Neurobiology & Neurosciences
Featured schools near , edit
Types of Degrees Neurobiology & Neurosciences Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many neurobiology and neurosciences graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Bachelor’s Degree | 8,341 |
Doctor’s Degree | 756 |
Master’s Degree | 310 |
Graduate Certificate | 54 |
Undergraduate Certificate | 29 |
Basic Certificate | 13 |
Associate’s Degree | 1 |
What Neurobiology & Neurosciences Majors Need to Know
O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to neurobiology and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.
Knowledge Areas for Neurobiology Majors
According to O*NET survey takers, a major in neurobiology should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Skills for Neurobiology Majors
When studying neurobiology, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:

- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Abilities for Neurobiology Majors
Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a neurobiology student include the following:

- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
What Can You Do With a Neurobiology & Neurosciences Major?
Below is a list of occupations associated with neurobiology:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Biological Science Professors | 15.1% | $82,550 |
Clinical Research Coordinators | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 13.4% | $84,810 |
Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 8.0% | $79,590 |
Natural Sciences Managers | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Neurobiology & Neurosciences?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of neurobiology majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 1,738 |
Black or African American | 458 |
Hispanic or Latino | 885 |
White | 4,275 |
International Students | 365 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 620 |
Geographic Diversity
Students from other countries are interested in Neurobiology, too. About 4.4% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- China
- India
- Canada
- South Korea
- Taiwan
How Much Do Neurobiology & Neurosciences Majors Make?
Bachelor’s Degree Starting Salary
The median starting salary of students who graduated in 2015-2017 with a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology was $31,000 per year. These stats come from the U.S. Department of Education. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $28,225 (25th percentile) and $33,450 (75th percentile).

Note that some of these people may have jobs that are not directly related to a neurobiology degree.
Salaries According to BLS
Neurobiology majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $83,600 to $97,340 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Neurobiology & Neurosciences
Some degrees associated with neurobiology may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.
Find out what the typical degree level is for neurobiology careers below.

Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Less than a High School Diploma | 0.7% |
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 1.7% |
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 1.7% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.4% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 25.2% |
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 1.6% |
Master’s Degree | 14.8% |
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession. | 0.0% |
Doctoral Degree | 25.7% |
Post-Doctoral Training | 26.4% |
Online Neurobiology & Neurosciences Programs
In the 2018-2019 academic year, 323 schools offered some type of neurobiology and neurosciences program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
---|---|---|
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 4 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 2 | 0 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
Associate’s Degree | 1 | 0 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 9 | 0 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 4 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 116 | 1 |
Post-Master’s | 6 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 143 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 2 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Neurobiology & Neurosciences Worth It?
The median salary for a neurobiology grad is $96,420 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 142% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,130,400 after 20 years!

Top Ranking Lists for Neurobiology & Neurosciences
Explore Major by State
Alabama
Arkansas
Connecticut
Florida
Idaho
Iowa
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Nebraska
New Jersey
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Vermont
West Virginia
Majors Related to Neurobiology & Neurosciences
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to neurobiology.
Major | Number of Grads |
---|---|
General Biology | 98,638 |
Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology | 14,004 |
Physiology & Pathology Sciences | 7,844 |
Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology | 6,987 |
Cell Biology & Anatomical Sciences | 5,671 |
Microbiological Sciences & Immunology | 4,469 |
Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other) | 3,646 |
Biotechnology | 3,591 |
Zoology | 2,974 |
Biomathematics & Bioinformatics | 2,404 |
Genetics | 1,326 |
Pharmacology & Toxicology | 1,148 |
Botany/Plant Biology | 684 |
Molecular Medicine | 71 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |