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Phd In Neuroscience Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Astera

In Vitro Neuroscientist

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$60K - $150K/yr

PhD in Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Biomedical Engineering, Physiology, or related discipline * Strong track record of hands-on experimental neuroscience research * Expertise in one or more of the ...

Alljoined

Computational Neuroscientist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

PhD/postdoc in neuroscience or a related field. * Extensive experience in designing and executing neuroscience studies, including the analysis of functional brain imaging data (EEG, fMRI)

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How much do phd in neuroscience jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for phd in neuroscience in California is $29.06, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25.14 and $32.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common collaborative opportunities for someone with a PhD in Neuroscience within academic and industry settings?

With a PhD in Neuroscience, you can expect to work closely with diverse teams, including biologists, psychologists, data scientists, and clinicians. In academia, collaboration often involves interdisciplinary research projects, grant writing, and co-authoring publications. In industry, you may partner with pharmacologists, engineers, or product development teams to advance neurotechnology or therapeutics. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as many projects require integrating expertise from multiple fields to tackle complex questions about the brain and nervous system.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a PhD in Neuroscience, and why are they important?

To thrive as a PhD in Neuroscience, you need a deep understanding of neurobiology, experimental design, and data analysis, typically supported by a doctoral degree in neuroscience or a related field. Experience with advanced laboratory techniques, neuroimaging software, and statistical programming tools like MATLAB or Python is highly valuable. Strong critical thinking, perseverance, and the ability to communicate complex findings clearly set top candidates apart. These skills and qualities are essential for driving impactful research, publishing results, and collaborating effectively in multidisciplinary scientific environments.

Is it worth doing a PhD in neuroscience?

A PhD in neuroscience prepares individuals for research, academia, and specialized roles in healthcare or industry, often requiring strong analytical and laboratory skills. It can lead to higher-level positions and increased earning potential but involves significant time, effort, and financial investment. Career prospects depend on research experience, publication record, and networking within the field.

What is the highest paying job for a neuroscience PhD?

The highest paying jobs for a neuroscience PhD typically include roles such as pharmaceutical executive, biotech director, or senior research scientist, often in the private sector. These positions usually require advanced research skills, leadership abilities, and experience with clinical or laboratory environments, with salaries often exceeding $150,000 annually depending on the industry and location.

What is a PhD in Neuroscience?

A PhD in Neuroscience is a doctoral degree focused on the scientific study of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and neural networks. Students in these programs conduct original research to understand how the nervous system works at molecular, cellular, and systemic levels. Graduates are trained to pursue careers in academia, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or healthcare. A PhD in Neuroscience typically requires several years of coursework, lab rotations, and the completion of a dissertation based on novel research.

What jobs can you do with a PhD in neuroscience?

A PhD in neuroscience qualifies individuals for roles such as research scientist, university professor, clinical research coordinator, or neuroimaging specialist. These positions often require strong analytical skills, knowledge of laboratory techniques, and familiarity with data analysis tools like MATLAB or Python.

How much can I earn with a PhD in neuroscience?

A PhD in neuroscience can lead to salaries ranging from $70,000 to over $120,000 annually, depending on the industry, experience, and location. Academic positions, research roles, and industry jobs such as biotech or pharmaceutical companies typically offer higher compensation with advanced research skills and publications.
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Phd In Neuroscience jobs near you
Infographic showing various Phd In Neuroscience job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $60,443 per year, or $29.1 per hour.

Neuroscience PhD (Computational / Active Inference)

Clera

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$150K/yr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

About the Role
Join a small, fast-moving YC Spring 2026 team building the first wearable designed to read and train emotional intelligence. You'll work at the intersection of computational neuroscience and production machine learning, developing the core inference model that quantifies emotional states - energy, mood, and focus - from a rich stream of audio and biometric signals captured by a consumer wearable device.
This is a founding technical role with real ownership. As the company scales, you are expected to grow into a leadership position within the research and ML org. Prototypes are already on users' wrists, and the team is moving fast.
What You'll Do
  • Design, develop, and iterate on the inference model that quantifies emotional states from wearable sensor data (150+ audio and biometric signals)
  • Bridge cutting-edge neuroscience research and production-grade machine learning - you will function effectively as both a research scientist and an ML engineer
  • Evaluate and deploy models into a real consumer product pipeline
  • Help define the scientific direction and methodology for emotional state quantification as the team and product scale
What We're Looking For
Required
  • PhD in computational neuroscience, cognitive science, active inference, or a closely related field - this is a hard requirement
  • Hands-on experience building and deploying inference models to quantify emotional or physiological states from wearable sensor data
  • Strong ML engineering skills: model development, evaluation, and deployment (Python stack)
  • Familiarity with active inference frameworks and computational neuroscience methods
  • Willingness to work on-site in San Francisco (or London)

Not a fit
  • Wet-lab-only neuroscience backgrounds without computational/ML experience
Compensation & Benefits
  • Salary: ~$150,000 USD (San Francisco) / ~£75,000 GBP (London)
  • Equity: Up to 1-2% (founding-level ownership)
  • Backed by angels and strategic partners (pre-Series A / seed stage)
  • Visa sponsorship: Not available - visa transfers are acceptable; otherwise the London office is an option
Location
  • Primary: San Francisco, CA, USA (on-site preferred)
  • Alternative: London, UK (on-site)
  • Location is flexible between these two offices

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