Neurosurgeon Salary in USA

The Neurosurgeon Salary in USA ranges from $300K–$500K (₹2.85Cr–₹4.75Cr) per year. Actual earnings may vary based on productivity bonuses, on-call compensation, experience, practice setting, and location. These figures refer to practicing neurosurgeons, while total compensation can include base pay and additional earnings such as incentives and call-related payments.

However, this figure applies to practicing neurosurgeons and should not be confused with resident compensation. Neurosurgery residency lasts 84 months, or seven years, under current ACGME program requirements, and residents receive a stipend that is considerably lower than attending-physician compensation. During residency, pay generally increases by PGY level, but the exact stipend varies by hospital and training program.

Neurosurgeon Salary in USA by Experience 

Neurosurgery is a long-training specialty, with residents generally spending seven years in an accredited neurological surgery residency before becoming independent specialists. During residency, compensation usually follows the institution's postgraduate year (PGY) salary scale rather than a specialty-specific national salary.  

Therefore, the salary of neurosurgeon in USA per month varies significantly depending on whether the doctor is still in residency or has progressed to an attending role. 

Neurosurgery Resident Stipend by PGY Level 

The following figures are useful benchmarks for residency compensation. They represent annual stipends, not practicing neurosurgeon salaries. Actual amounts vary by residency program, hospital, and location. 

Experience / Training Level	Annual Approx. Stipend (USD/INR)
PGY 1	$68,000–$75,000 (₹64.60L–₹71.25L)
PGY 2	$71,000–$77,000 (₹67.45L–₹73.15L)
PGY 3	$74,000–$80,000 (₹70.30L–₹76.00L)
PGY 4	$77,000–$84,000 (₹73.15L–₹79.80L)
PGY 5	$80,000–$87,000 (₹76.00L–₹82.65L)
PGY 6	$84,000–$90,000 (₹79.80L–₹85.50L)
PGY 7	$87,000–$95,000 (₹82.65L–₹90.25L)

The jump from residency compensation to attending-level income is substantial. However, the attending figure is an average across practicing neurosurgeons and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed starting salary. 

Practicing Neurosurgeon Salary by Experience 

After completing residency, neurosurgeons move into attending-level positions. Unlike residency, there is no reliable national salary scale that assigns a fixed salary to each experience bracket. Compensation can vary based on employer, productivity, location, practice setting, and additional pay. 

Glassdoor's current U.S. neurosurgeon salary data reports $300,000–$500,000 (₹2.85Cr–₹4.75Cr) in annual base pay, with average additional pay of about $200,000 (₹1.90Cr) and an additional-pay range of $200,000–$300,000 (₹1.90Cr–₹2.85Cr).  

Career Stage	Role	Compensation Information (USD/INR)
Early career	Attending Neurosurgeon	$300K–$500K base (₹2.85Cr–₹4.75Cr)
Experienced	Attending Neurosurgeon	$300K–$500K base + additional pay (₹2.85Cr–₹4.75Cr +)
Senior	Experienced/Senior Neurosurgeon	$300K–$500K base + additional pay (₹2.85Cr–₹4.75Cr +)

Source: Glassdoor 

Also Read: Surgeon Salary USA 

Neurosurgeon Salary in USA by City 

Location can affect physician compensation because hospitals and healthcare systems operate under different labor-market conditions.  

However, publicly available national datasets do not provide a standardized city-by-city salary table specifically for neurosurgeons, so the salary of neurosurgeon in USA per month can vary depending on the employer, practice setting, and location. 

City / Metro Area	Approx. Annual Physician Compensation (USD/INR)
Rochester, Minnesota	$490,000–$500,000 (₹4.66Cr–₹4.75Cr)
St. Louis, Missouri	$480,000–$490,000 (₹4.56Cr–₹4.66Cr)
Los Angeles, California	$465,000–$475,000 (₹4.42Cr–₹4.51Cr)
San Jose, California	$465,000–$475,000 (₹4.42Cr–₹4.51Cr)
Sacramento, California	$455,000–$465,000 (₹4.32Cr–₹4.42Cr)
Phoenix, Arizona	$455,000–$465,000 (₹4.32Cr–₹4.42Cr)
Minneapolis, Minnesota	$450,000–$455,000 (₹4.28Cr–₹4.32Cr)
San Francisco, California	$445,000–$455,000 (₹4.23Cr–₹4.32Cr)
Charlotte, North Carolina	$445,000–$450,000 (₹4.23Cr–₹4.28Cr)

Note: These are average physician compensation figures across specialties, not neurosurgeon salaries. Actual neurosurgeon compensation can be higher or lower depending on specialty, employer, seniority, and practice model. 

