Neurologists Salary
In San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, neurologists earn $104,320 at the median, or about $50.16 an hour. The range runs from $104K at the entry level to $346K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $159K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Prices run high here (RPP 115.61), so that salary is closer to $90,234 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,604/month, about 56.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $104K get you in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont’s Regional Price Parity (115.61). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About neurologists
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What this looks like in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
Pay for neurologists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont runs about 58% below the U.S. median of $249K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $3,604/month, which is 57% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 16% above the national average (BEA RPP 115.61), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for neurologistss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for neurologists in metros near San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $79K | $75K |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $410K | $396K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $338K | $320K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Entry-level neurologists (10th percentile) start around $104K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $346K or more, a $241K spread from bottom to top.
Neurologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Neurologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $435K | +75% | 40 |
| Arizona | $410K | +65% | 80 |
| Minnesota | $382K | +54% | 310 |
| Texas | $361K | +45% | 660 |
| California | $357K | +44% | 1,090 |
| Colorado | $356K | +43% | 120 |
| Alaska | $355K | +43% | 100 |
| South Carolina | $353K | +42% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $343K | +38% | 130 |
| Kentucky | $339K | +36% | 230 |
| District of Columbia | $332K | +34% | 50 |
| Washington | $327K | +32% | 180 |
| North Carolina | $326K | +31% | 180 |
| Florida | $323K | +30% | 520 |
| Connecticut | $321K | +29% | 120 |
| Arkansas | $318K | +28% | 70 |
| Maryland | $303K | +22% | N/A |
| Nebraska | $269K | +8% | 80 |
| Illinois | $237K | -5% | 240 |
| Tennessee | $230K | -8% | 220 |
| New Jersey | $222K | -11% | 140 |
| Indiana | $220K | -11% | 360 |
| New York | $156K | -37% | 2,810 |
| West Virginia | $64K | -74% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 24 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track neurologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a neurologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 57% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,604/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for neurologists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new neurologists typically earn — is $104K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,259/month. At HUD’s $3,604/month FMR, rent would take 58% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is neurologist a high-paying job in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Local pay runs 58% below the national median — $104K here vs. $249K nationally.
How does San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont compare to the national average for neurologists?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $249K — that’s -58%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 115.61), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do neurologists make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median is $104,320 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $104,320, and experienced neurologists can clear $345,550. The mean (average) is $158,930, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,328/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,604/month, which eats 57% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a neurologists salary go in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a Regional Price Parity of 115.61 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median neurologists salary is worth about $90,234 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.