General Internal Medicine Physician Salary in Chicago, IL
General Internal Medicine Physicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $226,060 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $156,420 take-home, or $13,035 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$43,643
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$3,512
- Illinois income tax$11,045
- Take-home pay$156,420
Marginal rate: 32% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
General Internal Medicine Physician pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,080 | $32.25 | $52,845 | $4,404 |
| 25th percentile | $69,310 | $33.32 | $54,304 | $4,525 |
| Median (50th) | $226,060 | $108.68 | $156,420 | $13,035 |
| 75th percentile | $343,450+ | $165.12 | $225,542 | $18,795 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $521,810+ | $250.87 | $328,456 | $27,371 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $226,060 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median general internal medicine physician's $156,420 take-home pay has the buying power of $150,992 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
General Internal Medicine Physician jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.35), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for general internal medicine physicians, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #11 of 19 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $239,200+ | $240,243 | $216,176 |
| 2 | Indianapolis, IN | $239,200+ | $200,070 | $209,068 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $239,200+ | $212,943 | $203,798 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | $239,200+ | $198,471 | $202,198 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $239,200+ | $199,145 | $201,913 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $239,200+ | $208,774 | $199,170 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $239,200+ | $200,467 | $194,458 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $239,200+ | $183,026 | $177,152 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $226,060 | $156,420 | $150,992 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 19 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a general internal medicine physician make in Chicago, IL?
The median general internal medicine physician salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $226,060 a year, or about $108.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $69,310 and $239,200+.
What is a general internal medicine physician’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $226,060 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $156,420 a year ($13,035 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $11,045 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a general internal medicine physician?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $239,200+. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $150,992 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #11 of 19 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a general internal medicine physician afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 12% of a median general internal medicine physician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $225,080
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist — $208,000
- Pediatricians, General — $188,340
- Dentists, General — $156,100
- Veterinarian — $148,730
- Optometrist — $145,630
- Pharmacist — $140,880
- Nurse Practitioner — $131,740