Neurologists
Neurologists (SOC 29-1217) earn a median $248,560 a year ($119.50 an hour) in the United States, with 10,590 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Vermont.
What neurologists do
Neurologists diagnose, manage and treat disorders and diseases of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves, with a primarily nonsurgical focus. The work starts with interviews about complaints, symptoms and medical and family histories, followed by an examination of functional status: vision, physical strength, coordination, reflexes, sensation, language skills, cognitive abilities and mental status. Neurologists perform or interpret procedures and tests such as lumbar punctures, electroencephalography, electromyography and nerve conduction velocity tests, and order or interpret laboratory analyses of blood or cerebrospinal fluid. They treat major disorders such as central nervous system infection, cranio spinal trauma, dementia and stroke. They prescribe medications such as anti-epileptic drugs and monitor patients for behavioral and cognitive side effects, and they build treatment plans that weigh age, general health, procedural risks and costs. O*NET alternate titles include child neurologist, epileptologist, headache specialist and neurohospitalist. Most respondents report post-doctoral training. The nonsurgical focus separates the occupation from surgical care of the nervous system.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report postdoctoral training as the typical level of education for this occupation (64 percent).
Also called: Adult and Pediatric Neurologist, Adult Neurologist, Child Neurologist, Chiropractic Neurologist, Epileptologist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $40.08 | $75.00 | $119.50 | $172.11 | $216.72 | $128.67 | 10,590 |
| Annual | $83,370 | $155,990 | $248,560 | $357,990 | $450,780 | $267,630 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where neurologists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $47.79 | $119.10 | $209.00 | $209.00 | $232.65 | $165.80 | 40 | 0.14 | 2.01 |
| Annual | $99,410 | $247,740 | $434,730 | $434,730 | $483,920 | $344,860 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $37.63 | $108.69 | $196.93 | $196.93 | $206.27 | $172.21 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.35 |
| Annual | $78,270 | $226,080 | $409,610 | $409,610 | $429,050 | $358,190 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $38.66 | $124.41 | $183.49 | $197.21 | $212.74 | $158.66 | 310 | 0.11 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $80,410 | $258,760 | $381,670 | $410,200 | $442,500 | $330,010 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $47.83 | $114.58 | $173.38 | $201.87 | $216.27 | $156.38 | 660 | 0.05 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $99,490 | $238,320 | $360,640 | $419,900 | $449,840 | $325,270 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $50.16 | $145.49 | $171.68 | $171.68 | $171.68 | $147.53 | 1,090 | 0.06 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $104,320 | $302,620 | $357,080 | $357,080 | $357,080 | $306,860 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $48.59 | $75.00 | $75.00 | $107.37 | $181.52 | $98.51 | 2,810 | 0.29 | 4.25 |
| Annual | $101,060 | $155,990 | $155,990 | $223,320 | $377,570 | $204,900 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $50.16 | $145.49 | $171.68 | $171.68 | $171.68 | $147.53 | 1,090 | 0.06 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $104,320 | $302,620 | $357,080 | $357,080 | $357,080 | $306,860 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 940 | 0.17 | 2.49 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $47.83 | $114.58 | $173.38 | $201.87 | $216.27 | $156.38 | 660 | 0.05 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $99,490 | $238,320 | $360,640 | $419,900 | $449,840 | $325,270 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $38.96 | $48.85 | $155.17 | $155.17 | $165.64 | $116.33 | 520 | 0.05 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $81,040 | $101,610 | $322,750 | $322,750 | $344,540 | $241,970 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | Hourly | $68.97 | $165.99 | $257.67 | $257.69 | $257.70 | $211.12 | 30 | 0.05 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $143,450 | $345,260 | $535,950 | $535,990 | $536,020 | $439,130 | ||||
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | Hourly | $64.59 | $113.15 | $217.07 | $325.09 | $325.09 | $215.73 | 80 | 0.15 | 2.23 |
| Annual | $134,350 | $235,350 | $451,510 | $676,190 | $676,190 | $448,720 | ||||
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | Hourly | $47.79 | $47.79 | $209.00 | $232.65 | $232.65 | $166.06 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $99,410 | $99,410 | $434,730 | $483,920 | $483,920 | $345,410 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $37.63 | $108.52 | $196.93 | $196.93 | $206.27 | $165.64 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $78,270 | $225,730 | $409,610 | $409,610 | $429,040 | $344,530 | ||||
| Toledo, OH | Hourly | $36.22 | $46.68 | $186.95 | $251.77 | $251.77 | $158.54 | 60 | 0.19 | 2.80 |
