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Cognitive Science Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Exponent Inc.

Human Factors Scientist (Ph.D.)

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$105K - $120K/yr

Our vision is to engage multidisciplinary teams of science, engineering, and regulatory experts to ... D. in Human Factors, Cognitive or Experimental Psychology, Industrial Engineering (emphasis on ...

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Cognitive Science information

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$26.7K

$65.3K

$87.1K

How much do cognitive science jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for cognitive science in Seattle, WA is $65,338.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,600.00 and $70,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What jobs do cognitive science majors get?

Cognitive science majors often pursue careers as user experience designers, cognitive researchers, data analysts, human factors specialists, and artificial intelligence developers. These roles typically require skills in research, programming, and understanding human behavior, and may involve working in technology, healthcare, or academia.

Is cognitive science a useful degree?

A degree in cognitive science provides a strong foundation in understanding human cognition, perception, and decision-making, which are valuable in fields like artificial intelligence, user experience, and research. Graduates often find employment in tech, healthcare, education, and research institutions, and the interdisciplinary skills gained can enhance problem-solving and analytical abilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in a cognitive science position?

To thrive in a Cognitive Science role, you need a solid grounding in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, linguistics, and data analysis, usually supported by at least a bachelor's or master's degree in a related field. Familiarity with statistical analysis software (such as SPSS or R), programming languages (like Python or MATLAB), and research tools is highly advantageous. Outstanding collaboration, critical thinking, and clear communication skills set top candidates apart in multidisciplinary teams. These skills and qualifications enable professionals to analyze complex cognitive processes and contribute innovative solutions to real-world human-computer interaction, AI, or behavioral research challenges.

What does a cognitive scientist do?

A cognitive scientist studies how the mind processes information, including perception, memory, language, and decision-making. They often conduct experiments, analyze data, and develop models using tools like computer simulations and statistical software to understand human and animal cognition.

What are the typical career progression opportunities for someone in a cognitive science role?

Professionals in cognitive science often start in research assistant, data analyst, or user experience roles and can progress to positions such as lead researcher, UX researcher, cognitive engineer, or even project manager depending on their interests and expertise. With experience and additional qualifications, some transition into roles in artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, neurotechnology, or higher education as professors or principal investigators. Opportunities for advancement are often influenced by your ability to publish research, collaborate across disciplines, and acquire advanced degrees or certifications. Many cognitive science professionals also find pathways into related industries including technology, healthcare, and education, allowing for diverse and rewarding career trajectories.

What is a cognitive science job?

A Cognitive Science job involves applying knowledge from psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, philosophy, and linguistics to understand how humans and machines think, learn, and process information. Professionals in this field work in diverse industries, including technology, healthcare, research, and user experience design. Common roles include data scientist, UX researcher, AI specialist, and cognitive psychologist. These jobs often require analytical thinking, programming skills, and expertise in human behavior or machine learning.

Is cognitive science in demand?

Cognitive science is a growing interdisciplinary field with increasing demand in areas such as artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and data analysis. Professionals with skills in research, programming, and understanding of cognitive processes are sought after in academia, tech companies, and healthcare sectors.
What are the most commonly searched types of Cognitive Science jobs in Seattle, WA? The most popular types of Cognitive Science jobs in Seattle, WA are:
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What job categories do people searching Cognitive Science jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Cognitive Science jobs in Seattle, WA are:
What cities near Seattle, WA are hiring for Cognitive Science jobs? Cities near Seattle, WA with the most Cognitive Science job openings:
Cognitive Science jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cognitive Science job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,338 per year, or $31.4 per hour.

Applied Perception Scientist

PROLIM Global Corporation

Redmond, WA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

Reality Labs Research at Meta is a leading research organization of world-class researchers, developers, and engineers, who collaborate to actively create a future where virtual and augmented reality become as indispensable as today's smartphones and personal computers.
The mission of the Reality Labs Research Audio team is to engineer augmented audio that redefines human hearing capabilities. This will allow us to connect people by facilitating conversation in even the most challenging auditory environment.
We are seeking a contract applied research scientist specializing in the perception of tonal languages. This role is an integral part of our team, contributing to our research and development efforts. The ideal candidate will help us explore and understand individualized audio quality preferences and experiences, enabling us to tailor our technologies to meet unique user needs.
Responsibilities
  • Oversee and drive research projects on speech quality, statistically analyze results and report findings.
  • Monitor problems, facilitate resolution, and proactively keep projects on track.
  • Implement and conduct pilot listening tests and other perceptual experiences.
  • Regularly report on project progress, dependencies and risks to stakeholders.
  • Support research scientists and engineers within the team.
  • Manage procurement projects for equipment and vendor services.
  • Willingness to "roll up sleeves" and take on operational tasks in support of the team's goals.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Interpersonal and communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
  • Proactive with ability to execute on multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Track record of communicating research on speech perception, hearing sciences or auditory perception in an academic or industrial setting.
  • Experience with data collection with human participants.
  • Experience working in a fast-paced research and/or product development environment.
  • Experience with scientific programming languages such as Matlab, Python, C++, or R.
  • Master's degree or equivalent experience in Computational Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Electrical Engineering, Perception, Experimental Psychology, Audio Engineering, Acoustics, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computational Audiology or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with tonal languages.
  • PhD degree or equivalent experience.
  • Experience with AI generative speech.
  • Experience with modeling audio quality.

Candidate Requirements
Must-Have Skills
  1. Experience with statistical analysis of behavioral data (e.g., mixed-effects models, signal detection theory, psychometric methods).
  2. Work experience in perceptual or psychophysical research with a track record of successful project completion.
  3. Experience with scientific programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, R, or C++.

Nice-to-Have Skills
  1. Advanced Education: PhD degree or equivalent experience.
  2. AI Experience: Experience with AI generative speech.
  3. Audio Modeling: Experience with modeling audio quality.

Ideal Candidate:
looking for someone with extensive academic experience: the ideal candidate is a card-carrying perception scientist (typically: cognitive science, neuroscience, neural engineering) who has personally designed and ran lots of perception studies and who has at least dabbled in computational models of perception. Someone who is currently a postdoc, a professor or a senior PhD student.

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