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Neurologist

$239,200+
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Diagnose and manage conditions of the brain, spine, and nerves, ordering tests and prescribing treatment plans.

Where you work

Hospitals and specialty clinics

The hours

Full time, with some on-call

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$239,200+
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~300
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+5%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
8,300
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Doctoral / professional degree

Training path: Medical degree plus paid residency.

License or certification

Requires a medical degree, a neurology residency, and a state medical license to practice.

What it takes

NeuroanatomyDiagnosisTest interpretationPatient care

The honest take

A physician who diagnoses and treats disorders of the brain and nervous system, and one of the very highest-paid jobs tracked, above $239,000.

Standard Occupational Classification 29-1217. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.