Neurosurgeon Salary in California 2026: $870K Median
The median neurosurgeon salary in California is $870,000 per year, based on 21 approved salary reports on SalaryDr through . The middle 50% of reports fall between $870,000 and $890,000; the 10th to 90th percentile range is $850,000 to $985,000.
- Median
- $870,000
- Middle 50% (25th–75th)
- $870K–$890K
- Approved reports
- 21
- As of
Source: SalaryDr salary reports — anonymous, self-reported and approved before publication. Total compensation includes base salary, bonuses and incentives. Outlier reports beyond 1.5×IQR are excluded from the median, average and percentiles. Figures from 24 or fewer reports are rounded to protect privacy. Methodology
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Neurosurgery Bonus & Incentive Pay in California (2026)
Based on 21 approved salary reports in California. 100% of them include bonus or incentive compensation.
Bonus Compensation Overview
- Average Bonus
- $185,000
- Median Bonus
- $140,000
- Bonus Range (IQR)
- $120,000 - $150,000
- Bonus as % of Total Comp
- 17%
- Physicians with Bonus
- 21 of 21 (100%)
New Graduate Offer Package
Not enough early-career reports (0–3 years of experience) yet to show a separate figure.
Neurosurgeon Salary in California: FAQ
Answers are computed from the 21 approved salary reports on this page.
How much does a neurosurgeon make in California?
The median neurosurgeon salary in California is $870,000 per year, based on 21 approved salary reports on SalaryDr through February 17, 2026. The average is $900,000. At the average reported workweek of 63 hours, the median works out to about $266 per hour.
What is the salary range for a neurosurgeon in California?
The middle 50% of reported neurosurgeon salaries in California fall between $870,000 (25th percentile) and $890,000 (75th percentile). The 10th to 90th percentile range is $850,000 to $985,000. Based on 21 reports.
Do private practice neurosurgeons in California earn more than hospital-employed neurosurgeons?
In SalaryDr's reports, yes: private practice neurosurgeons in California ($1,590,000 across 6 reports) report a higher average total compensation than hospital-employed neurosurgeons in California ($885,000 across 13 reports).
How many hours does a neurosurgeon work per week in California?
Neurosurgeons who reported their schedule in California average 63 hours per week (21 reports).
How satisfied are neurosurgeons with their jobs?
Neurosurgeons who rated their job in California gave it an average of 4.3 out of 5 (21 reports). 90% of the 21 reports that answered say they would choose the specialty again.
Where does this neurosurgeon salary data come from?
These figures come from 21 reports that neurosurgeons in California submitted anonymously to SalaryDr and that were approved before publication; the most recent is from February 17, 2026. Reports are self-reported: approval means a report passed SalaryDr's review checks, not that the submitter's pay was independently verified. Outlier reports beyond 1.5×IQR are excluded from the median, average and percentiles.
Reports are anonymous and self-reported. How SalaryDr calculates these figures.