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Internist Salary in the United States

How much does an Internist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Internist in the United States is $262,100 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $126.

However, an Internist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $314,637
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $246,400 to $289,600
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $232,106
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Internist Salaries

An Internist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Internist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Internist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $255,773
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $256,945
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $258,116
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $259,757
  • Expert (over 8 years): $264,152
Levels Salary
Entry Level Internist$255,773
Intermediate Level Internist$256,945
Senior Level Internist$258,116
Specialist Level Internist$259,757
Expert Level Internist$264,152
View as Graph

How Do Internist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Internists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $290,200.
  • California: $289,100.
  • Massachusetts: $285,300.

Top Paying Cities for Internists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $330,600
  • San Francisco: $327,000
  • Oakland: $320,100

What Skills Can Increase an Internist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.1% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 4.38% Job Postings): Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. In medical terms, care for acute health conditions is the opposite from chronic care, or longer term care. Acute care services are generally delivered by teams of health care professionals from a range of medical and surgical specialties. Acute care may require a stay in a hospital emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care centre or other short-term stay facility, along with the assistance of diagnostic services, surgery, or follow-up outpatient care in the community. Hospital-based acute inpatient care typically has the goal of discharging patients as soon as they are deemed healthy and stable. Acute care settings include emergency department, intensive care, coronary care, cardiology, neonatal intensive care, and many general areas where the patient could become acutely unwell and require stabilization and transfer to another higher dependency unit for further treatment.
  • Medical Education (Mentioned in 3.01% Job Postings): Medical education is a course of study directed toward imparting knowledge and skills required for the prevention and treatment of diseases to persons seeking to become physicians.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.1%
Acute Care 4.38%
Medical Education 3.01%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Internist's salary.

  • Pediatric: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Interpersonal Relationships: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Emergency Medicine: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Pediatric $293,552
12%
Interpersonal Relationships $293,552
12%
Emergency Medicine $293,552
12%
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Internist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Internist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $294,667. While startup companies pay approximate $250,194.

Internist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $250,194
Growth Stage 51~500 $264,352
Established 501~5000 $284,773
Enterprise 5000+ $294,667

Internist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Internist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Internist positions in Pharmaceuticals or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Internist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Internist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$340,730$164.030%
Biotechnology$288,310$139.010%

How Education impacts an Internist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Internists enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Internist with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $239,960 and $256,400).

Internist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Internist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.8%
High School 1.8%
Associates 97.3%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 0.9%
Doctorate 97.3%
View as Graph

Internist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Internist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$246,400
Average $262,100/year
$289,600
$20,533
Average $21,842/month
$24,133
$4,738
Average $5,040/week
$5,569
$118
Average $126/hour
$139
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $289,600 $24,133 $5,569 $139
Average $262,100 $21,842 $5,040 $126
25th Percentile $246,400 $20,533 $4,738 $118

Most common benefits for Internist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Internist

Here are companies hiring for Internist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Internist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Internist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Internist roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

2. Is becoming an internist hard?

Becoming an internist is challenging due to the rigorous training involved, including medical school, USMLE exams, residency, and ongoing education. This journey requires significant dedication and long hours. However, the effort can be rewarding, with salaries ranging from $223,600 to $282,000, reflecting the expertise and commitment required in this field.

3. How much do internists get paid in the US?

As of now, the salary for an Internist in the United States ranges from a minimum of $223,600 to a maximum of $282,000, with a mid-range salary of $248,100. This translates to an hourly rate of approximately $107.73 to $135.58, or about $4,300 to $5,500 per week, and $18,600 to $23,833 per month.

4. Which branch of medicine makes the most money?

Ans. Internists are among the highest-paid medical professionals, with salaries ranging from $223,600 to $282,000, depending on experience and expertise. Their earnings reflect the critical role they play in patient care and management. Factors such as skill and patient treatment approach also influence their income.

5. Are internists in high demand?

California is a prime location for Internists, offering a professional growth rate of 13%. This state is projected to generate 160 new vacancies each year. Internists can expect to earn between $223,600 and $282,000, with a median salary of $248,100, making it an attractive option for those seeking new opportunities in the field.

6. What is the richest type of doctor?

The richest type of doctor varies, but internists earn a competitive salary, with a minimum of $223,600, a mid-range of $248,100, and a maximum of $282,000 annually. While neurosurgeons are among the highest-paid, internists also enjoy substantial earnings in the medical field.

7. What is an internist?

Internal Medicine physicians, often referred to as Internists, are specialists in adult medicine. They excel in diagnosing complex health issues, managing severe chronic illnesses, and treating patients with multiple, intricate conditions. The salary for an internist ranges from a minimum of $223,600 to a mid-level of $248,100, with a maximum of $282,000.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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