Medscape Neurologist Wealth & Debt Report 2026

1_Neuro_WealthDebt26.pngDespite having potentially substantial paychecks, many neurologists would tell you that building wealth and a secure retirement is not easy. Early in their practicing careers, investing for the future can take a back seat to paying down school debt.In a Medscape survey, neurologists reported their net worth, discussed their approaches to retirement savings and investments, revealed how well their family does with money management, and expressed unease about inflation.In this report, gender is based on how physicians self-identified in our survey.Some totals in this presentation do not equal 100% because of rounding.2_Neuro_WealthDebt26.pngAlthough the 3-year comparison of family net worth among all physicians in the 2026 Physician Wealth & Debt Report showed a significant increase in those with a net worth of $5 million or more, the share of neurologists in that tier had only a slight change. This accompanied a dip in the percentage of surveyed neurologists with family net worth of less than $500,000, however, indicating a bit more in these doctors' pockets.In our survey, "net worth" comprised home equity and personal property such as cars and jewelry, in addition to financial investments and savings, on the asset side of the equation.Overall, physicians could be riding a rising tide of household wealth across the country thanks to AI-related gains in the stock market and rising home prices at the time of Medscape's survey, according to Federal Reserve data. According to a report from Visa, a family in the United States now needs a household net worth of $1.8 million to reach the top 10%.Many doctors are uncomfortable with talking about the wealth Americans commonly associate with their profession. "Sure, I'd like more but I find it a happier -- and likely healthier -- perspective to compare myself to the 95-plus-percent who are less wealthy rather than the few who have more," a Massachusetts cardiologist in our survey said.3_Neuro_WealthDebt26.pngMost of the 10 specialties with the most practitioners in our highest net worth grouping also ranked in the top 10 for our last report in 2024.A familiar pattern emerges each time we examine wealth data by medical specialty. Practitioners who perform lots of medical procedures (which means advantageous reimbursements that drive up income, some of which can be channeled into financial investments) often see their specialty high up on the $5 million-plus table.But family physicians and pediatricians, whose practices are characterized by more patients than procedures, are hamstrung in any wealth competition."As a family physician, I really have no idea how the specialists live," one Iowa doctor told us.4_Neuro_WealthDebt26.png5_Neuro_WealthDebt26.pngOn average, US households' net worth primarily comes from their retirement accounts (34%) and real estate holdings (29%), according to the US Census Bureau. Neurologists largely followed suit.But that profile was not universal among doctors. "About half of my net worth is tied up in the value of my home," a New Jersey ophthalmologist said to Medscape.6_Neuro_WealthDebt26.pngAt the time they took our survey in late 2025, neurologists were more concerned with inflation (4 or 5 on our 5-point scale) than with the overall direction of the US financial markets or with interest rates rising. During Medscape's survey period, the consumer price index was up between 2.7% and 3.0% over the same month in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.Based on comments in our survey, inflation was top of mind with doctors. "Inflation is significant, and the costs of healthcare and education are obscene," a Georgia dermatologist said to Medscape."I'm not being greedy," a Maryland anesthesiologist said, "but as I am still working, reimbursements need to keep pace with inflation."7_Neuro_WealthDebt26.pngResponses to this survey question reflected optimism among neurologists about a positive direction in the stock market (and, seemingly, that a market correction is not imminent). In our 2024 Neurologist Wealth & Debt Report, 28% of neurologists anticipated growth in their portfolio in the next year."My family has benefited from a good stock market," an Arizona anesthesiologist said to Medscape.Doctors' sentiments mirrored general confidence in the American public at the time. According to Gallup poll results released in February 2026, 50% of Americans said they expected stock market gains in the subsequent 6 months.8_Neuro_WealthDebt26.pngStrong majorities of physicians said they held steady with savings activity in all three of the investment categories above in 2025. Neurologists were likelier to scale back their investments for education in 2025 than they were to increase those investments. But on average, they were more inclined to ramp up 401(k)s and 403(b)s than to curtail those contributions."I started 529 plans for my children years ago, but one can never save enough for college. The costs are ridiculous, and as soon as a school sees 'MD' after a parent's name, financial aid is never an option," a New York anesthesiologist said to Medscape.9_Neuro_WealthDebt26.pngAbout 6 in 10 neurologists in our survey credited their family with managing their overall finances "very well" or "well." This also aligned with the average sentiment of all physicians in our survey.According to a pulmonologist from Texas: "My family believes in the importance of financial literacy, so we've taken the time to educate ourselves about personal finance, investing, and debt management."10_Neuro_WealthDebt26.pngMore than three quarters of neurologists told us their families "had not done anything to reduce major expenses" last year. But 8% changed homes in order to bring down spending.11_Neuro_WealthDebt26.pngOver time, doctors have gradually improved their personal balance sheets. For example, in our 2019 report, 65% of all physicians surveyed were paying down a primary mortgage. Thirty-eight percent of them had car loans, and 26% were paying down their own undergraduate or medical school loans.Upward movement in consumer interest rates may encourage neurologists to address interest-based debts aggressively.12_Neuro_WealthDebt26.pngCompared with our 2024 report, neurologists about as likely to report losses in stocks or other investments (17% did at that time) and a to say they suffered no significant financial losses in the past year (72%). The picture of where doctors lost money closely resembled the 2024 report overall.13_Neuro_WealthDebt26.pngJust about half of neurologists reported having a home-loan balance of less than $100,000, a fully paid off mortgage, or no mortgage at all, about the same as neurologists in our 2024 report.Bankrate recently reported the average mortgage balance was just over $258,000, which was up from about $242,000 as of the second quarter of 2023."Our main splurge was our house, although we have taught our kids the importance of saving and living below your means," an ob/gyn from Kansas said to Medscape.14_Neuro_WealthDebt26.png15_Neuro_WealthDebt26.pngRelated Content on MedscapeThe State of Patient Care: Medscape Patient Relationships Index Report 2026How Are You Doing: Physician Mental Health & Well-Being Report 2026Medscape Physician Wealth & Debt Report 2026: Is the Rising Net Worth Tide Carrying Your Boat?