The multi-disciplinary breadth of the neuroscience degree prepares students for a wide variety of STEM-related careers as technicians, researchers, educators, or health and human-centered professionals. While understanding human brain function in health and disease has long been of central importance to physicians, psychologists, researchers and educators, the knowledge accruing from this effort is beginning to impact bioethics, computer science and biomedical engineering. Importantly, brain science is also playing a new and emerging role in traditionally non-STEM professions such as law, business or economics. Thus, depending on their chosen path after graduation, students who earn a degree in neuroscience have the following career options:
Bachelor’s Level Careers ($30-50K annual salary, USBLS entry level)
Eligible for entry-level positions such as laboratory technician, lab animal care technician, medical technician*, pharmaceutical salesperson, psychometrist*, clinical research associate, EEG technologist*, forensic science technician, science writer, regulatory affairs specialist, quality control manager, health educator, substance abuse counselor*, psychiatric technician, sales engineer, training specialist*, natural sciences manager, or careers in public relations, advertising, and marketing.
*Careers that may require additional training or certification
Master’s Level Careers ($50-80K annual salary, USBLS entry level)
Eligible to apply for specialized training and positions such as nurse practitioner, neuroimaging technician, physician’s assistant, applied behavior analyst, anesthesiologist assistant, genetic counselor, epidemiologist, occupational therapist, community college professor, biostatistician, orthotist/prosthetist, speech-language pathologist, or careers in public health.
Careers Requiring an Advanced Degree ($80-180K+ annual salary, USBLS entry level).
Eligible to apply for specialized training and positions such as research scientist, university professor, college professor, medical doctor, including psychiatrist, neurologist, and anesthesiologist, bioethicist, biomedical engineer, computational scientist, pharmacist, dentist, veterinarian, physical therapist, food scientist, audiologist, optometrist, lawyer, economist, clinical psychologist, and neuropsychologist.