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The differences between neurologists and orthopedic surgeons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a neurologist and an orthopedic surgeon. Additionally, a neurologist has an average salary of $255,616, which is higher than the $137,571 average annual salary of an orthopedic surgeon.
The top three skills for a neurologist include neurology, patients and EEG. The most important skills for an orthopedic surgeon are patients, spine, and EMR.
| Neurologist | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Yearly salary | $255,616 | $137,571 |
| Hourly rate | $122.89 | $66.14 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 23,991 | 5,046 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 27% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 48 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A neurologist is responsible for treating patients with muscles and nerve abnormalities. Neurologists conduct a series of examinations to determine the patients' condition, administer treatment plans, and refer immediate medical procedures as needed. They also document the patients' progress on every treatment and adjust medications according to the results. A neurologist must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills to identify the effective specialized treatments through results interpretation and coordinating with other medical professionals for advice and other necessary care services.
An orthopedic surgeon specializes in performing surgeries to treat different issues concerning a patient's musculoskeletal system. Their responsibilities primarily revolve around conducting extensive examinations on a patient to determine their condition, analyzing their medical records, coordinating with nurses and other specialists to ensure the accuracy of treatments, and maintaining a thorough record of information. Records include appointments, comments, and results. There are also instances when a surgeon must refer patients to therapists and provide advice for post-surgery care. Furthermore, it is essential to monitor a patient's condition before and after surgery.
Neurologists and orthopedic surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Neurologist | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Average salary | $255,616 | $137,571 |
| Salary range | Between $140,000 And $465,000 | Between $73,000 And $257,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fargo, ND | Brockton, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Maine |
| Best paying company | Billings Clinic | Trinity Health |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a neurologist and an orthopedic surgeon in terms of educational background:
| Neurologist | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 27% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Medicine | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Virginia | New York University |
Here are the differences between neurologists' and orthopedic surgeons' demographics:
| Neurologist | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Average age | 48 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.3% Female, 64.7% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 18.5% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 1.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 12% |