How much do neurologists make?
Answer
Neurologists in the US earned a median of $248,560 a year ($119.50 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $155,990 to $357,990.
- Median annual pay
- $248,560
- Mean $267,630
- Median hourly pay
- $119.50
- Mean $128.67
- Typical range (10th–90th)
- $83.4K–$451K
- $83,370 to $450,780
- US jobs
- 10,590
- +6.4% projected, 2025–35
BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology
How to become a neurologist: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: Vermont
Neurologist pay range
Annual wages, May 2025
- 10th percentile$83,370
- 25th percentile$155,990
- Median$248,560
- 75th percentile$357,990
- 90th percentile$450,780
Half of all neurologists earned more than $248,560 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $83,370; the top 10% made over $450,780. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $155,990 to $357,990.
These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $83,370 | $40.08 | $6,948 |
| 25th | $155,990 | $75.00 | $12,999 |
| Median (50th) | $248,560 | $119.50 | $20,713 |
| 75th | $357,990 | $172.11 | $29,833 |
| 90th | $450,780 | $216.72 | $37,565 |
| Mean (average) | $267,630 | $128.67 | $22,303 |
Neurologist salary by state
Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024
Highest-paying states
- 1. Vermont $434,730
- 2. Arizona $409,610
- 3. Minnesota $381,670
- 4. Texas $360,640
- 5. California $357,080
Lowest-paying states
- 24. West Virginia $63,500
- 23. New York $155,990
- 22. Indiana $220,210
- 21. New Jersey $222,120
- 20. Tennessee $229,670
Best after cost of living: Vermont. Its median of $434,730 is worth about $443,792 at national-average prices.
| Alabama | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $354,760 | 7 | $346,584 | 9 | $170.56 | 100 | 0.30 |
| Arizona | $409,610 | 2 | $406,856 | 2 | $196.93 | 80 | 0.02 |
| Arkansas | $317,880 | 16 | $365,644 | 7 | $152.83 | 70 | 0.05 |
| California | $357,080 | 5 | $322,507 | 12 | $171.68 | 1,090 | 0.06 |
| Colorado | $356,250 | 6 | $345,699 | 10 | $171.27 | 120 | 0.04 |
| Connecticut | $320,680 | 15 | $309,507 | 14 | $154.18 | 120 | 0.07 |
| Delaware | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | $332,000 | 11 | $302,090 | 16 | $159.62 | 50 | 0.06 |
| Florida | $322,750 | 14 | $312,095 | 13 | $155.17 | 520 | 0.05 |
| Georgia | — | — | — | — | — | 120 | 0.02 |
| Hawaii | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Illinois | $237,080 | 19 | $237,180 | 20 | $113.98 | 240 | 0.04 |
| Indiana | $220,210 | 22 | $235,950 | 21 | $105.87 | 360 | 0.11 |
| Iowa | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kansas | $239,200+ | — | — | — | $115.00+ | 60 | 0.04 |
| Kentucky | $338,850 | 10 | $375,836 | 5 | $162.91 | 230 | 0.12 |
| Louisiana | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Maine | $239,200+ | — | — | — | $115.00+ | 50 | 0.08 |
| Maryland | $302,840 | 17 | $288,532 | 18 | $145.60 | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Michigan | — | — | — | — | — | 120 | 0.03 |
| Minnesota | $381,670 | 3 | $387,007 | 3 | $183.49 | 310 | 0.11 |
| Mississippi | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Missouri | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | $269,270 | 18 | $298,847 | 17 | $129.46 | 80 | 0.08 |
| Nevada | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| New Jersey | $222,120 | 21 | $204,145 | 22 | $106.79 | 140 | 0.03 |
| New Mexico | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| New York | $155,990 | 23 | $144,541 | 23 | $75.00 | 2,810 | 0.29 |
| North Carolina | $325,550 | 13 | $345,133 | 11 | $156.52 | 180 | 0.04 |
| North Dakota | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ohio | — | — | — | — | — | 940 | 0.17 |
| Oklahoma | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oregon | $239,200+ | — | — | — | $115.00+ | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | $239,200+ | — | — | — | $115.00+ | 30 | 0.01 |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| South Carolina | $352,680 | 8 | $376,196 | 4 | $169.56 | 40 | 0.02 |
| South Dakota | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tennessee | $229,670 | 20 | $249,995 | 19 | $110.42 | 220 | 0.07 |
| Texas | $360,640 | 4 | $371,575 | 6 | $173.38 | 660 | 0.05 |
| Utah | $239,200+ | — | — | — | $115.00+ | 100 | 0.06 |
| Vermont | $434,730 | 1 | $443,792 | 1 | $209.00 | 40 | 0.14 |
| Virginia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Washington | $327,140 | 12 | $305,701 | 15 | $157.28 | 180 | 0.05 |
| West Virginia | $63,500 | 24 | $70,952 | 24 | $30.53 | 60 | 0.08 |
| Wisconsin | $342,520 | 9 | $364,015 | 8 | $164.68 | 130 | 0.04 |
| Wyoming | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure (22 states). State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.
