General Internal Medicine Physician salary in California
General Internal Medicine Physicians in California earn a median of $313,890 a year ($150.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,370 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $441,710 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $256,560. California ranks 14th of 45 states for general internal medicine physicians pay. There are 0.35 general internal medicine physicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $273,270, close to the median.
Pay range for general internal medicine physicians in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,180 | $35.66 |
| 25th percentile | $129,110 | $62.07 |
| Median | $313,890 | $150.91 |
| 75th percentile | $388,150 | $186.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $441,710 | $212.36 |
| Average (mean) | $273,270 | $131.38 |
Half of general internal medicine physicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $26,157.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $13,078.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $12,072.69 |
| Weekly | $6,036.35 |
| Hourly | $150.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
General Internal Medicine Physician salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $430,970 | n/a |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $361,590 | n/a |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $351,670 | n/a |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $347,870 | n/a |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $314,720 | n/a |
| Visalia, CA | $307,430 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $303,980 | n/a |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $289,840 | n/a |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $282,200 | n/a |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $239,200+ | n/a |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $99,840 | 650 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $81,550 | 150 |
Highest-paying states for general internal medicine physicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Georgia | $425,460 |
| Rhode Island | $379,490 |
| Minnesota | $373,700 |
| Wisconsin | $367,160 |
| Alaska | $366,080 |
| South Carolina | $359,500 |
| Idaho | $355,390 |
| Washington | $340,010 |
| North Dakota | $338,400 |
| Utah | $331,720 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $140,270 | $67.44 |
| Pharmacist | $164,610 | $79.14 |
| Physical Therapist | $124,190 | $59.71 |
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 | $135.38 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $168,520 | $81.02 |
| Dental Hygienist | $124,930 | $60.06 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $104,820 | $50.40 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $118,970 | $57.20 |
| Dentists, General | $165,950 | $79.79 |
| Occupational Therapist | $124,510 | $59.86 |
| Physician Assistant | $165,650 | $79.64 |
| Veterinarian | $163,920 | $78.81 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $98,850 | $47.52 |
| Optometrist | $136,300 | $65.53 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1216. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a general internal medicine physician make in California?
The median salary for general internal medicine physicians in California is $313,890 a year, or $150.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $441,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid general internal medicine physicians make in California?
The top 10% of general internal medicine physicians in California earn at least $441,710 a year. The top 25% earn $388,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for general internal medicine physicians in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,180 a year, and a quarter of general internal medicine physicians earn $129,110 or less.
How many general internal medicine physicians work in California?
About 6,370 general internal medicine physicians are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.