Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Board Certified Neuropsychologist
- Neuropsychologist
- Pediatric Neuropsychologist
- Staff Psychologist
Alternate Job Titles
- Adult Neuropsychologist
- Aviation Neuropsychologist
- Board Certified Neuropsychologist
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychologist
- Forensic Neuropsychologist
- Neuropsychologist
- Neuropsychology Medical Consultant
- Pediatric Neuropsychologist
- Staff Psychologist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Conduct neuropsychological evaluations such as assessments of intelligence, academic ability, attention, concentration, sensorimotor function, language, learning, and memory.
- Write or prepare detailed clinical neuropsychological reports, using data from psychological or neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct observations, or interviews.
- Interview patients to obtain comprehensive medical histories.
- 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.
- Provide education or counseling to individuals and families.
- Diagnose and treat pediatric populations for conditions such as learning disabilities with developmental or organic bases.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Sociology and Anthropology
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Social Perceptiveness
- Complex Problem Solving
- Active Learning
- Science
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Inductive Reasoning
- Deductive Reasoning
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Category Flexibility
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Empathy
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Auditory stimulation equipment
- Block pattern sets
- Computer laser printers
- Desktop computers
- Facial electromyography equipment
- Grip testing devices
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Pegboards
- Personal computers
- Photocopying equipment
- Pocket smell tests
- Respiration measurement equipment
- Skin conductance testing equipment
- Visual stimulation test equipment
Work Environment
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Spend Time Sitting
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Psychologists, All Other occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Neuropsychologists.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $51,410 |
| Median | $117,580 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $163,570 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 17,790
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Clinical Neuropsychologists
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: $117,580
Psychiatrists
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: >$239,200
Neurologists
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: >$239,200
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: $95,830
Pediatricians, General
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: $210,130
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.