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Psychology degrees and careers – the complete guide
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Olga is an in-house editor and writer at Degreechoices.com. She has previous experience as a higher education instructional designer and a university librarian. Olga is passionate about well-crafted sentences, Wikipedia rabbit holes, and the Oxford comma.
Key information
- Salary with bachelor’s degree: $45,158
- Best state for psychology: New York
- Salary with master’s degree: $53,950
It is difficult to think of an aspect of life that doesn’t involve psychology – where there are people, there are minds, and where there are minds, there is psychology.
Although not a hard science, psychology applies the scientific method to finding evidence-based solutions and improving people’s lives. Many psychologists provide healthcare services in roles like clinical psychologist or counseling psychologist. Others focus on research, investigating how social and cultural factors affect human cognition and behavior.
Psychology helps educators understand how children learn in order to design more effective and inclusive teaching methods. In the justice system, psychologists apply their knowledge of human behavior to help courts understand criminals, and the limitations of certain types of evidence or testimony. In business, psychologists apply the science of human behavior to the work environment and organizations.
The educational path to a career as a psychologist usually culminates in a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) or Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). Each state sets its own licensure requirements for psychologists, but a graduate degree is required in all jurisdictions. It is illegal to practice as a psychologist in the U.S. without a license.
Some states allow limited licensure with a master’s degree, although master’s-level psychologists can typically only practice under the supervision of a licensed doctorate-level psychologist. The 2 exceptions are industrial-organizational and school psychology – both fields do not require a doctoral degree.
What do you study in a psychology major?
There are 2 major types of psychology: research and clinical/applied. At the bachelor’s level, you take humanities and social-science-based classes like theory of personality, counseling techniques, and developmental psychology to learn about working in applied psychology settings. You’ll also take math and science-based courses like research methods, statistics, and biological psychology to learn about the biological bases of thought as well as the techniques of research psychology. At the master’s level and beyond, your studies will become increasingly narrower as you zero in on your specialization.
Associate degree in psychology
An associate degree in psychology is a 2-year undergraduate program covering topics such as human development, social psychology, and research methods. This degree is often pursued at community colleges or online institutions and can be a stepping stone to a bachelor’s degree in psychology or related fields.
What can you do with an associate degree in psychology?
Graduates with an associate degree in psychology can find entry-level positions in social services, education, or mental health support, but career options and earning potential are limited without further education.
Assistant addictions counselor
Addictions counseling assistants support and guide individuals struggling with addiction, behavioral issues, or mental health challenges.
Bachelor’s in psychology
Psychology is the 5th most popular major in the U.S. and in 2019/20, 79% of bachelor’s degrees in psychology were earned by women. A bachelor’s in psychology can be the initial step on the long educational journey to becoming a psychologist, or it can set the foundation for graduate work in a related discipline like social work, teaching, or counseling.
While a bachelor’s degree in psychology is not required for entry into a doctoral psychology program, it can provide background knowledge that makes getting into a psych doctoral program easier. It is also among the most popular majors for law school applicants and can lead to a well-paid human resources career.
Popular accredited online programs
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Psychologist vs therapist vs counselor, oh my!
Confused by the distinction between these 3 roles? Let’s break it down.
- The term “psychologist” is reserved for individuals who have completed a doctoral degree in psychology and earned are licensed as psychologists.
- Psychologists can call themselves therapists, and they may choose to do so if they offer therapeutic services to patients or clients in private practice.
- “Counselor” and “therapist” are used interchangeably, even by mental health professionals themselves, but differences between the 2 do exist. The main distinction to be aware of is that “counselor” can be applied more freely. For instance, life coaches may advertise counseling services without holding any type of mental health license.
- The terms “therapist”, “licensed”, and “clinical”, are all legally protected and therefore require formal credentials. Becoming a therapist requires at least a master’s degree, usually in social work, counseling, or psychology.
Is a bachelor’s degree in psychology worth it?
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings 3 years after graduating.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Compares earnings from this specific program against the national average for all graduates at this degree level.
