Neurologists: Career Profile
Diagnose, manage, and treat disorders and diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, with a primarily nonsurgical focus.
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What Do Neurologists Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of neurologists span:
- Interview patients to obtain information, such as complaints, symptoms, medical histories, and family histories.
- Examine patients to obtain information about functional status of areas, such as vision, physical strength, coordination, reflexes, sensations, language skills, cognitive abilities, and mental status.
- Perform or interpret the outcomes of procedures or diagnostic tests, such as lumbar punctures, electroencephalography, electromyography, and nerve conduction velocity tests.
- Order or interpret results of laboratory analyses of patients' blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
- Diagnose neurological conditions based on interpretation of examination findings, histories, or test results.
- Prescribe or administer medications, such as anti-epileptic drugs, and monitor patients for behavioral and cognitive side effects.
- Identify and treat major neurological system diseases and disorders, such as central nervous system infection, cranio spinal trauma, dementia, and stroke.
- Develop treatment plans based on diagnoses and on evaluation of factors, such as age and general health, or procedural risks and costs.
Skills and Knowledge
Top neurologists combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Neurologists Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adult Neurologist
- Adult and Pediatric Neurologist
- Child Neurologist
- Chiropractic Neurologist
- DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician)
- Epileptologist
- General Neurologist
- Headache Specialist
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 151,087 neurologists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +14.5% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Neurologists
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $159,086 |
| Hourly median | $76.48 |
| 10th percentile | $107,679 |
| 25th percentile | $133,382 |
| 75th percentile | $184,790 |
| 90th percentile | $210,493 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Neurologists Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $234,660 |
| Tennessee | $228,350 |
| New York | $214,820 |
| New Jersey | $213,200 |
| Florida | $165,860 |
| Pennsylvania | $140,970 |
| California | $124,830 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for neurologists shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $190,103 | 25.9% | 2.03 |
| New England | $126,021 | 9.4% | 1.89 |
| Southeast | $65,565 | 17.6% | 1.29 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $231,420 | 80 |
| Worcester, MA | MA | $228,470 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $228,070 | 180 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $214,820 | 920 |
Which Industries Hire Neurologists
The bulk of neurologists are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 7,150 | n/a |
| Educational Services | 210 | $80,090 |
Neurologists work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for neurologists reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Contact With Others
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
Education and Training
This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Neuropsychologists (Primary-Long)
- Clinical Neuropsychologists (Primary-Long)
- Chiropractors (Supplemental)
- Physician Assistants (Supplemental)
- Nurse Practitioners (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Primary-Short)
- Dermatologists (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for neurologists commonly pursue programs in:
10 programs across 2 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1217.00 (Neurologists).
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