How much does a Brain Surgeon Make in a Year?

This blog focuses on answering the question of how much a brain surgeon makes in a year. It also answers questions regarding the difference between a surgeon and a brain surgeon, and the different salaries drawn by brain surgeons in the USA, UK, Canada, and India. It also addresses some frequently asked questions about brain surgeons. 

How much does a Brain Surgeon Make in a Year in the USA?

Brain surgeons are also referred to as neurosurgeons. In the US, the average brain surgeon makes $259,793. They also make an average bonus of $150,237, which is about 58% of their salary. 100% of neurosurgeons report that they receive bonuses every year. In San Fransisco neurosurgeons make the most money. They make about $339,317 which averages about 31% greater than the US average. 

In total, the salaries of brain surgeons in the US range from $19,964 (entry-level) to $960,211 (expert level). The median salary is $96,77. This indicates that the middle 57% of neurosurgeons make between $96,77 to $377,304. The top 86% make $960,211.

How much does a Brain Surgeon Make in a Year in the UK?

The average brain surgeon’s gross salary in United Kingdon, London is £341,199. The salary of a neurosurgeon is 25% higher (+£68,566) than the average gross salary of neurosurgeons in the United Kingdom. 

Neurosurgeons in London also earn a bonus of £82,058 on average. These figures have been based on the salary survey data collected from the employers and anonymous employees in London, United Kingdom directly. 

At the entry-level neurosurgeon earns on average £204,794. Entry-level neurosurgeons have about 1-3 years of experience. Whereas senior-level neurosurgeons who have about 8+ years of experience earn on average £537,324.

How much does a Brain Surgeon Make in a Year in Canada?

The average brain surgeon earns $525,462 in a year. They also earn an average bonus of $126,374. The figures here are based on survey data collected from employers and anonymous employees directly in Canada. A brain surgeon with 1-3 years of experience (entry-level) earns an average of $315,392. A brain surgeon with 8+ years of experience (senior-level) earns an average of $827,504. The median level salary of a brain surgeon in Canada is $525,462.

How much does a Brain Surgeon Make in a Year in India?

Based on 131 salary estimates received from consultant neurosurgeons in India, the earnings of neurosurgeons in India range between ₹ 2.6 Lakhs to ₹ 94.5 Lakhs. The annual salary is of ₹ 36.0 Lakhs.

Who are neurosurgeons?

Brain surgeons or neurosurgeons are trained medical doctors who diagnose and treat various conditions affecting the nervous system. This includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. They perform surgeries on the nervous system. However, they can also provide non-surgical treatments that include medications, steroids, as well as physical therapies. Usually, these methods are tried and tested before recommending surgery. 

Neurosurgeons also diagnose as well as treat conditions that may affect the supporting structures of the nervous system, such as:

  • The skull
  • Spinal vertebrate
  • Spinal disks
  • Blood vessels
  • Soft tissues
  • Protective membranes

Neurosurgeons are also consulted by other healthcare providers because they have extensive knowledge and training in the nervous system.

Other healthcare providers often consult neurosurgeons due to their extensive training in the nervous system.

Job Description of Brain Surgeons

Neurosurgeons work with patients who have head injuries, brain aneurysms, herniated discs, brain tumours, spine tumours, and any problems with the peripheral nerves. Commonly, neurosurgeons perform more spine operations than brain operations, though, in emergencies, operations for head trauma are common. Neurosurgeons may also be likely to work as a part of a larger team that provides non-surgical treatment and rehabilitation in the cases of neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease.

A neurosurgeon assesses, diagnoses and treats conditions that affect your body’s nervous system, which includes your brain, spinal cord and spinal column, and all of your nerves that extend from your spinal cord.

Neurologists work along with neurosurgeons to help carry out and interpret tests required for brain disorders. Neurologists help family members and provide support. 

