# Neurologists

> Diagnose, manage, and treat disorders and diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, with a primarily nonsurgical focus.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/neurologists
- SOC code: 29-1217.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $248,560 (10th percentile $83,370, 90th percentile $450,780)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.4%
- Openings a year: 300
- Typical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ISR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 52 |
| Investigative (I) | 100 |
| Artistic (A) | 18 |
| Social (S) | 67 |
| Enterprising (E) | 23 |
| Conventional (C) | 45 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 98/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 98/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 95/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 93/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 91/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 90/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 90/100)
- Processing Information (importance 89/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 89/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 88/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Writing, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry, English Language, Psychology, Biology, Therapy and Counseling, Education and Training, Computers and Electronics, Chemistry, Customer and Personal Service, Mathematics

## Also called

Adult and Pediatric Neurologist, Adult Neurologist, Child Neurologist, Chiropractic Neurologist, DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician), Epileptologist, General Neurologist, Headache Specialist, MD (Medical Doctor), Neurohospitalist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Medicine](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5112) (CIP 5112, 133 colleges)

## Related careers

- [Pediatric Surgeons](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pediatric-surgeons): $559,030 median pay
- [Cardiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cardiologists): $496,010 median pay
- [Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/orthopedic-surgeons-except-pediatric): $358,550 median pay
- [General Internal Medicine Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/general-internal-medicine-physicians): $256,560 median pay
- [Pediatricians, General](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pediatricians-general): $210,040 median pay
- [Psychiatrists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/psychiatrists): $281,870 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.