Neurosurgeons are among the best paid professionals in the United States, with an average annual salary of $368,000 a year, and the best paying jobs reaching a yearly salary of $643,000.
The median starting salary for neurological surgeons who are new to the job was reported at $395,000 a year in a salary survey conducted by Profiles. The estimated job growth rate for the profession over the next decade is 24.4%.
Neurosurgeon salaries depend on a variety of factors, including location, employer type, industry, hospital setting, type of employment, academic background, and years of professional experience.
Along with the annual salary, neurosurgeons usually get bonuses, contributions from profit sharing, and good benefits packages. The most popular perks and benefits among these professionals are 401(k) plans, malpractice and liability insurance, and paid holidays and vacations.
Average salary
The average salary for neurosurgeons employed in the United States is $528,514 a year according to data provided by Salary.com, and $383,925 a year according to salary information provided by Payscale. The median salary includes yearly bonuses and contributions from profit sharing. The annual bonuses can amount to up to $100,866, while earnings from profit sharing are generally in the range from $100 to $250,000 a year according to Payscale’s salary data.
The yearly bonuses depend on a number of different factors, including years of experience. Neurosurgeons with 1 to 4 years of experience get $17,500 a year on average, those with 5 to 9 years of experience are paid around $12,987 annually, professionals with 10 to 19 years of experience get $15,000 a year on average, and those with 20 or more years of professional experience are paid bonuses in the average amount of $24,566 a year.
Starting salary
The average starting salary for neurosurgeons with less than a year of professional experience typically ranges from $60,000 to $305,209 a year including bonuses and profit sharing according to Payscale. These professionals earn bonuses in the amount of $17,500 a year on average.
Benefits
Neurosurgeons’ benefits packages can reflect their annual salaries. Professionals who get 401(k) plans typically earn between $81,500 and $684,886 a year, those who have malpractice or liability insurance have salaries in the range from $102,129 to $693,662 a year, and neurosurgeons who get paid holidays and vacations earn from $88,000 to $680,000 annually. Neurology surgeons who have life and disability insurance as part of their benefits packages generally have salaries in the range from $67,500 to $647,519 a year, those who get paid sick leave are paid between $48,430 and $659,314 annually, and professionals who have private medical insurance (PMI) report annual salaries in the range from $147,949 to $689,298 according to the salary information provided by Payscale.
Salary range
Neurosurgeons employed in the United States typically earn salaries in the range from $103,049 to $733,261 a year including bonuses and earnings from profit sharing according to salary data from Payscale. Professionals with the Board Certified Surgery qualification report an annual income in the range from $100,840 to $713,848.
Neurosurgeons specializing in brain surgery generally earn between $93,998 and $684,507 a year and those specializing in surgery make between $175,000 and $400,000 annually.
Men report yearly salaries in the range from $100,133 to $674,267, while women typically earn between $44,070 and $608,205 a year.
Salaries can vary significantly depending on years of professional experience. Neurosurgeons with 1 to 4 years of experience in the field typically earn salaries in the range from $59,180 to $679,211 a year, those with 5 to 9 years of experience are paid between $110,000 and $639,500 a year, professionals with 10 to 19 years of experience in neurosurgery get an annual pay in the range between $100,671 and $703,060, while those with 20 or more years under their belt report earning salaries in the range from $110,026 to $636,800 a year according to salary data provided by Payscale.
Salary by state
Neurosurgeon salaries also depend on geographical location, and can vary significantly from state to state. Professionals based in Illinois typically make between $140,000 and $713,157 a year, those working in New York earn salaries in the range from $96,958 to $695,305 a year, and neurosurgeons employed in Massachusetts generally earn between $182,968 and $670,195 a year. Neurosurgeons working in Florida are paid between $60,402 and $695,305 annually, those based in Texas make between $196,527 and $406,946 a year, professionals employed in California typically earn between $73,404 and $612,772 annually, and those living in North Carolina report annual salaries in the range from $97,211 to $407,241 a year according to Payscale.
Salary by city
Neurosurgeons’ yearly salaries also vary from city to city. Neurosurgeons employed in Chicago typically earn between $127,743 and $691,808 a year, those working in Miami make between $225,000 and $466,847 annually, and professionals based in New York have salaries in the range from $98,633 to $685,100 a year. Neurological surgeons employed in Boston are generally paid between $182,968 and $670,195 a year, and those working in Los Angeles report an annual income in the range from $245,659 to $508,682 according to Payscale.
Hourly wage
The average hourly wage for neurosurgeons working in the United States is $116 per hour according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), with the 10% of the professionals on the lower end of the scale earning around $59 per hour, and the 10% on the upper end making $150 or more per hour.
Other income factors
Neurosurgeons’ annual pay can vary depending on the size of the organization that employs them. Professionals working for organizations with 1 to 9 employees typically make between $207,500 and $543,046 a year, those whose organizations employ 50 to 199 people report salaries in the range from $71,248 to $465,500 a year, and neurosurgeons whose organizations employ 200 to 599 people typically earn between $160,000 and $536,772 a year. Professionals working for very large organizations that employ 600 to 1,999 people generally report salaries in the range from $120,000 to $600,000 a year according to salary data provided by Payscale.
Neurosurgeons’ salaries also vary depending on employer type. Neurosurgeons working at hospitals generally earn between $100,222 and $698,110 a year, those employed by private practices make between $242,395 and $693,453 a year, and professionals working at universities or colleges are typically paid between $51,064 and $587,228 annually. Neurological surgeons working for companies make between $60,402 and $893,964 a year, and self-employed neurosurgeons report salaries in the range from $330,000 to $550,000 a year according to Payscale’s salary statistics.
Hospital setting is another factor that can affect a neurosurgeon’s salary. Professionals working at general hospitals typically make between $122,554 and $711,279 a year, those working at physicians’ offices or private practices are generally paid between $244,679 and $691,725 annually, and neurosurgeons working in ambulatory care or surgery centers report an annual pay in the range from $48,479 to $621,879 according to Payscale.