Neurologists
Diagnose, manage, and treat disorders and diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, with a primarily nonsurgical focus.
Also called: Adult and Pediatric Neurologist, Adult Neurologist, Child Neurologist, Chiropractic Neurologist, DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician), Epileptologist
Median pay
$248,560
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$83,370 – $450,780
People employed
10,590
Holland code
ISR
Investigative · Social · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 2.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 3.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 4.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 5.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 6.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 7.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 8.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
The hard parts
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
- Tight deadlines are common
- Exposure to disease or infection
Neurologists pay by state
Annual median pay by state (23 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What neurologists do
- 01Interview patients to obtain information, such as complaints, symptoms, medical histories, and family histories.
- 02Examine patients to obtain information about functional status of areas, such as vision, physical strength, coordination, reflexes, sensations, language skills, cognitive abilities, and mental status.
- 03Perform or interpret the outcomes of procedures or diagnostic tests, such as lumbar punctures, electroencephalography, electromyography, and nerve conduction velocity tests.
- 04Order or interpret results of laboratory analyses of patients' blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
- 05Diagnose neurological conditions based on interpretation of examination findings, histories, or test results.
- 06Prescribe or administer medications, such as anti-epileptic drugs, and monitor patients for behavioral and cognitive side effects.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Writing
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Psychology
- Biology
- Therapy and Counseling
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from neurologists
- Genetic Counselors57% · −60%
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists56% · −22%
- Clinical Research Coordinators56% · group pay
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary55% · −68%
- Epidemiologists54% · −65%
Majors that lead here
- Medicine
- Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
- Internal Medicine/Neurology Combined Specialty Program
- Psychiatry/Neurology Combined Specialty Program
- Neurology Residency Program
- Child Neurology Residency Program
- Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship Program
- Epilepsy Fellowship Program
- Headache Medicine Fellowship Program
- Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellowship Program
- Vascular Neurology Fellowship Program
- Neurology Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.