How to hire a general internist

How to hire a general internist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step general internist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a general internist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new general internist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The general internist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A general internist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, general internists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of general internists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of General Internist	Description	Hourly rate
   General Internist	Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests... Show more	$62-174
   Emergency Room Physician	An Emergency Room Physician provides medical treatment to patients requiring acute and life-saving care. They keep them alive so they can receive the proper treatments.	$35-164
   Emergency Medicine Physician	An emergency medicine physician is responsible for performing immediate medical treatment for patients in critical condition and life-threatening cases. Emergency medicine physicians operate various medical tools and equipment to stabilize the patients, following the safety course of medical procedures... Show more	$37-163

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Internal Medicine
   • Examination Results
   • Outpatient Clinic

   Responsibilities:

   • Train and manage new interns/ volunteers assisting with the evidence-based hypertension management program.
   • Improve patient care by instituting new technology for immediate telephone EKG interpretation at regional clinics and hospitals.
   • Supervise and establish duty assignment procedures including the update and implementation of the DoD policies.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your general internist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A general internist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, general internists' average salary in hawaii is 45% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level general internists earn 64% less than senior-level general internists.
   • Certifications. A general internist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a general internist's salary.

   Average general internist salary

   $217,504yearly

   $104.57 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level general internist salary

   $130,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average general internist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	North Dakota	$262,574	$126
   2	Minnesota	$247,551	$119
   3	South Dakota	$238,919	$115
   4	Wisconsin	$231,554	$111
   5	Maine	$227,740	$109
   6	Ohio	$225,565	$108
   7	Connecticut	$221,202	$106
   8	Massachusetts	$214,249	$103
   9	Iowa	$212,253	$102
   10	Illinois	$211,944	$102
   11	New Jersey	$209,012	$100
   12	North Carolina	$208,349	$100
   13	Oklahoma	$206,287	$99
   14	New York	$206,065	$99
   15	Indiana	$199,622	$96
   16	Arkansas	$198,187	$95
   17	Missouri	$198,082	$95
   18	Rhode Island	$196,168	$94
   19	California	$191,374	$92
   20	Michigan	$190,924	$92

   Average general internist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Mayo Clinic	$288,489	$138.70	176
   2	Freeman Health System	$261,236	$125.59	3
   3	Union Hospital of Cecil County	$257,944	$124.01	6
   4	Saint Luke's Health System	$257,581	$123.84	15
   5	Pikeville Medical Center	$256,525	$123.33
   6	Allina Health	$254,635	$122.42	31
   7	PeaceHealth	$254,027	$122.13	94
   8	Conemaugh Health System	$253,441	$121.85
   9	Trinity Health	$250,519	$120.44	137
   10	MaineGeneral Health	$250,385	$120.38	10
   11	Mercy Health	$250,332	$120.35	2
   12	Fairview Health Services	$250,151	$120.26	26
   13	Providence Health & Services	$249,250	$119.83	238
   14	San Luis Valley Health	$245,143	$117.86
   15	Aurora Health Care	$243,191	$116.92	2
   16	Berkshire	$241,169	$115.95
   17	Mercy Works Occupational	$239,775	$115.28
   18	Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge	$238,889	$114.85	11
   19	Genesis Health System	$238,819	$114.82
   20	City of Fairmont MN	$238,734	$114.78

4. Writing a general internist job description

   A general internist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a general internist job description:

   General internist job description example

   G&G Healthcare is an outpatient, Primary Care Medical Practice located in Southeastern NC, founded in 1998 by Dr. Melvin D. Gerald. At G&G Healthcare we offer a full range of services for all family members. We are excited to provide the tools that will help our patients live a healthier and longer life. Our customer service skills help create a unique patient experience that is both personable and compassionate. We’d love for you to come join our team of dedicated healthcare professionals.

   Position Specifics:

   • Outpatient only
   • Practice Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
   • Competitive salary with excellent incentives
   • Family owned and operated
   • Small Rural Community

   Requirements:

   • MD/DO, BC/BE in Internal Medicine
   • Great communication skills across a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds
   • Successful record of clinical and service excellence
   • Licensed in NC or eligible

   Benefits:

   • 401(k)
   • Dental insurance
   • Flexible schedule
   • Health insurance
   • Paid time off
   • Vision Insurance

   Where you will live:

   Vibrant communities pay special attention to cultural and civic affairs, Columbus County is no exception. Under the umbrella of the Columbus County Arts Council, many diverse groups receive funding or cultural guidance. These include the Columbus County Theatre Association, the Oratorio society, the Visual Arts Guild and many others. Dozens of community, school and church groups provide a broad spectrum of cultural and artistic opportunities for Columbus County residents. The Southeastern Community College Performing Arts Series brings acclaimed performers in music, dance and theatre to the community such as the Count Basie Orchestra, The Kingston Trio and Broadway hits like “Camelot”. Monthly art exhibits featuring outstanding area artists are always well received. With only a 45 minute drive to North Carolina’s famous beautiful coast or a 4 hour drive to The Appalachian mountains, there is something for everyone in this great state.

   
   

   **Please note that this position is not affiliated or associated with CCPN. CCPN provides recruitment assists to independent primary practices in North Carolina and all position content was approved by the practice. **

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find general internists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any general internists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level general internists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your general internist job on Zippia to find and attract quality general internist candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit general internists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new general internist

   Once you've selected the best general internist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new general internist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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