Computational Neuroscience Salary Ranges (Updated)

Computational neuroscience is a field of study that uses computational methods to model and understand the neural basis of cognition. It is a relatively new field, and as such, there is no one definitive source for computational neuroscience salary levels. However, various surveys and studies have attempted to estimate the range of salaries in this field.

Computational Neuroscience Salary Averages

There are several sources of computational neuroscience salary estimates available online, with the most reliable being ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and SimplyHired. Below, we review salary ranges in the United States based on these sources.

Source	10%	25%	Average	75%	90%
ZipRecruiter	$39,500	$62,500	$100,877	$127,000	$182,500
Glassdoor	$108,000	$139,000	$185,492	$253,000	$332,000
SimplyHired	$43,226	$57,835	$79,925	$110,453	$147,782

As you can see, the ranges for the computational neuroscience salaries vary significantly, both within each source and among the different sources.

In our experience and estimation, ZipRecruiter has the most accurate average salary values across the different sources. Glassdoor salaries appear to be exaggerated, while SimplyHired estimates seem unrealistically low.

As we will see, however, computational neuroscience salaries show significant variation according to location, education level, and medium of work (academic vs. industry).

Computational Neuroscience Salary by Location

Average salary for computational neuroscientists varies significantly by location. We thus present you salary estimates in 10 different popular cities in the United States for comparison (according to ZipRecruiter).

• San Francisco, CA – $116,023
• New York, NY – $110,231
• Seattle, WA – $108,987
• Washington, DC – $108,272
• Boston, MA – $108,001
• Chicago, IL – $103,588
• Baltimore, MD – $101,502
• Dallas, TX – $99,491
• Kansas City, KS – $97,922
• Miami, FL – $93,982

As you can see above, computational neuroscience salaries vary significantly from city to city. San Francisco appears to be the highest-paying market for computational neuroscientists in the United States.

Computational Neuroscience Salary by Education Level

Average computational neuroscience salaries also vary significantly by education level. Here, we present the salary estimates for computational neuroscientists in the United States with different levels of education:

• Bachelor’s degree – $71,869
• Master’s degree – $88,286
• Doctoral degree – $105,711

As you can see, computational neuroscience salaries increase significantly with higher levels of education. A doctoral degree unsurprisingly appears to be the most lucrative option for computational neuroscientists in the United States, as PhD graduates tend to be able to obtain higher positions, such as postdoctoral fellows, staff scientists, and research associates.

Computational Neuroscience Salary in Academia vs. Industry

Finally, computational neuroscience salaries also vary depending on the medium of work: academic vs. industry. Generally, computational neuroscience salaries tend to be higher in industry than academia.

The average computational neuroscience salary for academic computational neuroscientists is $95,891, while the average computational neuroscience salary for computational neuroscientists in industry is $128,201.

Overall, computational neuroscience salaries are highly variable and depend on a variety of factors. However, computational neuroscience remains a growing field and is expected to be in high demand over the next decade. With that being said, computational neuroscientists can expect a promising career path and salary opportunities in this field.

What Is the Job Outlook for Computational Neuroscience?

The computational neuroscience field is expected to experience significant growth over the next decade. According to the estimates, computational neuroscientists are projected to experience a job growth rate of 11% through 2030, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations.

As computational neuroscience continues to be an in-demand field, computational neuroscientists can expect a promising career trajectory with numerous job opportunities.

Thus, computational neuroscience remains a growing and in-demand field, with salaries varying significantly by location, education level, and medium of work. With the computational neuroscience field expected to continue its growth over the next decade, computational neuroscientists can expect an up-trending career path.

What Are the Best Companies for Computational Neuroscience?

There are many established companies, as well as growing startups, that actively recruit and utilize computational neuroscientists. Some of these popular companies include:

• Google DeepMind
• IBM Watson
• Neuralink
• NextMind
• Blackrock Neurotech
• Kernel
• Thync
• BrainCo
• Neurable
• Allen Institute
• Broad Institute

Additionally, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and universities such as Stanford and Carnegie Mellon offer computational neuroscience fellowships and research positions.

Overall, computational neuroscience remains an in-demand field with plenty of opportunities to explore. The best computational neuroscience employers for you depend on your individual goals and interests.

What Is Computational Neuroscience Anyway?

Computational neuroscience is a field of study that focuses on understanding the computational basis of brain function and behavior. It involves studying the computational principles underlying neural systems, such as how neurons interact to form networks, and how they are involved in learning and memory.

Computational neuroscientists use computational models to better understand the complexities of the brain, which can help to inform treatments and cures for neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, computational neuroscience is used in the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms.

Computational neuroscience is an exciting and rapidly growing field with lots of potential applications. With computational neuroscience being such a versatile field, computational neuroscientists can expect plenty of job opportunities as well as a promising career path with salaries varying depending on the situation. Therefore, if you’re looking for a career in computational neuroscience, the future looks bright.

How to Become a Computational Neuroscientist?

If you are interested in computational neuroscience, there are a few steps you can take to get started.

First, it is important to have an educational background that focuses on the computational aspects of neuroscience. This means first obtaining a degree in computational sciences, neuroscience, computer science, mathematics, or physics as a Bachelor’s student. Additionally, you usually need to get an advanced graduate degree to get into the field of computational neuroscience. This usually involves a Master’s degree or a PhD in computational neuroscience.

