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Neuropsychologists

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Apply theories and principles of neuropsychology to evaluate and diagnose disorders of higher cerebral functioning, often in research and medical settings. Study the human brain and the effect of physiological states on human cognition and behavior. May formulate and administer programs of treatment.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $110,840 Median per year · $53.29/hr Most earn $54,990–$168,520

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in neuropsychology.
  • Interview patients to obtain comprehensive medical histories.
  • Design or implement rehabilitation plans for patients with cognitive dysfunction.
  • Diagnose and treat conditions involving injury to the central nervous system, such as cerebrovascular accidents, neoplasms, infectious or inflammatory diseases, degenerative diseases, head traumas, demyelinating diseases, and various forms of dementing illnesses.
  • Establish neurobehavioral baseline measures for monitoring progressive cerebral disease or recovery.
  • Diagnose and treat pediatric populations for conditions such as learning disabilities with developmental or organic bases.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 3,500 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Self-employed (their own business)67.2%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service15.1%
  • Offices of mental health practitioners (except physicians)5.5%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals4.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Neuropsychologist is not an entry-level job. It usually requires a doctoral degree plus several years of experience, so most people spend roughly 10 or more years in school and training after high school before they work in this role.

  1. Bachelor's degree in psychology, neuroscience, or cognitive science

    4 years

    You learn how the brain and behavior connect and build the research and statistics skills that graduate programs look for.

  2. Research Assistant or Psychology Technician

    2-4 years

    You help run studies or test patients in a lab or clinic, which builds the hands-on experience that doctoral programs and employers want.

  3. Doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in neuropsychology or clinical psychology

    5-7 years

    You study brain-behavior theory, learn to assess and diagnose cognitive problems, and complete supervised clinical training and an internship.

  4. Neuropsychologist

    Varies by employer

    You apply your training to evaluate and diagnose higher brain functions in research or medical settings and help plan treatment programs.

Where it can lead

  1. Clinical Neuropsychologist

    2-4 years of experience first

    You focus more on patient evaluation and diagnosis in clinical settings, which usually means completing licensing requirements and supervised clinical practice.

  2. Director of Neuropsychology Services

    5+ years of experience first

    You lead a clinic or department, supervise other psychologists and staff, and manage budgets and program design, which builds on years of clinical and leadership experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, psychology, and statistics if your school offers themThese classes build the science background and research thinking that a neuropsychology path depends on.
  • Join a science or psychology clubClubs give you a place to explore brain science, present ideas, and meet teachers who can write recommendations later.
  • Enter a science fair or research competitionA project on memory, attention, or learning teaches you to design a study, collect data, and explain results.
  • Volunteer at a hospital, nursing home, or community health centerWorking with patients, especially older adults or people with brain injuries, shows you whether clinical work fits you.
  • Get a starter job or volunteer role with children or older adultsTutoring, camp counseling, or aide work builds communication skills and patience that matter in assessment work.

In college

  • Major in psychology, neuroscience, or cognitive scienceThese majors cover brain-behavior links and give you the foundation needed for graduate study in neuropsychology.
  • Take research methods and statistics coursesData analysis and study design are core skills for both doctoral programs and research jobs.
  • Work as a research assistant in a psychology or neuroscience labLab experience is one of the most common ways students build the background that graduate programs look for.
  • Present at a campus research symposium or undergraduate conferencePresenting your work shows you can communicate findings, a skill you will use all through a career in this field.
  • Volunteer or work in a clinical setting, such as a hospital or rehabilitation centerDirect contact with patients helps you see how neuropsychological assessment is used and strengthens your graduate applications.

Tips for getting started

  • Get real lab or clinic experience early. Research assistant and technician roles are common paths, and they show doctoral programs that you can do the work.
  • Take statistics and research methods seriously. Strong data skills matter a lot in neuropsychology graduate training.
  • Talk to people who already work in the field, such as professors or clinicians, to learn what their path looked like and whether the long training fits your goals.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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