SOC 29-1216 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro

General Internal Medicine Physicians Salary in San Diego, CA

The average salary for general internal medicine physicians in San Diego, California is $289,630 a year ($139.24 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $282,200: half of the people in this job in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($267,200).

$289,630average per year

$139.24 / hourMedian $282,200Take-home ≈ $185,836

  • $87K10th
  • $174K25th
  • $282KMedian
  • $407K75th
  • $445K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

n/apeople in this job
+8%vs U.S. average
#6 of 11California metros
112cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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General Internal Medicine Physicians pay range in San Diego

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $87,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $444,920 or more. The middle half of general internal medicine physicians in San Diego earn between $174,380 and $406,780.

  • $87K10th
  • $174K25th
  • $282KMedian
  • $407K75th
  • $445K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$289,630$24,136$139.25
Median$282,200$23,517$135.67
Entry level (25th percentile)$174,380$14,532$83.84
Experienced (75th percentile)$406,780$33,898$195.57

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

General Internal Medicine Physicians pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.

General internal medicine physicians in San Diego earn 6% more than the California average ($273,270) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($267,200). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $256,560.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
San Diego$289,630$282,200$87,260$444,920n/a
California$273,270$313,890$74,180$441,7106,370
United States$267,200$256,560$73,570$475,43067,150

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

General Internal Medicine Physicians salary after taxes in San Diego

On the average salary of $289,630, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $185,836 a year, or $15,486 a month and $7,148 every two weeks. Taxes take 36% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is San Diego a good place for general internal medicine physicians? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $289,630 buys what about $258,859 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 4.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $289,630 is worth in another city

General Internal Medicine Physicians salary in other California cities

San Diego ranks 6th of 11 California metro areas for this job; Santa Cruz pays the most ($350,220).

All General Internal Medicine Physicians salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for general internal medicine physicians

South Bend, IN pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($424,610).

General Internal Medicine Physicians salary by city

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General Internal Medicine Physicians salary in San Diego: questions

How much do general internal medicine physicians make an hour in San Diego?

$139.24 an hour on average, and $135.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level general internal medicine physicians salary in San Diego?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $87,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $174,380, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the general internal medicine physicians take-home pay in San Diego?

About $185,836 a year ($15,486 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $289,630. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do general internal medicine physicians earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?

The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($267,200).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1216; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.4%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

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