Neurologists vs Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric: $249K vs $300K Median Pay

Neurologists vs Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric: what changes?

Consider Neurologists if you want to diagnose, manage, and treat disorders and diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, with a primarily nonsurgical focus. Consider Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric if you would rather diagnose and perform surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye. Both list doctoral or professional degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Neurologists and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Neurologists

National median pay (2025): $248,560
Route into the job: Doctoral or professional degree; Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Interview patients to obtain information, such as complaints, symptoms, medical histories, and family histories.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 300

Know before you choose

Training continues through internship/residency after the degree path.

See the full Neurologists brief

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric

National median pay (2025): $300,080
Route into the job: Doctoral or professional degree; Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 200

Know before you choose

Training continues through internship/residency after the degree path.

See the full Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric brief

How the national numbers differ

Neurologists has the edge on projected growth

Neurologists is at 6.4% projected growth, compared with 4.5% projected growth for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric.

Neurologists has the edge on annual openings

Neurologists is at 300 annual openings, compared with 200 annual openings for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric.

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric has the edge on median pay

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric is at $300,080, compared with $248,560 for Neurologists.

52.5/ 100

Neurologists

48.4/ 100

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence