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Neuroscientist salary
Average neuroscientist salary
$76,267
Average Neuroscientist Salary
The average salary for a neuroscientist in the United States is $76,267 per year, or approximately $37 per hour. Earnings can vary based on several factors, including geographic location and years of experience. For instance, neuroscientists in states such as California and New York often command higher salaries due to the demand for their specialized skills.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a crucial role in salary determination. Entry-level positions typically start lower, but with experience, professionals can expect substantial increases. Neuroscientists who advance into specialized roles or management positions may also enjoy significantly higher compensation.
Opportunities for Growth
In addition to salary, job opportunities for neuroscientists are expanding, particularly in research and healthcare sectors. Understanding the current salary landscape can help candidates make informed decisions about their career paths and negotiate effectively. By leveraging this information, aspiring neuroscientists can better navigate their professional journeys.
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Where can a Neuroscientist earn more?
Neuroscientist salary estimates from across the web
Average neuroscientist salary by state
The highest-paying states for neuroscientists are California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The lowest average neuroscientist salary states are Kansas, Louisiana, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for neuroscientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $105,037 | $50.50 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $95,242 | $45.79 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $95,565 | $45.94 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $91,127 | $43.81 |
| 5 | Alaska | $88,766 | $42.68 |
| 6 | Maryland | $79,263 | $38.11 |
| 7 | Delaware | $82,603 | $39.71 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $74,596 | $35.86 |
| 9 | Michigan | $74,004 | $35.58 |
| 10 | New York | $76,188 | $36.63 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $76,391 | $36.73 |
| 12 | Nevada | $82,259 | $39.55 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $70,900 | $34.09 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $73,531 | $35.35 |
| 15 | Maine | $76,562 | $36.81 |
| 16 | Illinois | $74,631 | $35.88 |
| 17 | Ohio | $71,898 | $34.57 |
| 18 | Indiana | $74,351 | $35.75 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $68,332 | $32.85 |
| 20 | Oregon | $69,333 | $33.33 |
| 21 | Arizona | $75,200 | $36.15 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $65,626 | $31.55 |
| 23 | Washington | $64,526 | $31.02 |
| 24 | Vermont | $65,472 | $31.48 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $67,439 | $32.42 |
| 26 | Montana | $66,992 | $32.21 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $65,358 | $31.42 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $67,388 | $32.40 |
| 29 | Texas | $62,913 | $30.25 |
| 30 | Virginia | $62,630 | $30.11 |
| 31 | Florida | $64,513 | $31.02 |
| 32 | Utah | $55,779 | $26.82 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $56,964 | $27.39 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $60,736 | $29.20 |
| 35 | Georgia | $57,143 | $27.47 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $60,857 | $29.26 |
| 37 | Colorado | $54,617 | $26.26 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $56,786 | $27.30 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $58,663 | $28.20 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $53,128 | $25.54 |
| 41 | Idaho | $55,810 | $26.83 |
| 42 | Alabama | $56,439 | $27.13 |
| 43 | Kansas | $50,310 | $24.19 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $52,378 | $25.18 |
| 45 | Missouri | $43,840 | $21.08 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $51,532 | $24.77 |
| 47 | Iowa | $50,339 | $24.20 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $49,672 | $23.88 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $49,451 | $23.77 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $47,706 | $22.94 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $48,644 | $23.39 |
Highest paying cities for neuroscientists
The highest-paying cities for neuroscientists are San Francisco, CA, Berkeley, CA, and Stanford, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $112,644 | $54.16 |
| 2 | Berkeley, CA | $112,386 | $54.03 |
| 3 | Stanford, CA | $112,296 | $53.99 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $104,549 | $50.26 |
