Neurologists earn $290,000-$450,000+ per year, with demand growing as the population ages and neurological conditions increase.
Average Neurologist Salary in 2026
| Experience Level |
Salary Range |
| New Attending (1-3 years) |
$260,000-$300,000 |
| Mid-Career (5-10 years) |
$310,000-$380,000 |
| Experienced (10+ years) |
$380,000-$500,000 |
| National Average |
$313,000 |
Neurologist Salary by Subspecialty
| Subspecialty |
Average Salary |
Fellowship |
| Interventional Neurology |
$480,000 |
2 years |
| Epilepsy/Epilepsy Surgery |
$380,000 |
2 years |
| Movement Disorders |
$340,000 |
1-2 years |
| Neuro-oncology |
$350,000 |
1-2 years |
| Neuromuscular Medicine |
$330,000 |
1 year |
| Headache Medicine |
$310,000 |
1 year |
| Sleep Medicine |
$325,000 |
1 year |
| Neurophysiology (EMG/EEG) |
$335,000 |
1 year |
| General Neurology |
$295,000 |
— |
Interventional neurology (stroke care, neuroendovascular) is the highest-paid subspecialty.
Neurologist Salary by State
| State |
Average Salary |
vs. National |
| Wisconsin |
$380,000 |
+21% |
| Indiana |
$370,000 |
+18% |
| Nebraska |
$365,000 |
+17% |
| Oklahoma |
$360,000 |
+15% |
| Kentucky |
$355,000 |
+13% |
| Michigan |
$340,000 |
+9% |
| Texas |
$325,000 |
+4% |
| California |
$310,000 |
-1% |
| New York |
$305,000 |
-3% |
| Florida |
$300,000 |
-4% |
Rural and underserved areas offer significant premiums.
Neurologist Salary by Practice Setting
| Practice Type |
Salary Range |
Notes |
| Private Practice |
$350,000-$550,000 |
Highest potential |
| Hospital-Employed |
$290,000-$380,000 |
Stable, benefits |
| Academic |
$230,000-$320,000 |
Research, teaching |
| Teleneurology |
$280,000-$400,000 |
Growing rapidly |
| Locum Tenens |
$350,000-$450,000 |
Flexible, high rates |
Neurologist vs. Neurosurgeon
| Factor |
Neurologist |
Neurosurgeon |
| Average Salary |
$313,000 |
$746,000 |
| Residency Length |
4 years |
7 years |
| Fellowship |
1-2 years |
1-2 years |
| Procedures |
Generally non-surgical |
Surgical |
| Lifestyle |
Good |
Demanding |
| Malpractice |
Moderate |
High |
Neurologists diagnose and treat medically; neurosurgeons operate.
Path to Becoming a Neurologist
| Stage |
Duration |
Cost/Salary |
| Bachelor’s degree |
4 years |
$50,000-$200,000 debt |
| Medical school |
4 years |
$200,000-$350,000 debt |
| Neurology residency |
4 years |
$65,000-$85,000/year |
| Fellowship (optional) |
1-3 years |
$80,000-$100,000/year |
| Total Training |
12-15 years |
— |
| Average Debt |
— |
$230,000-$330,000 |
Neurologist Work Schedule
| Factor |
Typical Range |
| Hours per week |
45-55 |
| Night call |
2-6 nights/month |
| Weekend call |
2-4 weekends/month |
| Vacation weeks |
4-6 |
Neurology offers moderate lifestyle — stroke call can be demanding, but outpatient practice is manageable.
The Neurology Shortage
| Factor |
Assessment |
| Current shortage |
20,000+ neurologists needed |
| Job growth (2024-2034) |
+8% (faster than average) |
| Aging population impact |
Increasing demand |
| Stroke/dementia care |
Growing need |
| Wait times |
4-8 weeks in many areas |
Neurology has one of the most severe physician shortages.
Neurologist Salary After Taxes
| Gross Salary |
Federal Tax |
FICA |
State Tax (5%) |
Take-Home |
| $280,000 |
$64,000 |
$11,773 |
$14,000 |
$190,227 |
| $313,000 |
$75,000 |
$11,773 |
$15,650 |
$210,577 |
| $450,000 |
$118,000 |
$11,773 |
$22,500 |
$297,727 |
Teleneurology Growth
| Factor |
Impact |
| Remote consultation adoption |
Rapidly increasing |
| Stroke telemedicine |
Standard of care |
| Follow-up visits |
30-50% virtual |
| Rural access |
Major expansion |
| Compensation |
Equal to in-person |
Teleneurology enables neurologists to serve underserved areas remotely.
Career Earnings Comparison
| Career Path |
Training Debt |
30-Year Earnings |
Net Lifetime |
| Academic |
-$280,000 |
$8M |
~$7.5M |
| Hospital-Employed |
-$280,000 |
$10M |
~$9.5M |
| Private Practice |
-$280,000 |
$13M |
~$12.5M |
| Interventional |
-$280,000 |
$15M |
~$14.5M |
Tips for Maximizing Income
- Interventional fellowship — Neuroendovascular is highest-paid path
- Procedural skills — EMG, Botox injections add revenue
- Rural practice — 15-25% pay premiums
- Teleneurology — Expand patient reach
- Headache/movement disorders — Specialized practices thrive
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medscape Physician Compensation Report, MGMA, AAN. Updated March 2026.