Best cities for a neurosurgeon
The best cities for neurosurgeons are Anchorage, AK, Saint Paul, MN, and Minneapolis, MN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for neurosurgeons vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for neurosurgeons in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a neurosurgeon or considering a move, this list of the best cities for neurosurgeons to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for neurosurgeons. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a neurosurgeon. While the absolute best city for neurosurgeons is Anchorage, AK, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for neurosurgeons in 2024.
If you're looking for a neurosurgeon job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for neurosurgeons in 2026
1. Anchorage, AK
Total neurosurgeon jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $581,950 Lowest 10 percent warn: $255,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $1,324,000 Location quotient: 51.23 2. Saint Paul, MN
Total neurosurgeon jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $403,144 Lowest 10 percent warn: $207,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $782,000 Location quotient: 6.76 3. Minneapolis, MN
Total neurosurgeon jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $403,760 Lowest 10 percent warn: $207,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $783,000 Location quotient: 4.82 4. Cleveland, OH
Total neurosurgeon jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $331,926 Lowest 10 percent warn: $177,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $619,000 Location quotient: 13.07 5. Omaha, NE
Total neurosurgeon jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $353,790 Lowest 10 percent warn: $182,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $686,000 Location quotient: 6.10 6. Milwaukee, WI
Total neurosurgeon jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $361,303 Lowest 10 percent warn: $188,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $690,000 Location quotient: 5.26 7. Detroit, MI
Total neurosurgeon jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $365,578 Lowest 10 percent warn: $194,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $686,000 Location quotient: 3.68 8. Louisville, KY
Total neurosurgeon jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $317,809 Lowest 10 percent warn: $170,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $592,000 Location quotient: 5.90 9. Columbus, OH
Total neurosurgeon jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $324,743 Lowest 10 percent warn: $173,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $607,000 Location quotient: 2.33 10. Lubbock, TX
Total neurosurgeon jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $255,551 Lowest 10 percent warn: $140,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $464,000 Location quotient: 17.37
Best cities for neurosurgeons
- Anchorage, AK
- Saint Paul, MN
- Minneapolis, MN
- Cleveland, OH
- Omaha, NE
- Milwaukee, WI
- Detroit, MI
- Louisville, KY
- Columbus, OH
- Lubbock, TX
- (10 neurosurgeon jobs)
- (5 neurosurgeon jobs)
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- (8 neurosurgeon jobs)
- (5 neurosurgeon jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a neurosurgeon
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $581,950 | $255,000 | 298,192 | 10 |
| 2 | Saint Paul, MN | $403,144 | $207,000 | 302,398 | 5 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $403,760 | $207,000 | 413,651 | 7 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $331,926 | $177,000 | 385,809 | 8 |
| 5 | Omaha, NE | $353,790 | $182,000 | 446,970 | 5 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $361,303 | $188,000 | 595,047 | 4 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $365,578 | $194,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 8 | Louisville, KY | $317,809 | $170,000 | 597,337 | 4 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $324,743 | $173,000 | 860,090 | 4 |
| 10 | Lubbock, TX | $255,551 | $140,000 | 252,506 | 2 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $399,453 | $195,000 | 704,352 | 4 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $364,571 | $189,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 13 | New Orleans, LA | $277,587 | $155,000 | 391,495 | 2 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $268,143 | $145,000 | 559,277 | 3 |
| 15 | Toledo, OH | $340,555 | $181,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $303,057 | $160,000 | 311,404 | 4 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $310,782 | $162,000 | 481,420 | 2 |
| 18 | Lincoln, NE | $348,585 | $179,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 19 | Cincinnati, OH | $321,351 | $171,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 20 | Wichita, KS | $332,594 | $175,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 21 | Fort Wayne, IN | $318,794 | $168,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 22 | Pittsburgh, PA | $322,913 | $174,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 23 | Lexington, KY | $315,193 | $169,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $339,165 | $177,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 25 | Indianapolis, IN | $309,098 | $163,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 26 | Fort Worth, TX | $253,234 | $139,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 27 | Philadelphia, PA | $301,152 | $165,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 28 | Tulsa, OK | $298,284 | $160,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 29 | Denver, CO | $343,390 | $176,000 | 693,060 | - |
| 30 | El Paso, TX | $241,152 | $133,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 31 | Aurora, CO | $342,638 | $175,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 32 | Portland, OR | $300,670 | $149,000 | 639,863 | 1 |
| 33 | Oklahoma City, OK | $291,214 | $157,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 34 | Colorado Springs, CO | $331,194 | $171,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 35 | Atlanta, GA | $291,291 | $160,000 | 472,522 | - |
| 36 | Greensboro, NC | $254,184 | $139,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 37 | Scottsdale, AZ | $254,175 | $140,000 | 246,645 | 1 |
| 38 | Phoenix, AZ | $253,594 | $139,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 39 | Winston-Salem, NC | $255,315 | $140,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 40 | Durham, NC | $251,682 | $139,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 41 | Charlotte, NC | $250,925 | $138,000 | 842,051 | 3 |
| 42 | Nashville, TN | $246,640 | $133,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 43 | Plano, TX | $255,063 | $140,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 44 | Memphis, TN | $240,455 | $130,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 45 | Garland, TX | $254,428 | $140,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 46 | Jersey City, NJ | $288,533 | $158,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
| 47 | Irving, TX | $253,946 | $140,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 48 | Arlington, TX | $253,087 | $139,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 49 | Tucson, AZ | $245,594 | $135,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 50 | Dallas, TX | $253,565 | $140,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
Highest paying cities for neurosurgeons
| Rank | City | Avg. neurosurgeon salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $581,950 |
| 2 | Bismarck, ND | $458,344 |
| 3 | Duluth, MN | $424,987 |
| 4 | Billings, MT | $416,947 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $399,453 |
| 6 | Mason City, IA | $386,002 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $365,578 |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $364,571 |
| 9 | Omaha, NE | $353,790 |
| 10 | Bangor, ME | $353,233 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $331,926 |
| 12 | Williamsport, PA | $318,159 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $310,782 |
| 14 | Huntington, WV | $300,492 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $291,291 |
| 16 | Springfield, OR | $282,951 |
| 17 | Montgomery, AL | $273,339 |
| 18 | Lawrence, MA | $264,708 |
| 19 | Syracuse, NY | $263,880 |
| 20 | Jackson, MS | $258,082 |
Neurosurgeon best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025