Source: SalaryDr Neurosurgery Residency Salary Data (2026). Median: $80,000/year. Sample: 13 verified submissions. URL: https://www.salarydr.com/residency-salary/neurosurgery

Neurosurgery Residency Salary (2026)

Quick Answer

The median neurosurgery resident salary is $80,000 per year, based on 13 verified submissions on SalaryDr. After training, neurosurgery attendings earn a median of $940,000 — a 11.8x increase.

Source: SalaryDr verified data • Updated Jul 2026

Median Salary
$80,000
Average Salary
$77,354
Salary Range
$60,000$88,000
Submissions
13
Satisfaction
😐 3.4/5
n=12
Would Choose Again
100%
n=11
Avg Hours/Week
79h
n=13
Unionized Programs
46%
n=13

Neurosurgery Resident Salary by PGY Year

How neurosurgery resident compensation changes by postgraduate year level.

PGY LevelMedian SalaryReports
PGY-1$75,0007
PGY-2$80,0002
PGY-3$70,0001
PGY-4$87,0003

What Neurosurgery Residents Say

Real insights from verified neurosurgery residents about their training experience.

Work-Life Balance
“A melhor parte é que estou recebendo um seguro de saúde”
— Verified Neurosurgery Resident

Neurosurgery: Resident vs. Attending Salary

The salary jump from residency to attending is the largest increase in a physician’s career.

Neurosurgery Resident
$80,000
Median (n=13)
Salary Multiplier
11.8x
increase after training
Neurosurgery Attending
$940,000
View attending salary data →

Neurosurgery Resident Salary by State

Top-paying states for neurosurgery residents based on verified submissions.

StateMedian SalaryReports
Alabama$87,0002
California$80,0003

Neurosurgery Residency Training

Training Length

7 years

Salary Progression

Resident salary increases ~$2,000–$3,000 per PGY year. After completing training, attending neurosurgery physicians earn a median of $940,000.

Frequently Asked Questions: Neurosurgery Residency Salary

How much do neurosurgery residents make in 2026?

Neurosurgery residents earn a median salary of $80,000 per year based on 13 verified submissions on SalaryDr. Salaries range from $60,000 to $88,000 depending on PGY level and location.

How long is neurosurgery residency?

Neurosurgery residency training is 7 years. Salary increases with each year of training, typically by $2,000–$3,000 per PGY level.

How much more do neurosurgery attendings make compared to residents?

Neurosurgery attending physicians earn a median of $940,000, which is 11.8x more than the median resident salary of $80,000. This gap represents the largest salary jump in a physician's career.

Are neurosurgery residents satisfied with their specialty choice?

Neurosurgery residents rate their career satisfaction at 3.4/5.0 on average. 100% say they would choose neurosurgery again if given the choice. They work an average of 79 hours per week.

Explore More Neurosurgery Data

Browse Residency Salaries by Specialty

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