Taxes and Take-Home Salary for Neurosurgeons in USA 

Neurosurgeons in USA generally receive compensation as gross income, from which federal income tax, payroll taxes, state taxes where applicable, insurance premiums, retirement contributions, and other deductions may be taken. 

For 2026, the federal standard deduction is $16,100 (₹15.30 lakh) for single filers, while the highest federal marginal income-tax rate is 37% for taxable income above $640,600 (₹6.09 crore) for single taxpayers. 

Main deductions from a neurosurgeon's salary 

A neurosurgeon may have the following deductions: 

• Federal income tax: Calculated using progressive federal tax brackets. 
• State income tax: Depends on the state; some states do not levy an individual income tax. 
• Social Security tax: The employee rate is 6.2% on covered earnings up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500. 
• Medicare tax: The employee rate is 1.45% on covered wages, with no wage ceiling. 
• Additional Medicare tax: An additional 0.9% can apply to wages above $200,000 for employees. 
• Health insurance: Employee contributions depend on the employer's benefits package and selected coverage. 
• Retirement contributions: Doctors may contribute to employer-sponsored retirement plans or other investment accounts. 
• Professional expenses: Depending on employment arrangements, malpractice coverage, licensing, professional memberships, or continuing education costs may affect disposable income. 

Example of gross vs. take-home salary 

Consider a neurosurgeon earning the Doximity-reported average of $749,140 per year (₹7.12 crore). A simple 2026 illustration for a single taxpayer using the standard deduction and federal payroll taxes gives a much lower amount after federal deductions. 

For example, a single neurosurgeon with no state income tax and limited additional deductions could retain roughly $494,700 per year (₹4.70 crore), or about $41,200 per month (₹39.2L) after an illustrative federal income-tax and employee FICA calculation. This is only an example and not a guaranteed take-home salary. The final neurosurgeon salary in USA per month should therefore be evaluated using the individual's complete tax and benefits profile. 

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What Determines a Neurosurgeon's Salary in USA? 

Several factors can influence the compensation offered to a neurosurgeon: 

• Experience: Earnings generally increase after completion of residency as physicians develop greater clinical expertise. 
• Subspecialty: Areas involving complex procedures, trauma, vascular conditions, spine care, or other technically demanding work may have different compensation structures. 
• Practice setting: Compensation can differ between hospitals, health systems, academic institutions, physician groups, and private practices. 
• Location: Local physician demand, competition, cost of living, and healthcare-market conditions can affect compensation. 
• Productivity: Some contracts include productivity incentives or bonuses in addition to base compensation. 
• Call responsibilities: Emergency coverage, overnight call, weekends, and holiday duties may influence total earnings. 
• Leadership roles: Medical-director, department leadership, and administrative responsibilities can add to overall compensation. 
• Academic work: University-based neurosurgeons may have compensation structures that include clinical work, teaching, research, and institutional responsibilities. 
• Practice ownership: Physicians who become partners or owners may have income structures that differ from employed neurosurgeons. 

For international medical graduates, eligibility to practice is another major consideration. Completing a U.S. residency and obtaining the required medical license are essential before independently practicing neurosurgery. 

Conclusion 

The neurosurgeon salary in USA is among the highest compensation levels reported for medical specialties. Doximity's latest Physician Compensation Report puts average neurosurgery compensation at approximately $749,140 per year (₹7.12 crore), although individual earnings can vary considerably by experience, practice setting, location, subspecialty, and contract structure. 

The pathway is also lengthy. ACGME-accredited neurological surgery residency is seven years, and residents earn stipends that rise progressively through their training years. For international doctors, salary should be considered alongside the requirements for U.S. medical training, licensing, immigration, taxes, malpractice coverage, and the cost of establishing a medical career in the country. 

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