Also called: Patch-Clamp Scientist
Measures the tiny electrical signals of single nerve or heart cells to test drugs and study disease.
Under a microscope, guides a glass needle thinner than a hair onto one neuron to record its electrical 'spikes.' It's like microsurgery, all day.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. PhD in neuroscience or physiology; some bachelor's-level technical roles.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Neuroscience, Physiology, Biophysics.
Growing much faster than average (about 8% over 10 years). Estimate.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Automated patch-clamp robots handle some drug screens; delicate single-cell recordings for research stay skilled handwork.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Physics, Chemistry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1042.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.