Neuroscience is one of the fastest emerging disciplines of science and field of study. Many aspiring doctors and scientists also pursue it as their undergraduate study because it proves to be a strong foundation to further their path. But even if you are a new graduate neuroscience major, there are still a lot of open doors for your career in neuroscience. If you want to find out what are entry-level jobs for neuroscience majors, continue reading this article.
What are the entry-level jobs for neuroscience majors?
Here is the list of entry-level jobs for neuroscience majors
- Advertising or Marketing Representative
- Clinical Research Coordinator
- EEG Technologist
- Laboratory Technician
- Laboratory Assistant
- Health Educator
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Technologist
- Medical and Health Care Manager
- Natural Sciences Manager
- Neuroimaging Data Analyst
- Patient Care Assistant
- Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
- Pharmacy Technician
- Psychometrist
- Regulatory Affairs Specialist
- Research Associate
- Research Assistant
- Research Study Coordinator
- Science Writer or Editor
What is a Neuroscience major?
A Neuroscience major is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the scientific study of the brain and nervous system. It investigates the system’s molecular, structural, physiologic, cognitive, and behavioral aspects.
This program incorporates courses in behavioral neuroscience, the biology of neuropsychiatric disorders, biochemical and molecular bases of information processing, cellular and molecular neuroscience, anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system, and brain science.
This program also applies biomedical engineering and clinical sciences to understand the role of the nervous system in the biology of thoughts, emotions, motivations, decisions, perceptions, and actions.
Taking up a major in Neuroscience means you’ll be investigating the mysteries of the brain and the nervous system which affects if not all biological processes not only in humans but animals as well.
If you wish to gain entry into graduate programs in dentistry, medicine, and other professional programs related to biotechnology and medical sciences as well as a professional career in education, law, social service, and pharmaceutical field, a neuroscience major can provide you with an excellent foundation towards your goal.
This program is a multidisciplinary field of study where you have the opportunity to take classes in both humanities and sciences like biology and chemistry as well as liberal arts and philosophy.
What are other jobs for a Neuroscience major?
The following list may require further education whether a master’s or doctoral degree and or relevant work experience.
- Addictions Worker
- Artificial Intelligence/Robotics Technician
- Autism Interventionist
- Behaviour Therapist
- Biochemist
- Biomedical Engineering Technologist
- Biomedical Lab Technician
- Biotechnology Assistant
- Clinical Informatics Specialist
- Clinical Psychologist
- Clinical Research Associate/Scientist
- Cognitive/Behavioural Therapist
- Consulting Neurologist
- Correctional Service Officer
- Developmental Psychologist
- Educator
- Genetic Counsellor
- Geneticist
- Government Technology Consultant
- Health Care Planner/Consultant
- Hospital Administrator
- Industrial Lab Researcher
- Information Analyst
- Instructor
- Journalist
- Kinesiologist
- Lab Animal Care
- Market Researcher
- Medical Equipment Sales
- Medical Magazine Editor
- Medical Researcher
- Medical Science Liaison
- Mental Health Worker
- Microbiologist
- Neurobiologist
- Neurochemist
- Neurologist
- Neuromuscular Physician
- Neuropathologist
- Neuropsychologist
- Neuroscience Nurse
- Neuroscientist
- Neurosurgeon
- Occupational Therapist
- Pharmacologist
- Physical Therapist
- Physician
- Policy & Procedure Coordinator
- Policy Developer
- Project Officer
- Prospect Researcher
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist
- Public Health Officer
- Rehabilitation Counsellor
- Research Collaboration Coordinator
- Research Lab Technician
- Research Program Specialist (Neuroscience)
- Research Scientist
- Science Advocate
- Science Journalist
- Science Publisher
- Scientific Research Department Manager
- Speech-Language Pathologist
- Technical Writer
- Toxicologist
- University Professor
How much does a Neuroscience major make in an entry-level job?
The average annual pay for an Entry Level Neuroscientist in the United States as of 2022 ranges from $45,082 to $49,524 a year. While the bottom 10 percent make under $25,000 and the top 10 percent make over $94,000 per year.
The best number of employment opportunities comes from the Health Care companies and Retail companies while New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are the top 5 states when it comes to salaries for Neuroscience major graduates.
What are some of the high-paying neuroscience careers?
Here is the list of some of the high-paying careers in neuroscience:
Physician
With an average salary of $240,896 per year, physicians are one of the most high-paying careers in neuroscience. Their primary duty is to provide medical assistance to patients as well as assess their overall health and well-being.
Psychiatrists
A psychiatrist has an average salary of $236,918 per year and their primary role is to diagnose, evaluate, and treat their patients’ mental health conditions and other issues. Psychiatrists are doctors who specialize in caring for the patient’s mental well-being.
Neurologist
A neurologist takes home an average salary of $193,281 per year. They are specialists in the nervous system and brain. They examine, diagnose, and treat patients with issues in the sensory system.
Neurosurgeon
Neurosurgeons are specialists who perform complex surgeries on areas such as the brain, back or neck, nerves, spinal cord, and other medical conditions related to the brain and nervous system.
The difference between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon is that the latter is the only one licensed to perform surgeries while the former help treat patients through therapies, consultation, and or lifestyle changes. With an average salary of $132,736 per year, neurosurgeons are one of the high-paying careers in neuroscience.
Conclusion
Neuroscience careers are in professional scientific fields focusing on the nervous system and brain. Individuals working in neuroscience are specialists whose goal is to comprehend the intricacies of the nervous system especially the mind to be able to understand how it affects the emotions, thoughts, behaviors, medical conditions, and actions of humans and or animals. An individual aiming to have a career in the field of neuroscience has many opportunities in different industries like biotech, linguistics, pharmaceutical, education, technology, and medicine.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What are the entry-level jobs for neuroscience majors?
Is neuroscience a hard major?
Because of courses like biology, chemistry, and mathematics, Neuroscience is considered a hard and challenging major. And that’s just for the bachelor’s degree. If you want to pursue an MD or Ph.D. in neuroscience, you will have to go through a more rigorous study than in your undergraduate.
Do neuroscientists go to medical school?
Most neuroscientists have doctorates in neuroscience but do not necessarily mean they have a degree in medicine although it is also possible.
How popular is a neuroscience major?
Neuroscience is not as popular as other fields of study as it ranked 68th out of a total of 384 with only 8,342 graduations per year. Men make up 33% of the student body while the other 67% is taken by women.
Reference
Goswami, U. (2006). Neuroscience and education: from research to practice?. Nature reviews neuroscience, 7(5), 406-413.
Bartfai, T., Insel, T., Fishell, G. and Rothwell, N., 2008. Choices in neuroscience careers. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9(5), pp.401-405.
Norris, Meghan E. “Neuroscience and Careers.” The Canadian Handbook for Careers in Psychological Science (2019).
Hitt, E., 2007. Careers in Neuroscience: From Protons to Poetry. Science, 318(5850), pp.661-665.
BigFuture, Major: Neuroscience, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers/majors/neuroscience
Consider this before declaring a neuroscience major by Debbie Blaylock on November 2, 2020 https://www.augustana.edu/blog/consider-declaring-neuroscience-major
Careers in Neuroscience https://neurosciencemajor.osu.edu/careers-neuroscience
American Neurological Association
Society for Neuroscience
