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Neurologist

Overview and Key Facts

woman posing
Education
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$239,000
Job Growth
Job Growth
2.50%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
349,300

What Do They Do?

A neurologist could...

 
monitors showing eeg reading and graphical brain model in sleep study
Diagnose a patient's sleep disorder using brain wave, eye movement, and breathing data collected during a sleep study.
brain wave data study
Collect brain wave data from a child to determine if her seizures are due to epilepsy or another disorder.
MRI on brain
Use MRI's of a car accident victim's brain to see how badly he or she was injured, and determine the best treatment.
reflex test
Administer reflex exams during a neurological examination in order to detect if a patient's nervous system has been damaged.
 
monitors showing eeg reading and graphical brain model in sleep study brain wave data study MRI on brain reflex test

Overview Listen to this section

Each time your heart beats, or you breathe, think, dream, smell, see, move, laugh, read, remember, write, or feel something, you are using your nervous system. The nervous system includes your brain, spinal cord, and a huge network of nerves that make electrical connections all over your body. Neurologists are the medical doctors who diagnose and treat problems with the nervous system. They work to restore health to an essential system in the body.
Watch this video to see what a neurologist finds out about his own brain and music. What happens in your brain when you hear a piece of music that you enjoy? Neurologist Oliver Sacks is interested in this very question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc6m0Uyis-8

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Neurologist?


  1. Active Listening: ?
  2. Social Perceptiveness: ?
  3. Complex Problem Solving: ?
  4. Speaking: ?
  5. Reading Comprehension: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Neurologist might do:
  • Interview patients to obtain information, such as complaints, symptoms, medical histories, and family histories.
  • Examine patients to obtain information about functional status of areas, such as vision, physical strength, coordination, reflexes, sensations, language skills, cognitive abilities, and mental status.
  • Perform or interpret the outcomes of procedures or diagnostic tests, such as lumbar punctures, electroencephalography, electromyography, and nerve conduction velocity tests.
  • Order or interpret results of laboratory analyses of patients' blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
  • Diagnose neurological conditions based on interpretation of examination findings, histories, or test results.
  • Prescribe or administer medications, such as anti-epileptic drugs, and monitor patients for behavioral and cognitive side effects.
  • Identify and treat major neurological system diseases and disorders, such as central nervous system infection, cranio spinal trauma, dementia, and stroke.
  • Develop treatment plans based on diagnoses and on evaluation of factors, such as age and general health, or procedural risks and costs.
  • Inform patients or families of neurological diagnoses and prognoses, or benefits, risks and costs of various treatment plans.
  • Prepare, maintain, or review records that include patients' histories, neurological examination findings, treatment plans, or outcomes.
  • Communicate with other health care professionals regarding patients' conditions and care.
  • Counsel patients or others on the background of neurological disorders including risk factors, or genetic or environmental concerns.
  • Interpret the results of neuroimaging studies, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans.
  • Determine brain death using accepted tests and procedures.
  • Coordinate neurological services with other health care team activities.
  • Refer patients to other health care practitioners as necessary.
  • Advise other physicians on the treatment of neurological problems.
  • Participate in continuing education activities to maintain and expand competence.
  • Order supportive care services, such as physical therapy, specialized nursing care, and social services.
  • Provide training to medical students or staff members.
  • Supervise medical technicians in the performance of neurological diagnostic or therapeutic activities.
  • Participate in neuroscience research activities.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state
No data available for some states (white on the map)

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Neurologist Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Neurologist jobs (2.50%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Neurologist

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

The common path to practicing as a neurologist requires 8 years of education beyond high school and 3-8 additional years of internship and residency. All states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories license physicians.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Doctoral or professional degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

To become a board-certified neurologist, several requirements must be met:

  • Four years of premedical education in a college or university.
  • Four years of medical school resulting in an MD or DO degree (doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy degree).
  • One-year internship in either internal medicine or in medicine/surgery.
  • At least 3 years of specialty training in an accredited neurology residency program.

Companies That Hire Neurologists

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Find out about the qualities that a neurologist needs to provide the best patient care by "shadowing" Dr. Raghav Govindarajan.
Many neurological conditions are chronic and can affect patients of all ages. One quality we are looking for is the ability to provide sincere, empathetic, compassionate care to patients and their families. 
Raghav Govindarajan, MD

Nature of the Work

A neurologist is a medical doctor or osteopath who has trained in the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system disorders, including diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles.

Neurologists perform neurological examinations of the nerves in the head and neck; muscle strength and movement; balance, ambulation, and reflexes; and sensation, memory, speech, language, and other cognitive abilities.

They also perform diagnostic tests, such as the following:

  • CAT (computed axial tomography) scan
  • MRI/MRA (magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography)
  • Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
  • EEG (electroencephalography)
  • EMG/NCV (electromyography/nerve conduction velocity)

Some neurologists are also involved in research. These neurologists, often called academic or research neurologists, focus on discovering how the nervous system works. They conduct research on a variety of neurological topics including what goes wrong in disease cases, like epilepsy or Parkinson's, and how people perceive emotions, like happiness and anger.

Work Environment

Many neurologists work in small private offices or clinics, often assisted by a small staff of nurses and other administrative personnel. Increasingly, neurologists are practicing in groups or healthcare organizations that provide backup coverage and allow for more time off. Neurologists in a group practice or healthcare organization often work as part of a team that coordinates care for a number of patients; they are less independent than the solo practitioners of the past.

Many neurologists work long, irregular hours. They may travel between the office and hospitals to care for their patients. While on call, a neurologist will deal with many patients' concerns over the phone and make emergency visits to hospitals or nursing homes.

Research or academic neurologists may also spend time in laboratory settings in addition to hospitals.

More Information

Ask Questions

Do you have a specific question about a career as a Neurologist that isn't answered on this page? Post your question on the Science Buddies Ask an Expert Forum.

Additional Resources

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