Student Loan Repayment for Neurologists
Neurology is a 4-year residency followed by a median attending salary of $359K. Neurologists occupy a middle ground in the PSLF calculus — many work at academic medical centers or VA hospitals that qualify, but the higher salary relative to primary care limits the forgiveness benefit. The optimal strategy depends heavily on employment setting.
$359K salary · 4-yr residency + 1-yr fellowship · pre-loaded
Key numbers
Avg med school debt
$230K
AAMC GQ 2025
Resident salary (PGY-1)
$66K
ACGME median
Residency length
4 yrs
+ fellowship common
Debt-to-income ratio
0.64x
Debt ÷ attending salary
Attending Salary Distribution
Source: Marit Health, Jun 2026 · Median used in calculator
Residency Salary Progression
| Year | Salary | Monthly IDR est.* |
|---|---|---|
| PGY-1 | $68K | ~$285/mo |
| PGY-2 | $70K | ~$304/mo |
| PGY-3 | $73K | ~$328/mo |
| PGY-4 | $78K | ~$363/mo |
| Fellow 1 | $82K | ~$399/mo |
* Salaries: AAMC 2025 national averages. IDR estimate assumes SAVE plan, single filer, no dependents.
PSLF Timeline
residencyFinish
fellowshipLoans
forgiven 🎉
With PSLF, loans forgiven after 10 years of qualifying payments. Fellowship years also count toward PSLF if at a qualifying employer.
Salary & IDR Estimate
$360K
Monthly
~$2,717/mo
Annual
~$32,604/yr
Estimate assumes SAVE plan, single filer, no dependents.
Run full calculationPSLF fit
Mixed — depends on employer
Neurology's PSLF fit is mixed. Academic neurologists and those at nonprofit health systems qualify, and with a 4-year residency and a salary below the $400K threshold, meaningful forgiveness is possible. Neurologists in private practice or neurology groups don't qualify. The decision requires modeling both paths with your specific salary and employer type.
Check if your employer qualifiesRefinancing
When it makes sense
For neurologists in private practice at or above the median $359K, refinancing and aggressive payoff over 7–9 years is a competitive strategy. At $359K, directing $3–5K/month to loans eliminates $230K in 5–7 years — not as fast as higher-earning specialties, but still substantially ahead of a standard 10-year plan.
Compare refinancing lendersPre-filled with Neurology defaults
See your exact repayment numbers.
Calculator opens with Neurology salary ($359K) and 4-year residency pre-loaded. Adjust any input — results update instantly.
Common questions
Neurology loan repayment, answered.
Should neurologists pursue PSLF?
It depends on your employer. Academic neurologists, VA neurologists, and those at large nonprofit health systems often have PSLF-qualifying employment. With a 4-year residency and a salary of $359K, meaningful forgiveness is possible — often $60–120K. If you're heading to private practice, aggressive payoff or refinancing is usually the better path.
How much does a neurology resident pay on income-driven repayment?
On SAVE with a $66K PGY-1 stipend, monthly payments are typically $100–300/month during residency. These payments count toward PSLF if your training program is at a qualifying employer — most academic neurology programs are.
How long does it take a neurologist to pay off student loans?
On PSLF: 10 years of qualifying payments, with 4 already earned during residency — leaving 6 attending years to forgiveness. On aggressive payoff: 7–10 years on a $359K salary. On standard repayment: 10 years at a higher monthly payment. PSLF and aggressive payoff often produce comparable outcomes for neurologists in the middle salary range.
Do neurology subspecialty fellowships affect the PSLF calculation?
Yes. A 1-2 year fellowship in epilepsy, neuromuscular, stroke, or neuro-oncology adds qualifying PSLF payments at a fellowship stipend (typically $70–80K). This reduces the attending payment count needed — a 1-year fellowship means only 5 attending years to forgiveness instead of 6.
Free — no account required
Run your Neurology numbers.
PSLF vs aggressive payoff vs refinancing — modeled with your salary, debt, and training timeline. Adjust any input and results update in real time.