Best-paying metro areas for neurologists
35 metro areas with published pay
| Metro area | Median | Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $239,200+ | — | — |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $239,200+ | — | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $239,200+ | — | 70 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $239,200+ | — | 30 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $239,200+ | — | 30 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $535,950 | $581,423 | 30 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $451,510 | $471,088 | 80 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $434,730 | $430,643 | — |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $409,610 | $396,463 | 70 |
| Toledo, OH | $388,860 | $425,193 | 60 |
| Metro area | Jobs | Median | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 300 | $360,640 | $349,830 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 190 | $161,560 | $148,378 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 180 | $101,210 | $106,124 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 170 | $136,030 | $131,309 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 130 | $331,080 | $297,913 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 120 | $277,960 | $281,824 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 120 | $335,420 | $319,990 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 90 | $337,600 | $346,797 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 90 | $178,920 | $174,138 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 80 | $451,510 | $471,088 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).
What moves neurologist pay: employers and settings
Work setting is the clearest signal in the data. Offices of physicians employ most neurologists, at a median of $248,560. General medical and surgical hospitals pay more, at $271,290; the small number in specialty hospitals reach $340,880. Neurologists employed by colleges and universities, who split time between patients, teaching and research, have a median of $230,200. Private employers have a median of $262,860; local government, which includes public hospitals, reaches $313,310; state government, which includes state university systems, is just $104,320.
The state spread is unusually wide. Vermont has the highest median at $434,730, followed by Arizona at $409,610, Minnesota at $381,670, Texas at $360,640, and California at $357,080. Indiana at $220,210, New York at $155,990, and West Virginia at $63,500 sit at the bottom; New York, despite its low median, has the most neurologists of any state. Vermont remains first after cost-of-living adjustment, at $443,792.
Subspecialty training, procedure volume, hospital call duties and academic versus private practice explain much of the overall range, from $83,370, the 10th percentile, to $450,780, the 90th.
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians | 61.8% | $248,560 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 26.7% | $271,290 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 6.1% | $230,200 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 2% | $239,200+ |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 1.7% | — |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 0.6% | $340,880 |
| Employer type | Jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Private employers | 9,700 | $262,860 |
| State government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 600 | $104,320 |
| Local government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 290 | $313,310 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).
What neurologists do
A neurologist is a physician who diagnoses and treats diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles without operating. Typical patients have strokes, epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, dementia, neuropathy or ALS. When surgery is needed, neurologists refer to neurosurgeons and often keep managing the patient's medications and long-term care.
Much of the work is detective work. A neurologist takes a careful history and does a hands-on neurological exam, testing strength, reflexes, sensation, coordination, speech and memory, then decides which tests will narrow the cause: MRI or CT scans, EEG for seizures, EMG and nerve conduction studies for nerve and muscle problems, or a lumbar puncture.
Most neurologists see patients in outpatient offices, many following people with chronic conditions for years. Others work mainly in hospitals, where they are called for acute strokes, seizures and patients in intensive care, and may cover stroke codes overnight. They work with neurosurgeons, radiologists, physical and speech therapists, neuropsychologists and primary care doctors.
A typical day
- Take detailed histories and perform neurological exams of strength, reflexes, sensation and cognition
- Order and read MRI and CT scans, EEGs, and nerve conduction studies
- Perform procedures such as EMG, lumbar punctures and botulinum toxin injections for migraine or spasticity
- Adjust seizure, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and migraine medications and track side effects
- Respond to hospital stroke alerts and decide quickly on clot-busting treatment
- Explain diagnoses such as dementia or ALS to patients and families and plan long-term care
- Consult with neurosurgeons, therapists and primary care doctors on shared patients
Also called: adult and pediatric neurologist, adult neurologist, general neurologist, pediatric neurologist, physician.
