How Much Internal Medicine Doctors Make

Internal medicine doctors, being very holistic in their approach toward care, receive a competitive wage that reflects the level of their training and expertise. These specialists in the United States on average earn between $230,000 to $300,000 yearly.

Among factors influencing income are geographic region, years of experience, and type of practice – whether in a hospital or private practice. For instance, those who are working in the urban areas are paid more because the demand is high and so is the cost of living.

Average Full-Time Internal Medicine Physician Salary

Variations in salary are notable; where an internist may work for as much as $350,000 in thriving urban centers or specialty practices, a few others may end up taking home as low as $180,000 in some rural settings or settings that face staffing problems.

Highest Reported Salary:$400,000+ (top urban hospitals and specialized practices)
Lowest Reported Salary: $160,000 (rural clinics or smaller facilities)
The median salary was reported at $300,000

Internal Medicine Physician Pay by Specialization

Financial prospects for an internal medicine specialist differ by specialty or subspecialty because their work, duties, and the variety of patient conditions they encounter are different. Here is a comparison of average annual income for several internal medicine sub-specialties:

Cardiology: $400,000 – $500,000 a year
Gastroenterology: $400,000 – $460,000 a year
Pulmonary Medicine: $300,000 – $350,000 a year
Nephrology: $250,000 – $350,000 a year
Infectious Disease:$230,000 – $300,000 a year
Hematology/oncology: $494,000 a year
Endocrinology:$220,000 – $280,000 a year
Rheumatology:$225,000 – $270,000 a year

Internal Medicine Physician Salary by Gender

The salary gap between male and female physicians of internal medicine in 2024 is just a reflection of the broader trends in the profession.

Generally, an internal medicine male physician would make up to $300,000 per year whereas his female counterparts attract around $240,000 per year.

This gap of about $60,000 speaks of the issues of gender inequality despite advances in equity within health care.

How Much Internal Medicine Doctors Make by Practice Environment

The earning potential for internal medicine doctors varies highly according to the practice environment. Here’s a breakdown by setting for average annual salaries:

Private Practice: Approximately $250,000 – $320,000
Corporate group, non-private equity – $324,000
Hospital Employment: Ranging from $220,000 – $280,000
Academic Settings: Typically around $200,000 – $240,000
Telemedicine: Emerging as a viable option at about $180,000 – $230,000

How Much Internal Medicine Doctors Make by Hours Worked

The compensation of internal medicine doctors varies remarkably in 2024 with the hours worked, reflecting dedication and demand. And here are their earnings broken into sub-specialties.

40 Hours/Week – Approximately $230,000 per year
50 Hours/Week – Around $275,000 annually
60+ Hours/Week -Often exceeds $300,000 per year
70 hours a week average – $332,000 a year
80 hours a week average – $317,000 a year
81+ hours a week average – $332,000 a year

It would also be insightful to note that these figures can be altered by geographical location and practice setting. This is with the fact that internal medicine specialists in urban centers tend to earn higher salaries compared to their counterparts in other settings due to high living costs and good patient volume.

Changes in Average Internal Medicine Physician Salary Over Time

Average compensation for an internal medicine physician has fluctuated sharply in the last few years, reflecting broader trends in healthcare and economic conditions. Here’s how that compensation has evolved up to 2024:

2019: $239,000
2020: $243,000
2021: $250,000
2022: $258,000
2023: $263,000
2024: $270,000

An upward trajectory demonstrates a strong demand for internal medicine physicians. Other factors contributing to more recent increases in compensation include the aging of the population and its increasing need for care with greater complexity as well as the movement towards value-based models of care. Considering how much internal medicine physicians earn by hours worked- about 50 hours per week effective hourly wage is roughly $104 in 2024.