Overview
Neurology trains 4 years and lands near $300K. The specialty is dominated by academic and hospital-employed practice patterns, both of which tend to qualify for PSLF.
Physician salary & compensation
Median salary
$300K
Range
$260K – $370K
Source
MGMA 2025 / Doximity 2025
Residency training timeline
Training years
4y
PGY-1 salary
$65K
Annual growth
2.0%
Fellowship
Optional
Not baked into training
Most neurology trainees follow a 4-year track. PGY-1 pay starts around $65K with roughly 2.0% annual raises.
PSLF & forgiveness strategy
Most neurologists practice at academic centers or large nonprofit hospital systems; PSLF eligibility is high.
Our pick · PSLF if academic/hospital, aggressive payoff if private
Repayment recommendation
Academic neurology PSLF math is solid (~$100K forgiven). Private neurology is rarer but when it exists, aggressive payoff at $300K income finishes in 5–7 years.
Run your numbers for NeurologyKey takeaways
- Subspecialty fellowships (stroke, epilepsy, neuroimmun) add 1–2 years
- Interventional / vascular neurology pushes salary past $400K — aggressive payoff gets attractive
- 4-year residency is long enough that PSLF consolidation rules matter — plan early
Ready to model your debt strategy?
Compare PSLF, refinancing, and aggressive payoff for your Neurology scenario — pre-filled with the salary and training defaults from this page.
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