Second, gaining experience in computational neuroscience is essential to becoming a computational neuroscientist. This can be done through completing research projects or internships in computational neuroscience-related fields, as well as attending workshops and conferences focused on computational neuroscience.

Finally, networking with other computational neuroscientists and building relationships within the computational neuroscience field is key to finding the best opportunities. Making connections with computational neuroscientists, either through online communities or in-person networking events, can help you find job openings and gain more knowledge.

Overall, computational neuroscience is an exciting field and can offer plenty of job opportunities to those who have the right skills and experience.

Do I Need a PhD to Become a Computational Neuroscience?

If you are interested in the academic side of computational neuroscience or pursuing higher-level positions, then a PhD is usually needed.

A PhD will help you obtain proper training in research conduction necessary to be knowledgeable and competitive in the field of computational neuroscience.

While a Master’s degree could sometimes allow you to pursue research and development positions in academic or industry, a doctoral degree is your best option in terms of becoming a highly skilled scientist with no ceiling in how far you can go in your career.

We thus recommend that you get a PhD if you are serious and passionate about becoming a computational neuroscientist.

What Can You Do With a Computational Neuroscience Degree?

With a computational neuroscience degree, you can pursue many exciting job opportunities.

You could work as a computational neuroscientist in the academic world, conducting research and furthering the field of computational neuroscience. Alternatively, computational neuroscientists are highly sought after in industry to help develop new AI-based products or computational models.

Furthermore, computational neuroscience graduates can find plenty of job opportunities in the private sector as well, such as data scientist in tech companies, AI developers in robotics firms or computational biologists in pharmaceutical industries.

Finally, computational neuroscience is becoming increasingly popular among employers in human-computer interface field, as computational neuroscience can provide valuable insights into understanding the human brain and its functions.

Here is a list of job titles one can pursue with computational neuroscience credentials:

• Computational neuroscientist
• Computational biologist
• Computational physicist
• AI developer
• Robotics engineer
• Data scientist
• Computational psychologist
• Computational modeler

Should I Study Computational Neuroscience?

If you are interested in using computational methods to understand the human brain and its functions, computational neuroscience could be a good field for you. It is an interdisciplinary field which combines computational techniques with neuroscience, and it is becoming increasingly popular among employers.

To pursue computational neuroscience, you will need a good understanding of computational methods, mathematics, computer science and neuroscience. You will also need to be familiar with coding languages such as Python or R, and have a good understanding of neuroscience.

You may also need to consider computational neuroscience salary when deciding if computational neuroscience is the right field for you. On average, computational neuroscience salaries range from $60,000 – $120,000 per year depending on the job and industry, but it is possible to make more in certain positions, such as AI engineering and robotics.

Overall computational neuroscience is an exciting field and can be highly rewarding for those who have the right skills and experience. If you are passionate about computational neuroscience and have the necessary skills to succeed in the field, then computational neuroscience could be a great career path for you.

What Other Occupations Are Related to Computational Neuroscience?

There are many other related occupations to computational neuroscience, depending on the specific field you are interested in. Here are some of the occupations that computational neuroscience students might consider:

• Data Scientist – Data scientists use computational methods to analyze large data sets and draw meaningful insights from them.
• Robotics Engineer – Robotics engineers design and build robots or robotic devices.
• AI Engineer – AI engineers develop algorithms and computer models to program computers to learn, reason and make decisions like a human.
• Computer Vision Scientist – Computer vision scientists create algorithms that allow machines to identify objects, people, or other targets from digital images or videos.
• Neuroscientist – Neuroscientists study the brain and nervous system to understand how the brain works and interacts with other parts of the body.
• Computational Psychologist – Computational psychologists use computational techniques to study cognitive processes, such as decision-making, memory, and problem-solving.
• Mathematician – Mathematicians develop mathematical theories and formulas for scientific research or practical applications.
• Bioinformatician – Bioinformaticians use computational techniques to analyze and interpret biological data such as DNA sequences or gene expression levels.
• Statistician – Statisticians develop methods for collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting numerical data.
• Computer Modeler – Computer modelers develop computational models to simulate the behavior of physical or biological systems.
• Data Analyst – Data analysts use computational methods to extract, organize and interpret data for organizational decision-making.

Each of these occupations can be related to computational neuroscience in some way, and they each require different skills and knowledge. If computational neuroscience is the field that interests you, then it’s worth exploring these related occupations to see if any of them could be a good fit.

Overall, computational neuroscience is an exciting and rapidly growing field with many opportunities for those who are passionate about it. With the right skills and knowledge, computational neuroscience can be a highly rewarding career path.

Conclusion

Computational neuroscience is a rapidly growing field with many potential opportunities for those who have the right skills and knowledge. It requires experience in computational methods, mathematics, biology, and psychology. Although computational neuroscience salaries can vary widely depending on the job and industry, it is still possible to make a good living in the field. If computational neuroscience is something that interests you, then it’s worth exploring related occupations to see if any of them could be a good fit. With the right skills, computational neuroscience can be a highly rewarding career path. Good luck!