How to become a neurologist
Full guideTo become a neurologist you need a bachelor's degree, four years of medical school (MD or DO), the USMLE or COMLEX licensing exams, and four years of residency: a PGY-1 year plus three years of ACGME-accredited neurology. That is about 12 years after high school, then the ABPN board exam.
- Typical time
- 12-13 years
- Fastest: About 10 years
- Minimum education
- MD or DO degree, then a PGY-1 year and 36 months of ACGME-accredited neurology residency
- License
- Medical license required in all 50 states and DC; ABPN board certification is voluntary but widely expected
- Typical training cost
- $302K–$413K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a neurologist: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.
Is it worth it? Training cost against pay
Compare careers- Training time
- 12-13 years
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $302K–$413K
- Tuition and exam fees, before aid
- Median pay
- $248,560
- $197,580 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
- Cost vs. one year's pay
- 122–166%
- Training cost as a share of a year at the median
Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($197,580 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in about 1.5–2.1 years after training ends (12-13 years in our guide). This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.
Job outlook for neurologists
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +6.4%
- All occupations +3.5%
- Jobs in 2025
- 11,400
- 12,100 projected for 2035
- Openings each year
- 300
- New jobs plus replacements
- Self-employed
- 3.7%
- Not in the pay figures above
BLS projects employment of neurologists to grow 6.4% from 2025 to 2035, from 11,400 to 12,100 jobs, nearly twice the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 300 openings are expected each year, including replacements for neurologists who retire.
For physicians overall, BLS points to a growing number of older adults, who are more likely to have health problems, and rising rates of chronic illness. Both matter in neurology, because stroke, dementia and Parkinson's disease become more common with age.
Related careers and their pay
- Cardiologist$496,010
- Orthopedic Surgeon$358,550
- Pediatrician$210,040
- Psychiatrist$281,870
- OB-GYN$292,910
- Chiropractor$79,200
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Neurologist salary FAQ
How much do neurologists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for neurologists was $119.50 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $40.08 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $216.72. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.
Which state pays neurologists the most?
Vermont has the highest median pay for neurologists, $434,730 a year, followed by Arizona ($409,610) and Minnesota ($381,670). After adjusting for each state's price level, Vermont comes out ahead at about $443,792 in national-average dollars.
Do neurologists make $200,000 a year?
Most do: based on the BLS percentiles, between 50% and 75% of neurologists earn more than $200,000 a year. The median is $248,560, and the top 10% earn more than $450,780. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.
What does a neurologist treat?
Neurologists treat disorders of the nervous system: stroke, epilepsy and seizures, migraine and other headaches, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders, Alzheimer's and other dementias, neuropathy, myasthenia gravis, ALS, and effects of brain and spinal cord injury. Primary care doctors usually refer patients when symptoms such as numbness, weakness, tremor, memory loss or recurring headaches need a specialist workup.
What is the difference between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon?
Both treat the brain, spine and nerves, but a neurologist treats with medications, procedures such as nerve studies and injections, and long-term management, while a neurosurgeon operates. Training differs too: neurology residency is a PGY-1 year plus three years of neurology, while neurosurgery is a separate, longer surgical residency. The two often share patients, for example after a stroke or with a brain tumor.
What is the difference between a neurologist and a psychiatrist?
Neurologists focus on structural and physiological diseases of the nervous system, such as stroke, epilepsy and dementia. Psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, using medication and psychotherapy. Both are certified by the same board, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, but they complete separate residencies. See our psychiatrist page for that path.
Sources
Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 29-1217
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
- O*NET 31.0 Database (29-1217.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
- Physicians and Surgeons, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
- MCAT Scheduling Fees, Association of American Medical Colleges · checked October 28, 2026
- Apply for the USMLE, United States Medical Licensing Examination (FSMB and NBME) · checked October 28, 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions, National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners · checked October 28, 2026
- You Can Afford Medical School, Association of American Medical Colleges · checked October 28, 2026
- Neurology: Become Certified, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology · checked October 28, 2026
- ABPN Fee Schedule, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
- Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology · checked October 28, 2026
Careers and Salaries is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Found an error? Tell us; corrections are listed on the editorial policy page.