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Short-term earnings with a bachelor’s in psychology, 3 years after attending school, are $35,412. This is $15,596 less than the national average for all bachelor’s degrees and places bachelor’s in psychology earnings in the bottom 20% of programs out of 289. Note that this data includes all bachelor’s in psychology graduates regardless of the career they enter after college.
Years to pay back cost of psychology degree
It takes the average bachelor’s in psychology student 8.5 years to earn back their educational investment, compared to 4.5 years for all bachelor’s students. We calculate payback by dividing the costs of attending a school by the average earnings compared to peers in the state without a college education.
Payback amount
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Psychology
8.1
National average
8.5
Economic score
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Psychology
10.3
National average
8.2
Our economic score also takes into account how much more or less students earn when compared to the weighted average nationally for all majors. The economic score of 8.37 places the bachelor’s in psychology in the bottom 25% of all bachelor’s degrees.
Find the best bachelor’s in psychology programs
Explore the best psychology programs in your state
Top 3 schools for psychology majors
Based on economic performance, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, CUNY Hunter College, and CUNY Lehman College are the top 3 schools for psychology majors nationally.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better.
Careers with a bachelor’s in psychology
National wage average
$46,310
National demand increase (2021-31)
7.7%
A bachelor’s in psychology can open doors to countless careers that require just a bachelor’s degree for entry. Here we list only those careers classified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as psychology-related roles. Most high-paying jobs with a psychology bachelor’s degree are in business fields. Note that the salaries listed here are long term, as opposed to the short-term (3 years after graduation) outlook we show above.
Mental health
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors work in mental health centers and private practices, assisting individuals struggling with addictions and associated challenges.
Child, family, and school social worker
Child and family social workers monitor the well-being of at-risk children, including those living in poverty, with disabilities, or in abusive environments. They also liaise between families, schools, family services, courts, and child protective services. You can become a child and family social worker with a bachelor’s in psychology, but you will also need social work licensure.
Business
Training and development specialist
Training and development specialists design and implement training programs for organizations and businesses, aimed at employee professional development.
Human resource managers
Human resources managers direct organizational HR departments, overseeing recruitment, training, and evaluation of employees, administering pay and benefits, and implementing discipline and termination procedures. You can enter this role with a bachelor’s in psychology, but the BLS notes at least 5 years’ professional experience as an additional professional requirement.
Management analyst
Management analysts, also known as management consultants, focus on optimizing organizational procedures and advising managers on how to increase profitability. They analyze systems and business practices, but also financial data and employment reports. While the BLS notes less than 5 years’ experience may be required to enter this role, it will likely take some time after graduating with a bachelor’s in psychology to move into this position.
Master’s in psychology
Since doctoral psychology programs typically have an embedded master’s in the first 2 years, a standalone master’s in psychology makes sense to pursue if you are interested in becoming an industrial-organizational psychologist, a school psychologist or counselor, or if you wish to pursue a psychology-adjacent career requiring a master’s degree for entry.
» Read: Best master’s programs in psychology
Earning a master’s in psychology is also a popular route to becoming a therapist; other options include a master’s in social work or master’s in marriage and family therapy. If you do not plan on pursuing doctoral psychology studies, and have decided what field you want to pursue with your master’s degree, it may be beneficial to choose a specialized program like a master’s in sports psychology or a master’s in business psychology.
Are psychology master’s degrees worth it?
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Median earnings 3 years after graduating.
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual debt is the same as annual earnings.
Compares earnings from this specific program against the national average for all graduates at this degree level.
The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Short-term master’s in psychology earnings (3 years after attending school) are $44,608. This is $19,579 less than the national average, placing psychology graduate earnings in the bottom 20% out of 228 programs measured. Psychology master’s students see a $9,196 increase in earnings over the bachelor’s degree, which is significantly lower than the $13,099 average for all master’s degrees.
