Neurologists Salary
In Illinois, neurologists earn $237,080 at the median, or about $113.98 an hour. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $481K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $252,616 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 10% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $237K actually covers in Illinois, month by month
About neurologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Illinois
Neurologists pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $237K locally vs. $249K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 10.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level neurologists (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $237K. Top earners bring in $481K or more, a $396K spread from bottom to top.
Neurologists salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $136K | -43% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track neurologists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a neurologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $237K, rent takes 10.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for neurologists in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new neurologists typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,316/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is neurologist a high-paying job in Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $237K locally vs. $249K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for neurologists?
Illinois pays $237K median vs. the U.S. average of $249K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $253K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do neurologists make in Illinois?
The median is $237,080 a year, that works out to about $114 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,720, and experienced neurologists can clear $481,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $237K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $13,544/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 10.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a neurologists salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median neurologists salary is worth about $252,616 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do neurologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.