Neurologists
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Works out what is wrong with the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, then manages those conditions without surgery as the main tool. Visits start with a detailed history and an exam of vision, strength, coordination, reflexes, sensation, language, and thinking. Testing can include lumbar punctures, electrical studies of the brain and nerves, and analysis of blood or spinal fluid. Treatment covers problems such as stroke, dementia, central nervous system infection, and trauma, and may include anti-epileptic drugs watched closely for effects on behavior and thinking. This work fits people who like careful interviewing, layered diagnostic tests, and plans that weigh age, general health, and procedural risk.
Typical education: Post-Doctoral Training
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$248'560
Median Wage Market Position
$248'560
What you might do
- Diagnose brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
- Test strength, reflexes, vision, and coordination
- Take histories of symptoms and family illness
- Interpret spinal taps and nerve conduction tests
- Treat stroke, dementia, and nerve infections
- Prescribe seizure medicines and watch for side effects
Skills that matter
- Hearing out complaints and family histories
- Reading EEG and spinal fluid results
- Diagnosing stroke, dementia, and nerve disease
- Noticing cognitive and behavioral changes
- Tracking side effects of seizure medicines
- Writing notes on neurological exams
AI & the future of this role
Complex diagnostic judgment, hands-on exams, and ongoing patient care tend to protect this work. AI might speed pattern recognition in scans and notes, yet liability and nuanced clinical decisions are likely to keep physicians central.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details