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Neurologist Salary in the United States

How much does a Neurologist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Neurologist in the United States is $292,100 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $140.

However, a Neurologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $350,560
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $274,600 to $322,700
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $258,667
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Neurologist Salaries

A Neurologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Neurologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Neurologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $285,048
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $286,354
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $287,660
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $289,488
  • Expert (over 8 years): $294,384
Levels Salary
Entry Level Neurologist$285,048
Intermediate Level Neurologist$286,354
Senior Level Neurologist$287,660
Specialist Level Neurologist$289,488
Expert Level Neurologist$294,384
View as Graph

How Do Neurologist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Neurologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $323,400.
  • California: $322,200.
  • Massachusetts: $317,900.

Top Paying Cities for Neurologists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $368,400
  • San Francisco: $364,400
  • Oakland: $356,700

What Skills Can Increase a Neurologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.1% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Neurology (Mentioned in 4.28% Job Postings): Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Neurology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the brain, the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves.
  • Critical Care (Mentioned in 2.75% Job Postings): Critical care is sometimes referred as intensive care. Intensive care medicine, or critical care medicine, is a branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and management of life-threatening conditions that may require sophisticated life support and intensive monitoring. An intensivist is a physician who specializes in the care of critically ill patients, most often in the intensive care unit (ICU). Intensivists can be internists or internal medicine sub-specialists (most often pulmonologists), anesthesiologists, emergency medicine physicians, pediatricians (including neonatologists), or surgeons who have completed a fellowship in critical care medicine.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.1%
Neurology 4.28%
Critical Care 2.75%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Neurologist's salary.

  • Oncology: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Neurology: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Acute Care: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Oncology $300,863
3%
Neurology $297,942
2%
Acute Care $297,942
2%
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Neurologist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Neurologist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $328,394. While startup companies pay approximate $278,831.

Neurologist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $278,831
Growth Stage 51~500 $294,610
Established 501~5000 $317,368
Enterprise 5000+ $328,394

Neurologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Neurologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Neurologist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Neurologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Neurologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$350,520$169.020%
Pharmaceuticals$335,915$161.015%

How Education impacts a Neurologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Neurologists enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Neurologist with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $278,718 and $303,185).

Neurologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Neurologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.0%
High School 2.0%
Associates 1.3%
Bachelors 2.0%
Masters 2.0%
Doctorate 92.7%
View as Graph

Neurologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Neurologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$274,600
Average $292,100/year
$322,700
$22,883
Average $24,342/month
$26,892
$5,281
Average $5,617/week
$6,206
$132
Average $140/hour
$155
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $322,700 $26,892 $6,206 $155
Average $292,100 $24,342 $5,617 $140
25th Percentile $274,600 $22,883 $5,281 $132

Most common benefits for Neurologist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Neurologist

Here are companies hiring for Neurologist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Neurologist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Neurologist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Neurologist roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

2. What state pays a neurologist the most?

The highest paying cities for neurologists in the United States include Phoenix, AZ, with an average salary of $365,041, followed by Baltimore, MD, at $360,805. Other notable cities are Tucson, AZ, at $332,988, and Brooklyn, NY, at $293,310. The salary range for neurologists typically falls between $253,400 and $340,500, with a mid-salary of $290,000.

3. How much do sleep neurologists make?

Sleep neurologists typically earn between $253,400 and $340,500 annually, with a mid-salary of around $290,000. This range reflects variations based on experience, location, and specific practice settings. In states like California and Minnesota, salaries can be on the higher end of this spectrum, often exceeding $340,000.

4. How long is med school?

Medical school typically lasts four years, with some accelerated three-year programs available. After earning an M.D. or D.O. degree, graduates enter residency in their chosen specialty. For neurologists, salaries range from $253,400 to $340,500, with a median salary of $290,000, reflecting the extensive training and expertise required in this field.

5. What is the highest paying job in the world?

While there are many high-paying jobs globally, one of the top earners is a neurologist. The salary range for neurologists typically starts at $253,400, with a mid-range salary of $290,000, and can go up to $340,500. This reflects the specialized skills and expertise required in the field of neurology.

6. What is the current salary of a Neurologist?

The current salary of a Neurologist ranges from a minimum of $253,400 to a maximum of $340,500, with a mid-salary of $290,000. This indicates a competitive compensation package, especially when compared to various states where salaries can exceed $340,000 annually.

7. What age do you become a neurologist?

To become a neurologist, one typically completes a bachelor's degree (around age 22), followed by medical school (age 26), and then a residency in neurology, which can take an additional 4 years, making the average age to start practicing around 30. Neurologists earn a salary ranging from $253,400 to $340,500, with a median salary of $290,000.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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