Should I Choose Internal Medicine? Real Physician Decision Guide (2026) | SalaryDr
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  1. Home
  2. Lifestyle Insights
  3. Internal Medicine
  4. Should I Choose?

Should I Choose Internal Medicine?

Real decision-making data from 39 verified Internal Medicine physicians. Here is what they actually think.

3.8/5
Avg Satisfaction
77%
Would Choose Again
56
Avg Hours/Week
$268K
Avg Compensation

The Verdict

77%
of Internal Medicine physicians would choose the specialty again

A solid 77% of Internal Medicine physicians say they would choose the specialty again.

What Physicians Love About Internal Medicine

“Great work-life balance. No nights. No ICU. No procedures.”
— Internal Medicine Physician

What to Watch Out For in Internal Medicine

“Location, its in rural Ohio so its not accessible to many thing and you feel trapped in a town. ”
— Internal Medicine Resident

Work-Life Balance Reality in Internal Medicine

56
average hours per week reported by Internal Medicine physicians
“Balance is reasonable. Some rotations are more demanding than others, but I've never felt as if I was drowning in work. Inpatient and ICU are 6 day weeks, but many of the subspecialty rotations are 5 day weeks. ”
— Internal Medicine Resident
“Work life balance is great, program is very understanding of the personal life issues and works with scheduling to try and accommodate PTO vacations ife changes etc. X+Y model 6+2. Intern year is the hardest but things get exponentially easier and better every year. Compared to other residency schedule, way better”
— Internal Medicine Resident
“As expected from residency the work life balance is not the best with barely anytime for myself outside of work, research, or studies”
— Internal Medicine Resident

How Internal Medicine Compares

See how Internal Medicine stacks up against other popular specialties.

Internal MedicineCurrent
Satisfaction:3.8/5
Choose Again:77%
Hours:56
Comp:$268K
Pediatrics
Satisfaction:4/5
Choose Again:84%
General Dentist
Satisfaction:3.5/5
Choose Again:83%
Family Medicine
Satisfaction:3.6/5
Choose Again:76%
SpecialtySatisfactionWould Choose Again

Negotiation Tips From Internal Medicine Physicians

“Be bold and believe in yourself. My Mayo clinic residency has been instrumental to not only my success financially, but more importantly, my clinical competency. ”
— Internal Medicine Physician

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Internal Medicine worth it?

Based on 39 verified physician responses, Internal Medicine physicians report 3.8/5 average satisfaction and 77% say they would choose the specialty again. Average total compensation is $268K. Whether it is worth it depends on your priorities, but the data suggests most physicians are satisfied with their choice.

What's the work-life balance like in Internal Medicine?

Internal Medicine physicians work an average of 56 hours per week. One physician shared: "Balance is reasonable. Some rotations are more demanding than others, but I've never felt as if I was drowning in work. Inpatient and ICU are 6 day we..."

How much do Internal Medicine physicians make?

Based on SalaryDr data, Internal Medicine physicians earn an average total compensation of $268K. With an average of 56 hours per week, that translates to roughly $92/hour.

Still deciding? Hear from more Internal Medicine physicians

Explore detailed lifestyle insights or contribute your own experience to help others make their decision.

View Full Internal Medicine InsightsShare Your Experience

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Specialties
  • All Physician Salaries
  • Salaries by City
  • General Surgery
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Cardiology
  • Salaries by State
Tools
  • Salary Comparison
  • Take Home Calculator
  • Offer Analyzer
  • Compare Specialties
  • Salary Negotiation
Salary Data
  • Salary Benchmarks
  • Salary Trends
  • Compensation Analysis
  • Lifestyle Insights
  • Compensation Components
  • Annual Report
Community
  • SalaryDen Forum
  • Latest Discussions
  • Submit Your Salary
  • Share Feedback
  • Salary FAQ
For Dentists
  • All Dentist Salaries
  • Dental Salary Database
  • Dentist Salary by State
  • Submit Dental Salary
  • Dental Calculator
Legal
  • About
  • Methodology
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Community Guidelines
  • DMCA Policy
  • Data Retention
  • Cookie Policy
  • Safe Harbor
  • Data Requests

Follow SalaryDr

  • TikTok (@salarydr)
  • Instagram (@salarydr_)
  • X (Twitter) (@salarydr)

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Avg Hours
Avg Comp
Internal MedicineCurrent3.8/577%56$268K
Pediatrics4/584%46$355K
General Dentist3.5/583%36$364K
Family Medicine3.6/576%44$315K