General Internal Medicine Physicians: Job Description
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.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do General Internal Medicine Physicians Perform?
Typical responsibilities of general internal medicine physicians include:
- Analyze records, reports, test results, or examination information to diagnose medical condition of patient.
- Treat internal disorders, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or problems of the lung, brain, kidney, or gastrointestinal tract.
- Prescribe or administer medication, therapy, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
- Manage 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.
- Provide and manage long-term, comprehensive medical care, including diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases, for adult patients in an office or hospital.
- Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
- Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
- Make diagnoses when different illnesses occur together or in situations where the diagnosis may be obscure.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective general internal medicine physicians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of General Internal Medicine Physicians Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician)
- Doctor
- Endocrinologist
- Endocrinology Physician
- Gastroenterologist
- Gastroenterology Physician
- General Internal Medicine Doctor
- General Internal Medicine Physician
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 2,958,672 general internal medicine physicians working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +4.7% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do General Internal Medicine Physicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $106,490 |
| Hourly median | $51.20 |
| 10th percentile | $66,719 |
| 25th percentile | $86,605 |
| 75th percentile | $126,375 |
| 90th percentile | $146,260 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| West Virginia | $234,960 |
| Illinois | $234,880 |
| Kentucky | $231,240 |
| Vermont | $228,840 |
| Michigan | $227,270 |
| Rhode Island | $223,340 |
| Connecticut | $214,190 |
| District of Columbia | $209,250 |
| Louisiana | $203,740 |
| Nebraska | $178,620 |
| New York | $173,340 |
| Ohio | $169,990 |
| New Jersey | $155,570 |
| Nevada | $154,040 |
| Delaware | $153,600 |
| Puerto Rico | $129,050 |
| Tennessee | $67,150 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for general internal medicine physicians differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes | $135,942 | 12.4% | 0.93 |
| Middle Atlantic | $123,233 | 29.3% | 2.51 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $82,122 | 0.2% | 0.60 |
| New England | $67,686 | 5.7% | 1.21 |
| Southeast | $39,454 | 24.0% | 1.45 |
| Plains States | $39,106 | 5.1% | 1.33 |
| Far Western US | $6,838 | 13.5% | 0.83 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | FL | $238,850 | 270 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | AZ | $238,560 | 70 |
| New Haven, CT | CT | $237,980 | 50 |
| Elmira, NY | NY | $237,470 | 90 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $234,440 | 1,420 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | SC | $234,440 | 100 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $233,740 | 90 |
| Tucson, AZ | AZ | $232,440 | 180 |
Which Industries Hire General Internal Medicine Physicians
The bulk of general internal medicine physicians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 59,110 | n/a |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 200 | n/a |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 150 | $144,740 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 40 | $61,740 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for general internal medicine physicians is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Physical Proximity
How to Become General Internal Medicine Physicians
This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Physician Assistants (Supplemental)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (Supplemental)
- Nurse Practitioners (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Primary-Short)
- Dermatologists (Supplemental)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians (Primary-Short)
- Family Medicine Physicians (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Aspiring general internal medicine physicians typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1216.00 (General Internal Medicine Physicians).
HealthcareDegreeSearch.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© HealthcareDegreeSearch.com – All Rights Reserved.