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How much do sports neuroscience jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for sports neuroscience in the United States is $14.42, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.94 and $14.90 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is sports neuroscience?

Sports neuroscience is a field that studies how the brain and nervous system influence athletic performance, training, and recovery. It combines principles from neuroscience, psychology, and sports science to understand how mental processes, such as focus, decision-making, and motor control, affect athletes. Sports neuroscientists also explore how physical activity impacts brain health and cognitive function, and they develop techniques to optimize both mental and physical performance in sports.

How does a sports neuroscientist typically collaborate with coaches and athletic trainers to enhance athlete performance?

Sports neuroscientists often work closely with coaches and athletic trainers by analyzing cognitive and neural data to identify areas for performance improvement. They may design and implement training protocols that target specific skills such as reaction time, focus, or decision-making under pressure. Regular meetings and data sharing sessions help ensure that neuroscience insights are integrated into daily practice routines. This interdisciplinary collaboration not only supports athlete development but also fosters a team environment focused on holistic performance enhancement.

What is the difference between Sports Neuroscience vs Sports Psychologist?

AspectSports NeuroscienceSports Psychologist
Required CredentialsAdvanced degrees in neuroscience, neuropsychology, or related fields; research experienceMaster's or Doctorate in psychology; licensure required
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, sports science facilitiesSports teams, clinics, private practice
Industry UsageFocus on brain function, neural mechanisms in athletesFocus on mental skills, motivation, performance enhancement

Sports Neuroscience and Sports Psychologist both work within the sports industry but focus on different aspects. Sports Neuroscience emphasizes understanding brain functions and neural mechanisms affecting athletic performance, often through research. In contrast, Sports Psychologists work directly with athletes to improve mental skills, motivation, and mental health. While their credentials and work environments overlap somewhat, their core focus areas differ significantly.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Sports Neuroscientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Sports Neuroscientist, you need a strong background in neuroscience, physiology, and sports science, often supported by an advanced degree (e.g., PhD) in a related field. Familiarity with neuroimaging tools (such as fMRI and EEG), statistical analysis software, and research methodologies is essential. Strong critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills help translate scientific findings into practical applications for athletes and coaches. These skills are crucial for advancing understanding of brain-body interactions in sports and optimizing athletic performance and safety.
More about Sports Neuroscience jobs
What cities are hiring for Sports Neuroscience jobs? Cities with the most Sports Neuroscience job openings:
What states have the most Sports Neuroscience jobs? States with the most job openings for Sports Neuroscience jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Sports Neuroscience jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Sports Neuroscience jobs are:
Sports Neuroscience jobs near you
Infographic showing various Sports Neuroscience job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 99% Full Time, and 1% Part Time. Highlights an 89% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $30,000 per year, or $14.4 per hour.
Principal Neuroscience Researcher, Sensory Explore

Principal Neuroscience Researcher, Sensory Explore

Nike

Beaverton, OR • On-site

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Nike rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 271 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 102 rated fashion retailers

Job description

Innovation is oxygen for NIKE, Inc., and the company depends on its talented, global workforce to breathe originality and curiosity into everything they do. The Nike Advanced Innovation team strives for lighter, faster, bigger, smarter, smaller, more efficient, more sustainable and more personal. They imagine, research, analyze and invent the next industry-changing technology to advance athletic performance. In roles that span research, design, materials and manufacturing, the Advanced Innovation team looks to the future and focuses on making the seemingly impossible, possible.
The Nike Sport Research Lab (NSRL) is a multidisciplinary team of researchers, innovators, and scientists who lead with science to make athletes* measurably better. We deliver validated insights and state-of-the-art capabilities to drive the future of Nike products and services. As diverse as our athletes* are, our evidence-based solutions meet the constantly evolving demands of sport and life. We apply scientific methods and research results to drive new concepts and platforms across multiple innovation teams.
WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH
As our Principal Neuroscience Researcher, Sensory Explore , you will work as an applied expert and influence creative product teams across NXT and Nike. You will engage with teams at different points in the spectrum of concept development, from those looking to understand athlete sensory science opportunities, to teams that have ideas and solutions in mind.You will be "hands-on" with product "solutioning" in collaboration with a variety of teams including but not limited to innovation, product development, and tech. You will report on and share storytelling of program progress and impactful insights with a variety of Nike leaders.You will mentor, guide and lead researchers on the team in a portfolio of work.You will also work with researcher experts in the field and around the world to help inform and execute your portfolio of work.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We're looking for a Principal Researcher, Sensory Explore. This role leads the implementation of a Sensory Explore research program at Nike - defining strategy, aligning stakeholders, and being a creative catalyst for new innovation - through a portfolio of evidence-based research programs in the Nike Sport Research Lab. Whether for performance, experience, modifying behavior, or stimulating the senses, your research will aim at understanding the product and service levers that can provide measurable and palpable benefits for athletes across gender, sport and geographies.
The candidate needs to be an applied, creative expert in the areas of neuroscience, sensory science or related field and have the ability to lead a team of researchers and influence creative product teams across Nike.
WHAT YOU BRING
  • Master's degree in Sensory Science, Neuroscience, Psychology or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training.

  • 10+ years expertise in neuroscience and sensory science, with the skills and ability to conduct research and apply scientific insights.

  • Technologist: understands and has experience in applying and developing the state of the art in technical tools and techniques in the area of neuroscience and sensory science

  • Experience in creation of a vision and strategy with respect to implementation of sensory science capabilities and knowledge to product or service.

  • Experience in executing research agendas, with specific expertise in the scientific method, including but not limited to: observation, formulation of testable hypotheses, experimental design, statistical methods, data analysis and interpretation of results.

  • Experience driving a portfolio of research aimed at understanding the product and service levers through an enhanced sensory engagement lens.

  • Experience leading and mentoring researchers.

  • Applied: Looking for someone who has a proven track record of applying scientific knowledge and insights to products or services. Willing to jump in and get "hands-on" with product and prototyping.

  • Creative scientist, with experience or aptitude for acting as a catalyst for new product innovation. Open and able to work effectively with creative and technical product teams across NXT and Nike.

  • Skilled and experienced in communicating scientific research, and insights and story telling to both scientist and non-scientists.

  • Bonus: knowledge and experience in Behavior Science

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON
As the Principal Researcher, Sensory Explore, you will create a vision and strategy for implementation of a Sensory Explore and neuroscience research capability at Nike. You will also create the opportunity landscape, with recommendations for where Nike should focus.
  • You will be a driver of a robust portfolio of research aimed at stimulating and influencing the body's sensory system to provide enhanced experiences and performance with products and services, with a focus across gender, sport, geographies and abilities.

  • As a creative catalyst for new product innovation, you will apply scientific knowledge and insights to new products and services across different innovation teams..You will be the knowledge-based expert at Nike in the area of neuroscience and sensory science as it applies to the opportunities for Nike.

  • As the Principal Sensory Researcher, you will represent Nike at external conferences and with media.

  • As a technologist, you will drive the use of and development of new and creative measurement / technical tools and work cross-funcitonally with Nike tech teams.

We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.

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