Rheumatology Salary
Rheumatology offers one of the best lifestyles in internal medicine, with a comp band that is moderate by default but can rise sharply when an infusion suite is part of the practice.
Median total cash compensation for a mid-career attending. Source: Medscape 2024 (publicly cited). Treat figures as medians, not targets. Real compensation varies widely by geography, employment model, and experience.
Live anonymous cohort, Rheumatology
We display a live Rheumatology cohort once at least 10 attendings have submitted in the last 24 months. Until then, the published benchmark and regional table below are your reference. Be one of the first to seed it.
Submit your comp anonymouslyRheumatology pay by region
Directional regional medians, anchored to the Medscape 2024 national figure and US Census region adjustments. The South and Midwest pay more in absolute dollars because physician supply is lower and demand is higher; the Northeast runs lower with a higher cost of living.
| Region | Median total comp | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National median | $265,000 | Doximity 2024 / Medscape 2024 nationwide median. |
| South | $291,500 | Highest absolute compensation. Houston, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Atlanta lead. |
| Midwest | $286,200 | Indianapolis and St. Louis often top Doximity median tables. |
| West | $270,300 | Wide spread. California pays well but is offset by cost of living. |
| Northeast | $257,050 | Lower in absolute terms (high supply of physicians) and higher cost of living. |
Regional figures are modeled adjustments to the national median, not separately surveyed values. Use them for direction, not as an offer benchmark.
What drives Rheumatology compensation
- Cognitive visit volume, the default income base in a largely non-procedural specialty.
- Infusion suite economics, the main lever that moves a rheumatologist above the median.
- Biologic and complex management panels that support care-management revenue.
- Low call burden, which keeps lifestyle high but caps premium-driven upside.
Model your own number, not the median
Rheumatology reports a median of about 4,800 wRVUs a year. Your take-home is that volume times your contract rate, above your threshold. Plug your real visit mix into the calculator and see the bonus your specific offer produces, then negotiate against it.
Negotiation levers at offer time
- •Ask whether the practice has or plans an infusion suite, since that single factor reshapes the ceiling.
- •Without infusion, focus on a fair wRVU rate and a reachable threshold.
- •Value the low call structure realistically when comparing against higher-paying, higher-burden specialties.
Rheumatology at a glance
Excellent lifestyle. Infusion suite economics can boost income. Typical setting: outpatient clinic, infusion suite.
Frequently asked questions
Why does rheumatology compensation vary so much?
The infusion suite. A largely cognitive specialty earns a moderate median, but practices with infusion economics can move well above it, which is the main driver of the spread.
Is rheumatology a good lifestyle specialty?
It has one of the lowest call burdens in internal medicine, which is part of its appeal. The trade is a lower premium-driven ceiling than procedural subspecialties.
What should I prioritize without an infusion suite?
A fair wRVU conversion rate and an attainable threshold, since cognitive volume will be the primary income source.
Filter every specialty by region with the live cohort tool.
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The codes that actually drive this specialty's wRVUs.
30-year cumulative earnings with regional cost adjustment.
Educational reference, not financial, billing, or legal advice. Published medians are publicly cited from Medscape 2024. The live cohort is self-reported and anonymized; individual rows are never exposed and a cohort is shown only at a minimum size. Verify any number against your own contract and market before acting on it.