Variations in Academic Neurosurgery Physician Compensation in the United States

The current trends in academic neurosurgery physician compensation are not well studied. The aim of this study was to investigate recent trends in U.S. academic neurosurgery faculty compensation by gender, race/ethnicity, and geographic region.

We performed a secondary analysis of the Association of American Medical Colleges Faculty Salary Survey, years 2017 to 2023. Financial compensation data for full-time academic faculty were stratified by rank, gender, and race/ethnicity.

The 2023 Association of American Medical Colleges Faculty Salary Survey data included responses for 1383 faculty members in neurosurgery departments in U.S. medical schools. During the study period, median compensation increased for all ranks by 0.6 to 3.9% per year (approximately $20-24K per year for professor ranks, $30K per year for chiefs, and $33K per year for chairs). When comparing median annual compensation, male faculty members were compensated more than their female counterparts by 13 to 23% based on rank, with the difference in compensation for full professors narrowing in the last two years.

From 2017 to 2023, we found significant differences in salary compensation amongst academic neurosurgery faculty throughout the United States. Continued efforts to reduce salary inequities should be addressed as part of a broader effort to increase diversity and retention within the neurosurgical specialty.