile for physicians and surgeons covers a wider group of occupations, so these training details describe that group[17]. The steps it describes:

Board certification in a specialty is not required, but it may improve job opportunities[24]. Some doctors add a fellowship of 1 to 3 years to subspecialize[21].

In an O*NET survey of 17 workers, 53% said post-doctoral training was required and 47% said a doctoral degree[25].

What internists do

Internists diagnose and treat diseases of the internal organ systems without surgery. They mostly care for adults and adolescents in outpatient settings[26]. O*NET lists tasks such as:

Where they work

Physicians and surgeons work in clinical settings such as offices and hospitals, and in nonclinical settings such as government agencies, nonprofits and insurance companies[28]. In group practices, they can coordinate patient care but have less independence than solo practitioners[29].

BLS says most physicians and surgeons work full time and some work more than 40 hours a week[30]. Long shifts, overnight hours and being on call are common for many[30]. This text covers the wider physician group[17].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of general internal medicine physicians to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 73,100 to 76,000 jobs[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[3]. These counts include the self-employed[2].

About 1,900 openings are projected each year[6]. These include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, about 1.8% of workers leave the labor force and 0.4% move to another occupation[31].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is far above the all-occupation median, and the projected growth is slightly above average[1][5][2][3]. The cost is a long path: a bachelor's degree, 4 years of medical school and a residency of 3 to 9 years, depending on the specialty[19][21]. Pay also varies a lot, from $73,570 at the 10th percentile to $475,430 at the 90th[4]. The facts do not say what the training costs, so check that separately.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an internist make an hour?
The median was $123.35 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $128.46[1][8].
What degree do you need to be an internist?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education, plus internship or residency training[7].
How long does it take to become an internist?
For physicians and surgeons generally, medical school takes 4 years after a bachelor's degree, and residency typically lasts 3 to 9 years depending on the specialty[19][21].
Is internal medicine in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 1,900 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the highest paying state for internists?
Georgia, with a median of $425,460 a year[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for General Internal Medicine Physicians in the US was $256,560 per year and $123.35 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of General Internal Medicine Physicians is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 73,100 to 76,000 jobs (a change of +2,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for General Internal Medicine Physicians: 10th percentile $73,570, 25th percentile $124,470, 75th percentile $374,850, 90th percentile $475,430. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,900 openings for General Internal Medicine Physicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into General Internal Medicine Physicians: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for General Internal Medicine Physicians was $267,200 per year and $128.46 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for General Internal Medicine Physicians: 10th percentile $35.37, 25th percentile $59.84, 75th percentile $180.22, 90th percentile $228.57. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 3.6% of General Internal Medicine Physicians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for General Internal Medicine Physicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most General Internal Medicine Physicians jobs: New York 10,000; California 6,370; Georgia 5,440; Texas 3,850; Maryland 3,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for General Internal Medicine Physicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $485,900; Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $416,860; Jackson, TN $412,460; Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $379,490; Tulsa, OK $377,580; Ithaca, NY $370,320; Worcester, MA $369,930; Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $344,220. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most General Internal Medicine Physicians jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 10,380 (median $105,960); Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 2,100 (median $322,890); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 1,960 (median $259,320); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 1,440 (median $330,200); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,370 (median $223,250); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,350 (median $276,520). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Physicians and Surgeons" covers General Internal Medicine Physicians together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET 29-1216.00 survey of workers (17 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Doctoral Training 53%, Doctoral Degree 47% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET description of General Internal Medicine Physicians. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for General Internal Medicine Physicians. O*NET OnLine
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for General Internal Medicine Physicians: 1.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 0.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.