| 5 | Encinitas, CA | $101,855 | $48.97 |
| 6 | Rancho Santa Fe, CA | $101,764 | $48.92 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $101,415 | $48.76 |
| 8 | El Cajon, CA | $101,251 | $48.68 |
| 9 | National City, CA | $101,214 | $48.66 |
| 10 | Chula Vista, CA | $101,179 | $48.64 |
| 11 | Aberdeen, MD | $79,899 | $38.41 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $79,469 | $38.21 |
| 13 | Bethesda, MD | $78,957 | $37.96 |
| 14 | New York, NY | $76,536 | $36.80 |
| 15 | Boston, MA | $74,293 | $35.72 |
| 16 | Cambridge, MA | $74,195 | $35.67 |
| 17 | Belmont, MA | $74,168 | $35.66 |
| 18 | Tacoma, WA | $65,864 | $31.67 |
| 19 | Morgantown, WV | $58,235 | $28.00 |
Neuroscientist salary details
A neuroscientist's salary ranges from $43,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $133,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a neuroscientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $133,000 | $11,083 | $64 |
| 75th Percentile | $102,000 | $8,500 | $49 |
| Average | $76,267 | $6,356 | $37 |
| 25th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
Highest paying neuroscientist jobs
The highest paying types of neuroscientists are senior scientist, scientist, and staff scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctoral Fellow | $53,366 | $4,447 | $25.66 | 22,661 |
| Fellow | $66,364 | $5,530 | $31.91 | 7,459 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | $57,587 | $4,799 | $27.69 | 18,983 |
| Research Laboratory Technician | $38,308 | $3,192 | $18.42 | 86,476 |
| Research Technician | $43,034 | $3,586 | $20.69 | 64,786 |
Top companies hiring neuroscientists now:
Which companies pay neuroscientists the most?
Neuroscientist salaries at Meta and Novartis are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average neuroscientist salary at companies like Brigham and Women's Hospital and McLean Hospital are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meta | $148,280 | $71.29 |
| 2 | Novartis | $120,017 | $57.70 |
| 3 | Brigham and Women's Hospital | $116,698 | $56.10 |
| 4 | McLean Hospital | $108,327 | $52.08 |
| 5 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $106,376 | $51.14 |
| 6 | Stanford University | $91,622 | $44.05 |
| 7 | University of California-Berkeley | $88,031 | $42.32 |
| 8 | DAQRI | $85,051 | $40.89 |
| 9 | DCS | $82,528 | $39.68 |
| 10 | Sonera | $78,512 | $37.75 |
| 11 | Leidos | $72,192 | $34.71 |
| 12 | West Virginia University | $54,310 | $26.11 |
| 13 | Kelly Services | $54,023 | $25.97 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Neuroscientist salary trends
The average neuroscientist salary has risen by $12,818 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average neuroscientist earned $63,449 annually, but today, they earn $76,267 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for neuroscientists over the last decade.
Compare neuroscientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average neuroscientist salary over time
Compare neuroscientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Neuroscientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $76,300 | $36.67 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $74,000 | $35.58 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $70,700 | $33.98 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $68,400 | $32.89 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $67,100 | $32.27 | -2.1% |
Recently added neuroscientist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survice Engineering Company | Neuroscientist | Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD | 05/14/2025 | $100,000 |
| City University of New York | Neuroscientist-Medical Faculty Open Rank (Basic)-Mcbs | New York, NY | 05/11/2025 | $91,340 |
| Science Corporation | Neuroscientist | Alameda, CA | 12/12/2024 | $90,000 |
| University of Florida | Ta/Sta Statistics for Neuroscientists | Gainesville, FL | 12/04/2024 | $39,653 |
| Northwestern Memorial Healthcare | Advanced Imaging Neuroscientist | Chicago, IL | 11/06/2024 | $69,888 |
| Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | Neuroscientist | Ione, CA | 10/24/2024 | $132,810 |
| Retro Biosciences, Inc. | Neuroscientist/Senior Neuroscientist, Autophagy On-Site- | Redwood City, CA | 10/23/2024 | $140,000 |
| Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | Neuroscientist | Livermore, CA | 09/21/2024 | $159,330 |
| Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | Neuroscientist | Livermore, CA | 09/05/2024 | $159,330 |
| Blackrock Microsystems, LLC | Applied Neuroscientist | Salt Lake City, UT | 08/17/2024 | $75,000 |
Neuroscientist salary FAQs
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