Career comparison
Internist vs. Nurse Practitioner
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Internists earn more at the median ($256,560 vs. $132,300), while nurse practitioners usually get to work faster (6–8 years including RN education of training). Internists diagnose and manage illnesses in adults, in clinics and hospitals. Nurse practitioners diagnose, treat and prescribe as an advanced practice registered nurse.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Internist | Nurse Practitioner | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $256,560 ($123.35/hr) | $132,300 ($63.61/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $73,570 – $475,430 | $101,340 – $174,420 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.0% (about as fast as average) | +41.0% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,900 | 29,400 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 11 years after high school | 6–8 years including RN education |
| Key credential | ABIM board certification | FNP-BC or FNP-C |
| Work setting | Internists work in hospitals, outpatient clinics and academic medical centers.. | NPs work in primary care clinics, hospitals, specialty practices, urgent care, schools and telehealth.. |
What each job does
Internist
- Diagnose adult illnesses
- Manage chronic conditions
- Care for hospitalized patients
- Order and interpret tests
- Coordinate specialist care
Nurse Practitioner
- Assess and examine patients
- Diagnose acute and chronic conditions
- Prescribe medications and treatments
- Order and interpret tests
- Manage chronic disease
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, helping others, and high responsibility. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose internist if…
- I love diagnostic puzzles
- I want to care for adults
- I like hospital medicine
Choose nurse practitioner if…
- I’m a nurse who wants more autonomy
- I enjoy diagnosing and treating
- I like building patient relationships
Still torn? Take the Internist fit quiz and the Nurse Practitioner fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, internist or nurse practitioner?
Internists earn more at the median: $256,560 versus $132,300 for nurse practitioners, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Nurse Practitioners typically train faster (6–8 years including RN education) than internists (11 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects nurse practitioners to grow +41.0% from 2025–35, compared with +4.0% for internists.