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Neurologists
Diagnose, manage, and treat disorders and diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, with a primarily nonsurgical focus.
Other titles employers use
Adult and Pediatric Neurologist · Adult Neurologist · General Neurologist · Neurologist · Pediatric Neurologist · Physician · Clinical Neuromuscular Pathologist · Epileptologist
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to analytical, helping and practical work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Complex Problem Solving
Subjects to know
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Psychology
- Biology
- Therapy and Counseling
Useful strengths
- Inductive Reasoning
- Deductive Reasoning
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.2 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 2.7 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.1 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a doctorate or a professional degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 93%
- A master's degree 5%
- High school or less 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Medical software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Electronic mail software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 570
- Job openings each year
- 20
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 7.5%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 570 | 20 | 7.5% |
| Florida | 530 | 20 | 10.4% |
| Tennessee | 460 | 20 | 12.2% |
| Illinois | 410 | 10 | — |
| Colorado | 250 | 10 | 13.6% |
| Michigan | 240 | 10 | — |
| Georgia | 230 | 10 | 9.5% |
| Ohio | 230 | 10 | — |
| Wisconsin | 220 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Arizona | 190 | 10 | 26.7% |
| Minnesota | 190 | 10 | 5.6% |
| Texas | 180 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Indiana | 170 | 0 | 6.3% |
| Maryland | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| Virginia | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| Nebraska | 140 | 10 | 7.7% |
| North Carolina | 140 | 10 | 7.7% |
| Massachusetts | 130 | 0 | 8.3% |
| South Carolina | 110 | 0 | 22.2% |
| Utah | 90 | 0 | 28.6% |
| Vermont | 90 | 0 | −10.0% |
| Connecticut | 80 | 0 | — |
| Delaware | 70 | 0 | 16.7% |
| New Hampshire | 60 | 0 | — |
| New Mexico | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Oklahoma | 60 | 0 | — |
| Montana | 50 | 0 | — |
| Maine | 40 | 0 | — |
| North Dakota | 10 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.