Do you have a passion for helping people? Would you like to turn that skill into what could potentially be a six-figure career?
If that sounds like you, then pursuing a degree in the expansive field of psychology could be the perfect path to lead you into the career of your dreams!
List of the Top 40 Psychology Careers & Salaries
There are many different careers available once you have earned a psychology degree. To help you navigate the various options open to you, we have put together the list below of the top 40 careers related to the psychology field!
| Job Title | Job Summary |
Median Salary |
| Physician, Child Psychiatrist | Works with children who exhibit a wide-range of social problems or mental health disorders in order to diagnose and prescribe therapeutic treatment. |
$218,454 |
| Psychiatrist | Medical doctors that diagnose, treat, and evaluate clients with mental health disorders. |
$205,072 |
| Private Practice Clinical Therapist | Independently runs their business by providing mental health insight and guidance to their clients. |
$100,000 |
| Corporate Manager | Accurately and efficiently directs and manages employees within a corporate setting. |
$61,470 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | Experts in human efficiency who work with businesses to ensure employees are working hard and staying healthy. |
$91,422 |
| Administrative Hospital Psychologist | Responsible for overseeing and managing psychologists within the hospital setting. |
$70,878 |
| Neuropsychologist | Researches cognitive science and the brain, as well as consults with those with brain injuries. |
$91,462 |
| Correctional Facility Psychologist | Works with inmates in a correctional facility to conduct assessments and therapeutic sessions. |
$75,866 |
| Marketing Director | Uses the understanding of social behavior to oversee a company’s development and implementation of effective marketing strategies. |
$88,524 |
| Engineering Psychologist | Develops and improves upon products and technology by utilizing their understanding of the human mind. |
$98,887 |
| Military Psychologist | Specializes in treating military personnel suffering from disorders such as PTSD. |
$80,460 |
| Teaching Psychologist | Commonly found as professors in a university, they use their knowledge to teach new generations of psychologists. |
$88,164 |
| Research Scientist | Scientist who works to gather knowledge applicable to the field of psychology. |
$80,567 |
| Associate Professor, Postsecondary | Professor who has not yet attained tenure who works through a university to teach incoming psychology students. |
$80,850 |
| Clinical Psychologist | Largest occupation within the psychology field, and involves providing therapeutic treatment for clients. |
$82,130 |
| Psychologist | Employs their knowledge to provide psychological testing and therapy. |
$77,702 |
| Executive Director | Uses their psychology skills to act as senior managers of various organizations and corporations. |
$71,491 |
| Forensic Psychologist | Uses psychology skills to assist with legal cases, abuse accusations, and insurance claims. |
$82,152 |
| Experimental Psychologist | Works independently, or with other researchers, to study cognitive, emotional, and social process of human behavior. |
$81,347 |
| Child Psychologist | Highly-trained counseling professionals that work to treat mental disorders in children under the age of 17. |
$70,863 |
| Genetic Counselor | Newly emerging career that involves supporting and guiding those who are at risk for, or have a genetic disorder. |
$73,138 |
| Human Resources (HR) Manager | Uses their understanding of human behavior to oversee the policies and procedures related to employees within a company. |
$68,365 |
| Market Research Analyst | Uses their skills to study market conditions and consumer trends to help a business succeed. |
$54,273 |
| School Psychologist | Works with students in a school setting to help them deal with life stressors or relevant mental conditions. |
$63,845 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | Oversees community budgets and projects while working with the public to identify needs. |
$49,363 |
| Special Education Teacher | Uses psychology education in conjunction with a teaching degree to work with those who have learning disabilities or mental handicaps. |
$48,268 |
| Executive Assistant | Provides administrative support to high-level executives within a corporate setting. |
$56,481 |
| Sports Psychologist | Specializes in working with athletes in the areas of motivation, performance, and injury management. |
$77,670 |
| Geropsychologist | Works with the elderly population to assist with age-related mental health disorders and life transition. |
$51,826 |
| Human Resources (HR) Generalist | Uses their psychology skills to assist managers with making decisions regarding employee relationships and new hires. |
$54,642 |
| Psychotherapist | Works with individuals and families to identify and resolve trauma and other psychological issues. |
$58,357 |
| Program Manager, Non-Profit Organization | Manages all aspects of an organization’s projects to ensure that they line up with the goals and mission of the organization. |
$66,469 |
| Career/Vocational Counselor | Works with those entering the workforce to help them identify the career paths best suited for their individual skills. |
$48,347 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | Counsels individuals, couples, or families to help them manage relationships and conflict resolution. |
$57,187 |
| Recreational Therapist | Develops, plans, and coordinates medically-approved recreational activities for those in various institutional settings. |
$40,498 |
| Licensed Professional Counselor | Works in a variety of environments to provide therapeutic treatments for individuals with mental health disorders. |
$50,114 |
| Mental Health Counselor | Helps clients work through personal struggles to achieve mental well-being. |
$45,829 |
| Program Coordinator, Non-Profit Organization | Acts as the face of a non-profit organization’s social service, charity, or foundation work. |
$46,268 |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Helps clients overcome physical and emotional reliance on drugs and addictive substances. |
$39,291 |
| Case Manager | Assists at-risk populations, such as recovering addicts, ex-convicts, and the elderly with guidance to improve their lives. |
$41,176 |
*Salary data provided by Payscale.com and ZipRecuiter.
What is a Psychology Degree?
Psychology is a field of study that focuses on the human mind, its functions, and how this affects the behavior of an individual. To put it simply, once you earn a psychology degree, you can expect to have a deeper understanding of what it is that makes us human.
Due to the expansive scope of the psychology field, the courses that you choose throughout your educational career are important when determining your future. Once you reach the bachelor’s level of a psychology degree, you may have the option to choose a concentration that will allow you to narrow down the career choices available.
While different colleges offer varying degree options, some of the common concentrations you may find in psychology include:
- Work and Organizational Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Counseling
- Crisis and Trauma
- Child Psychology
- Addiction
Whether you have a knack for talking with people, or you are interested in scientific research of the human mind, there is something for everyone when it comes to psychology!
If you are one of the 6 million students interested in taking online college courses, then earning your psychology degree online is a great option!
There are many excellent universities offering online courses that will be able to provide you with the flexibility you need to earn your degree while still meeting your family and work obligations
What Can You Do with a Psychology Degree?
After looking through the list above, you can see that the career choices available in the area of psychology are extremely diverse – and can be very lucrative!
By choosing courses throughout your psychology education that apply to your future goals, the skill-set that you develop can give you a jump start in careers that range from corporate business to the medical field.
While the table above shows many of the commonly found psychology career paths, one factor you may have noticed is the wide-range of median salaries.
Why is this?
In the field of psychology, the amount of education that you have is directly related to the long-term salary potential of your career. While an associate’s degree will give you a starting point for an entry-level position, earning your doctorate will put you on a faster track for the potential of earning a six-figure salary.
Psychology Career Outlook
As with any degree, it is always important to have an understanding of the field’s projected growth before committing to a career path. Fortunately, when it comes to psychology, the future is looking bright!
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, psychologists can expect 3% occupational growth between the years 2019 and 2029, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations.
There are many reasons that psychology is continuing an upward trend, even with the state of our general economy. With a greater emphasis on mental health and increased awareness of its long-term effects, more and more people are choosing to seek out guidance and treatment for emotional struggles.
If you have a passion for psychology, enjoy helping others, and want to be on the forefront of breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health, then pursuing a degree in psychology is an excellent way to have a positive effect on the world – one person at a time!
