Neuropsychologists earn an estimated median of $120,000 to $130,000 per year. Private practice specialists with board certification regularly exceed $160,000. Updated June 2026.
Last verified 28 June 2026 · Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 19-3039 + American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology surveys
Quick answer
A neuropsychologist earns an estimated median of $120,000 to $130,000 a year. Pay splits sharply by setting: hospital and academic medical center roles run $110,000 to $160,000, while established private practice ranges $150,000 to $220,000+ on assessment billing of $400 to $600 per hour. There is no dedicated BLS code for neuropsychology; the closest federal benchmark is “Psychologists, all other” at a $110,840 median (BLS OEWS May 2025). Board certification (ABPP-CN) typically adds 10 to 25 percent.
$120-130K
Estimated Median Annual
$110-145K
Hospital-Based Range
$140-200K
Private Practice Range
ABPP-CN
Board Certification
Neuropsychologist Salary by Setting
Setting
Typical Annual Range
Notes
Private Practice (established)
$150,000 - $220,000+
Full caseload; $400-600/hr assessment rates; high overhead
Private Practice (building)
$100,000 - $150,000
Building referral network; typically 2-4 years to full caseload
Academic Medical Center
$120,000 - $160,000
Research component; teaching; strong prestige
Large Hospital System
$110,000 - $145,000
Inpatient and outpatient assessments; neurology team
Private practice is where neuropsychology income varies most. A practitioner's take-home pay is set less by a fixed salary than by three levers: assessment volume, the insurance-versus-private-pay mix, and overhead. Comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations bill at roughly $400 to $600 per hour of professional time, but a full battery (records review, testing, scoring, interpretation, report writing, feedback) spans many hours across several days, so a single completed evaluation often represents $2,000 to $4,000 of billing.
Stage of practice
Estimated annual income
What drives it
Building (years 1-4)
$100,000 - $150,000
Partial caseload; building referral relationships with neurologists, attorneys, schools
Established (full caseload)
$150,000 - $220,000+
Steady referral pipeline; mix of clinical and (often) some forensic work
Practice owner with psychometrists
$200,000 - $300,000+
Leverages testing technicians to raise throughput; higher revenue, higher overhead and management load
Overhead in a testing-heavy practice (office, psychometrist support, test materials and scoring, malpractice, billing) commonly runs 35 to 45 percent of collections, so headline billing rates overstate take-home pay. Ranges are aggregated estimates, not a federal median: the BLS does not publish a separate code for neuropsychology, and the nearest benchmark is “Psychologists, all other” at a $110,840 median (OEWS May 2025).
Two structural choices move private practice income the most. Going partly or fully private-pay (cash-pay) removes insurance write-downs and slow reimbursement, lifting effective per-hour collections, but narrows the referral pool. Adding forensic and independent-medical-examination (IME) work raises blended rates sharply, the path the forensic neuropsychologist page covers in detail.
The Neuropsychology Training Path (Houston Conference Standards)
1
Doctoral Degree (5-7 years)
PhD in clinical or counseling psychology with neuropsychology coursework and practica. Doctoral internship with neuropsychology rotation.
2
2-Year Postdoctoral Fellowship
Neuropsychology-specific fellowship at a hospital, rehabilitation center or university. This is mandatory per Houston Conference guidelines.
3
Licensure
State psychology licensure after accumulating required supervised hours and passing EPPP.
4
Board Certification (ABPP-CN)
Optional but increasingly expected. Written exam + oral examination by the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology. Requires 1,000 hours of neuropsychology-specific practice post-fellowship.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do neuropsychologists make?
Neuropsychologists earn an estimated median of $120,000 to $130,000 per year. The BLS does not report a separate code for neuropsychology, but the broader 'All Other Psychologists' category (which includes many neuropsychologists) has a BLS median of $110,840 (OEWS May 2025). Private practice neuropsychologists with established referral networks can earn $150,000 to $200,000. Hospital-based and academic positions typically range from $110,000 to $145,000.
Does board certification increase a neuropsychologist's salary?
Yes, meaningfully. Board certification in Clinical Neuropsychology (ABPP-CN) is increasingly required for hospital positions and insurance panel credentialing. Certified neuropsychologists typically earn 10 to 25 percent more than non-certified peers with similar experience. The board certification process requires a doctoral degree, licensure, a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship and passing written and oral examinations from the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology.
What is the difference between a neuropsychologist and a neurologist?
A neurologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats neurological diseases using medical interventions, medications and procedures. A neuropsychologist is a doctoral-level psychologist who assesses cognitive, emotional and behavioral functioning using psychological tests to understand how brain injuries or conditions affect daily functioning. Neuropsychologists do not prescribe medication. The two professions frequently collaborate in hospital settings.
How much do private practice neuropsychologists make?
Private practice neuropsychologists earn an estimated $100,000 to $150,000 while building a referral network (typically the first 2 to 4 years) and $150,000 to $220,000 or more once established with a full caseload. Income is driven by assessment billing at roughly $400 to $600 per hour, so effective pay depends heavily on overhead (office, psychometrist support, testing materials, malpractice), which commonly runs 35 to 45 percent of collections in a testing-heavy practice, and on the insurance versus private-pay mix. There is no dedicated BLS code for neuropsychology; the closest federal benchmark is 'Psychologists, all other' with a median of $110,840 (BLS OEWS May 2025), and private practice figures are aggregated estimates rather than a federal median.
How long does it take to become a neuropsychologist?
The Houston Conference guidelines (the professional standard) require: a doctoral degree in psychology (5-7 years post-bachelor's), a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship specifically in neuropsychology, and then licensure. Board certification (ABPP-CN) typically comes 2 to 5 years after fellowship completion. Total training time from bachelor's to board certification is typically 11 to 14 years, making neuropsychology one of the longest training paths in professional psychology.
Editorial independence: PsychologistSalary.com is reader-supported. Outbound links to online psychology programs and career-services partners may earn us a referral fee at no cost to you. Salary data is independent and based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. We never recommend a program solely because they pay us. This site does not provide financial, legal, or career advice; for individual guidance please consult a licensed professional.