Neurosurgery Salary Data
Median Salary
$900,000
Average Salary
$1,101,774
Salary Range
Percentiles
Breakdown
How much does a Neurosurgeon make?
As of July 4, 2025, a Neurosurgeon in the United States earns an average of $900,000 per year ($75,000 monthly). Based on an average 64-hour work week, this translates to approximately $329 per hour.
Salary Range and Distribution
Based on 72 verified physician salary submissions, SalaryDr is seeing total compensation ranging from $850,000 to $1,100,000, with top performers (90th percentile) earning up to $7,700,000 annually. The majority of Neurosurgery salaries fall between $850,000 (25th percentile) and $1,100,000 (75th percentile).
Career Growth and Advancement
The salary difference between early-career and experienced Neurosurgery physicians is significant. Entry-level positions start at $852,804, while those with 12+ years of experience earn an average of $1,218,638 - a 43% increase. This substantial growth reflects the value of experience and skill development in the field.
Practice Settings and Compensation Structure
Base salary makes up 83% of total compensation ($912,681), with the remainder coming from bonuses, profit sharing, and other incentives.
Job Satisfaction and Work-Life Balance
Neurosurgery physicians report high career satisfaction, rating their specialty 4.3 out of 5, with 89% saying they would choose this specialty again.
Salary Distribution
Distribution based on 72 verified physician salary submissions.
Median Salary: $900,000
Physician Satisfaction in Neurosurgery
Satisfaction Rating
Average satisfaction rating reported by Neurosurgery physicians (1-5 scale).
Would Choose Again
Percentage of Neurosurgery physicians who would choose this specialty again.
Career Satisfaction
Physicians cite the variety of cases and patient relationships as most rewarding aspects of this specialty.
Primary Challenges
On-call demands, administrative burden, and work-life balance are cited as the top challenges.
Salary Comparison
Location Statistics
Average Salary
$1,101,774
Median Salary
$900,000
Salary Range
$850,000 - $1,100,000
National Comparison
National Average
$1,101,774
Difference
+0% vs National Average
Sample Size
72 local / 72 national reports
Salary by Practice Type
| Practice Type | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| Private Practice | $1,414,268 | 28 submissions |
| Hospital-employed | $921,621 | 29 submissions |
| Academic | $866,750 | 15 submissions |
* Practice types with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Salary by Experience Level
| Years of Experience | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 years | $672,500 | 4 submissions |
| 3-5 years | $905,714 | 7 submissions |
| 6-10 years | $886,773 | 11 submissions |
| 11-15 years | $1,193,321 | 35 submissions |
| 16+ years | $1,251,800 | 15 submissions |
* Experience levels with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Take-Home Pay Calculator
Subspecialty Comparison
Oncology
Vascular
Spine
Pediatric
Functional
| Subspecialty | Average Salary | Sample Size | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oncology | $1,754,167 | 3 submissions | Focuses on specialized oncology procedures and treatments within neurosurgery, providing expert care in this specific area. |
| Vascular | $1,028,700 | 10 submissions | Treats diseases of blood vessels, including complex arterial reconstructions, aneurysm repairs, and minimally invasive endovascular procedures. |
| Spine | $993,676 | 17 submissions | Addresses complex spinal disorders through both surgical and non-surgical means, including minimally invasive spine surgery. |
| Pediatric | $952,861 | 9 submissions | Provides specialized surgical care for infants, children, and adolescents, addressing congenital conditions and childhood diseases. |
| Functional | $905,556 | 9 submissions | Focuses on specialized functional procedures and treatments within neurosurgery, providing expert care in this specific area. |
* Subspecialties with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
* Data is aggregated from verified physician submissions.
Related Specialties
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Average Salary: $1,776,100
Based on 15 submissions
Bariatric Surgery
Average Salary: $750,000
Based on 2 submissions
Head and Neck Surgery
Average Salary: $700,000
Based on 2 submissions
* Salary data is updated monthly based on verified physician submissions.
Neurosurgery Salary by State
Alabama
$920,000/year
4 reports
California
$870,000/year
18 reports
Florida
$950,000/year
3 reports
Georgia
$900,000/year
10 reports
Illinois
$880,000/year
5 reports
Iowa
$1,100,000/year
2 reports
Massachusetts
$920,000/year
14 reports
Michigan
$850,000/year
1 reports
Montana
$1,000,000/year
1 reports
New York
$1,187,500/year
4 reports
Oregon
$1,000,000/year
2 reports
Pennsylvania
$500,000/year
1 reports
Rhode Island
$842,000/year
1 reports
Texas
$1,500,000/year
5 reports
Washington
$800,000/year
1 reports
See How Residency Salaries Compare
Planning your career path? Check out our comprehensive residency salary benchmarks to see how PGY compensation compares across different specialties and regions.
View Residency Benchmarks