According to neurosurgeons, neurosurgery is physical as well as emotional hard work. Everyone aspiring to be a neurosurgeon must have a sense of what they are getting into. The neurosurgical procedures are complex operations that are an hour or two long. Removing invasive brain tumours can take up to 15 hours of hard work.

Education Requirements

Educational requirements for neurosurgeons differ from country to country. However, in general, neurosurgeons must finish four years of medical school along with a general surgery internship. After this, they enter a neurosurgical residency program that is on average seven years long. Here, they are trained in all areas of neurosurgery. This includes trauma, tumour, paediatrics, as well as vascular surgery. When practising, neurosurgeons must be in touch with all the latest surgeries and treatment practices that are emerging at a rapid pace in the medical industry. 

Established neurosurgeons may also take the optional American Board of Neurological Surgery examination once they have gathered several years of practice and experience to receive board certification.

Neurosurgery is considered to be one of the most demanding areas of surgery and thus neurosurgeons earn the highest of all salaries in the medical field.

Industry that Neurosurgeons Work In

Neurosurgeons generally work in the surgical department of hospitals that perform brain and spine operations. Some neurosurgeons specialise in specific areas of spinal cord-related problems. 

These include neck disorders, spinal cord injuries, and paediatric neurosurgery required for infants and children. Because the role is so specialised, neurosurgeons can be called upon for emergency situations like accidents, or head injuries. 

They may also be called on to perform outpatient procedures like pain-management therapies under a physician’s practice.

Conclusion

This article covers the topic of how much a brain surgeon earns in a year. The article provides information on the salaries of brain surgeons in the USA, the UK, Canada, and India. The article also covers information on the job description of brain surgeons, the educational qualifications required to be a brain surgeon, as well as the industry in which brain surgeons work. 

Frequently Asked Questions: How much does a brain surgeon make in a year?

Who is a neurosurgeon? 

Neurosurgeons are doctors that diagnose and treat problems in the brain, spine, and nervous system. These can be treated through non-surgical or surgical methods on the basis of the type and severity of the injury or disease.

How much tax will you have to pay as a neurosurgeon?

In the USA, as an individual filer, the estimated average federal tax in 2018 was 35%. After the federal tax rate of 35% has been taken out, neurosurgeons can expect to take home the payment of $193,176/year, which is around $8,049 on each paycheck.

What are the salary rates in the USA according to years of experience for neurosurgeons? 

Neurosurgeons earn extremely well wages from the start of their careers as they have been trained for 15 years to reach where they are. After qualifying for a neurosurgeon, the salary will keep rising with time and experience. 

At 5 years or less, a neurosurgeon earns $301,000 approximately. With 10 years of experience, their salaries are $397,000 per year. 20+ years of experience leads to drawing a salary of $414,000 per year. The top 10% of neurosurgeons can even make around $873,000 per year and sometimes even more!

What conditions do neurosurgeons treat?

The common neurological conditions that a neurosurgeon treats include: brain tumours, carpal tunnel syndrome, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, chronic pain in the back or neck, essential tremor, herniated disks, and hydrocephalus, Neurosurgeons also treat congenital spinal column conditions like spina-bifida as well as the tethered spinal cord. 

Neurosurgeons also have expertise in treating pinched nerves, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, seizures, epilepsy, osteophytes or spinal bone spurs, spinal fractures, spinal stenosis, spinal tumours, spinal deformities including scoliosis and spondylolisthesis, and traumatic head, brain, neck, or spine injuries or damage.

What testing machines are neurosurgeons skilled at operating?

Neurosurgeons are skilled at operating Computed Tomography (CT) scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, Magnetoencephalography (MEG), and Electroencephalograms (EEG).

References

  1. https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salary/NHS-Brain-Surgeon-Salaries-E12873_D_KO4,17.htm
  2. https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Neurosurgeon/Salary
  3. https://www.salary.com/research/salary/alternate/neurosurgeon-salary
  4. https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary/job/neurosurgeon/canada