| Annual | $75,340 | $97,100 | $388,860 | $523,690 | $523,690 | $329,750 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $71.38 | $110.67 | $173.38 | $213.59 | $217.12 | $157.23 | 300 | 0.08 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $148,460 | $230,200 | $360,640 | $444,270 | $451,610 | $327,030 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $77.67 | $77.67 | $77.67 | $145.60 | $159.68 | $100.21 | 190 | 0.06 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $161,560 | $161,560 | $161,560 | $302,840 | $332,130 | $208,430 | ||||
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | Hourly | $29.85 | $39.42 | $48.66 | $116.94 | $170.77 | $89.64 | 180 | 0.16 | 2.38 |
| Annual | $62,100 | $81,990 | $101,210 | $243,230 | $355,200 | $186,460 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $40.93 | $42.13 | $65.40 | $192.25 | $231.27 | $116.52 | 170 | 0.04 | 0.56 |
| Annual | $85,140 | $87,640 | $136,030 | $399,880 | $481,040 | $242,360 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $44.92 | $98.56 | $159.17 | $173.37 | $195.41 | $134.13 | 130 | 0.06 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $93,440 | $205,010 | $331,080 | $360,610 | $406,450 | $278,990 | ||||
Top industries employing neurologists
Offices of Physicians employ 61.8% of neurologists nationally (6,540 jobs) at a median $248,560 a year ($119.50 an hour), followed by General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (26.7%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 6,540 | 61.8% | $248,560 | $119.50 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 2,830 | 26.7% | $271,290 | $130.43 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 650 | 6.1% | $230,200 | $110.67 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 210 | 2.0% | # | # |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners NAICS 621300 | 180 | 1.7% | * | * |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (10,590). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $224,260 for neurologists in May 2022 and $248,560 in May 2025, with employment of 11,340 and 10,590.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | # | # | 7,120 |
| May 2022 | $224,260 | $107.82 | 11,340 |
| May 2023 | # | # | 9,350 |
| May 2024 | # | # | 7,700 |
| May 2025 | $248,560 | $119.50 | 10,590 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
32 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont profile | $209.00 | $434,730 | $99,410 | $483,920 | 40 | 0.14 | 2.01 |
| 2 | Arizona profile | $196.93 | $409,610 | $78,270 | $429,050 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.35 |
| 3 | Minnesota profile | $183.49 | $381,670 | $80,410 | $442,500 | 310 | 0.11 | 1.56 |
| 4 | Texas profile | $173.38 | $360,640 | $99,490 | $449,840 | 660 | 0.05 | 0.69 |
| 5 | California profile | $171.68 | $357,080 | $104,320 | $357,080 | 1,090 | 0.06 | 0.88 |
| 6 | Colorado profile | $171.27 | $356,250 | $186,700 | $477,280 | 120 | 0.04 | 0.62 |
| 7 | Alaska profile | $170.56 | $354,760 | $71,990 | $547,200 | 100 | 0.30 | 4.46 |
| 8 | South Carolina profile | $169.56 | $352,680 | $168,200 | $474,400 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.28 |
| 9 | Wisconsin profile | $164.68 | $342,520 | $76,630 | $495,650 | 130 | 0.04 | 0.63 |
| 10 | Kentucky profile | $162.91 | $338,850 | $72,830 | $463,040 | 230 | 0.12 | 1.72 |
| 11 | District of Columbia profile | $159.62 | $332,000 | $91,700 | $332,130 | 50 | 0.06 | 0.94 |
| 12 | Washington profile | $157.28 | $327,140 | $93,440 | $406,450 | 180 | 0.05 | 0.76 |
| 13 | North Carolina profile | $156.52 | $325,550 | $91,930 | $379,310 | 180 | 0.04 | 0.52 |
| 14 | Florida profile | $155.17 | $322,750 | $81,040 | $344,540 | 520 | 0.05 | 0.77 |
| 15 | Connecticut profile | $154.18 | $320,680 | $66,800 | $498,550 | 120 | 0.07 | 1.02 |
| 16 | Arkansas profile | $152.83 | $317,880 | $223,310 | $330,680 | 70 | 0.05 | 0.76 |
| 17 | Maryland profile | $145.60 | $302,840 | $140,160 | $405,380 | ** | ** | ** |
| 18 | Nebraska profile | $129.46 | $269,270 | $122,020 | $377,880 | 80 | 0.08 | 1.22 |
| 19 | Illinois profile | $113.98 | $237,080 | $84,720 | $481,010 | 240 | 0.04 | 0.58 |
| 20 | Tennessee profile | $110.42 | $229,670 | $76,500 | $535,990 | 220 | 0.07 | 1.00 |
| 21 | New Jersey profile | $106.79 | $222,120 | $75,470 | $418,360 | 140 | 0.03 | 0.48 |
| 22 | Indiana profile | $105.87 | $220,210 | $74,790 | $516,670 | 360 | 0.11 | 1.63 |
| 23 | New York profile | $75.00 | $155,990 | $101,060 | $377,570 | 2,810 | 0.29 | 4.25 |
| 24 | West Virginia profile | $30.53 | $63,500 | $63,500 | $280,830 | 60 | 0.08 | 1.15 |
| – | Georgia profile | * | * | * | * | 120 | 0.02 | 0.35 |
| – | Kansas profile | # | # | # | # | 60 | 0.04 | 0.62 |
| – | Maine profile | # | # | # | # | 50 | 0.08 | 1.15 |
| – | Michigan profile | * | * | * | * | 120 | 0.03 | 0.41 |
| – | Ohio profile | * | * | * | * | 940 | 0.17 | 2.49 |
| – | Oregon profile | # | # | # | # | ** | ** | ** |
| – | Pennsylvania profile | # | # | # | # | 30 | 0.01 | 0.08 |
| – | Utah profile | # | # | # | # | 100 | 0.06 | 0.81 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-1210), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1217 Neurologists.
#- Equal to or greater than the top code (BLS publishes no wage above it).
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them. A withheld or top-coded cell in that table shows the marker explained above.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1217, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1217.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.