General Internal Medicine Physicians
Diagnose and provide nonsurgical treatment for a wide range of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems. Provide care mainly for adults and adolescents, and are based primarily in an outpatient care setting.
Also called: DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician), Doctor, Endocrinologist, Endocrinology Physician, Gastroenterologist, Gastroenterology Physician
Median pay
$256,560
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$73,570 – $475,430
People employed
67,150
Holland code
ISR
Investigative · Social · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 2.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 3.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
The hard parts
- Exposure to disease or infection
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
- Tight deadlines are common
General Internal Medicine Physicians pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (43 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
General Internal Medicine Physicians salary in every state →
What general internal medicine physicians do
- 01Analyze records, reports, test results, or examination information to diagnose medical condition of patient.
- 02Treat internal disorders, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or problems of the lung, brain, kidney, or gastrointestinal tract.
- 03Prescribe or administer medication, therapy, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
- 04Manage and treat common health problems, such as infections, influenza or pneumonia, as well as serious, chronic, and complex illnesses, in adolescents, adults, and the elderly.
- 05Provide and manage long-term, comprehensive medical care, including diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases, for adult patients in an office or hospital.
- 06Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Speaking
- Science
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Biology
- Therapy and Counseling
- Psychology
- Education and Training
Work styles that stand out
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from general internal medicine physicians
- Midwives55% · group pay
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary55% · −69%
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary54% · −58%
- Genetic Counselors54% · −61%
- Athletic Trainers54% · −76%
Majors that lead here
- Medicine
- Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
- Internal Medicine/Anesthesiology Combined Specialty Program
- Internal Medicine/Dermatology Combined Specialty Program
- Internal Medicine/Emergency Medicine Combined Specialty Program
- Internal Medicine/Emergency Medicine/Critical Care Medicine Combined Specialty Program
- Internal Medicine/Family Medicine Combined Specialty Program
- Internal Medicine/Neurology Combined Specialty Program
- Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Combined Specialty Program
- Internal Medicine/Preventive Medicine Combined Specialty Program
- Internal Medicine/Psychiatry Combined Specialty Program
- Internal Medicine Residency Program
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.