Debt-to-earnings
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
Psychology
0.9
National average
0.7
Economic score
The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Psychology
1.2
National average
0.7
Because master’s degrees are typically embedded into PsyD or PhD psychology programs, a standalone master’s in psychology only makes sense if you do not plan to do a doctorate in the field. While becoming a licensed psychologist will generally require a doctoral degree, you can become an industrial-organizational (I-O) or school psychologist with a master’s in psychology.
Find the best master’s in psychology programs
Discover the psychology graduate programs by state
Top 3 master’s in psychology programs
According to our economic score, California State University, Long Beach, Minnesota State University, Mankato, and California State University, Fresno are the top 3 schools for graduate education in psychology nationally.
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual debt is the same as annual earnings.
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better.
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual debt is the same as annual earnings.
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better.
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual debt is the same as annual earnings.
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better.
Careers with a master’s degree in psychology
National wage average
$46,310
National demand increase (2021-31)
7.7%
Earnings in psychology-related careers at this level of educational attainment meet, and in many cases, significantly exceed the national wage average for all occupations, as well as the average of $69,700 for all master’s-level careers. Note that the salaries below are long term, as opposed to the short-term (3 years after graduation) outlook presented above.
Industrial-organizational psychologist
I-O psychologists work to improve the overall running of an organization with a focus on employee training and development, maximizing performance, and improving the overall work environment. Many states require a license to practice I-O psychology, and the BLS notes the high likelihood of an internship/residency requirement. While it is possible to enter this position with a master’s degree in psychology, 52% of I-O psychologists have a doctoral degree.
School psychologist
School psychologists collaborate with school administrators, teachers, and families in facilitating direct support or interventions aimed at addressing children’s educational, psychological, social, and behavioral challenges. Most school psychologists have only a master’s degree, but 35.6% have a doctoral degree or specialist/professional degree like an EdS or PsyS.
Marriage and family therapist
Marriage and family therapists focus on identifying and altering harmful relationship patterns in couples, families, and groups. They seek to create a positive change by helping to reduce behavior patterns that are detrimental to relationships and to individual family members; for example, domestic violence or addictions.
Education
Educational, guidance, and career counselors or advisor
Guidance counselors help middle school and high school students plan their educational and career paths. They may also implement programs to improve student outcomes, deliver analyses of student needs and challenges, and offer short-term counseling or refer students to long-term counseling.
STEM
Statistician
Statisticians practice quantitative psychology – analyzing and communicating numerical data accumulated in research studies. With its heavy STEM focus, this role may not appeal to all psychology students, but becoming a statistician is one of the most lucrative and in-demand career routes with a master’s in psychology.
Doctorate in psychology
Becoming a psychologist will in most cases require a doctoral degree. It is important to ensure that your psychology doctoral program is regionally, nationally, or APA-accredited, depending on your state’s licensure requirements. Certain states also offer licensure to psychologists from Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)-accredited programs.
Supervised work experience (SWE) and predoctoral internships are an important component of both PsyD and PhD programs in psychology and are required for licensure. Doctoral candidates are expected to complete anywhere from 1,500-6,000 hours. SWE is usually completed after graduation, while the predoctoral internship is completed before.
Each state has very specific requirements regarding internship and SWE hours, so it is essential to ensure your program meets the requirements of the state you wish to be licensed in.
PsyD vs PhD in psychology
PsyD programs offers the practitioner-scholar model of training with a greater focus on practical training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and working in clinical settings. PhD psychology programs offer the scientist-practitioner model and lead to non-clinical or academic roles. PhD programs tend to have better funding, as teaching or research assistantships are common, though you can expect most doctoral programs to be fully funded.
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Practitioner-scholar model of training
Focused on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness in clinical settings
Programs admit comparatively more students
More generalist than a PhD program
4-6 years, including year-long internship
PhD in Psychology
Scientist-practitioner model of training
Leads to non-clinical and academic roles like researcher or professor
Programs tend to be more competitive/admit fewer students
More likely to be highly specialized
5-7 years
Psychology specializations
Many psychologists seek advanced training in a specific field to enhance their research or practice. One option is to become board certified in a specialty area. Several agencies offer board certification, but the American Board of Professional Psychology is most prominent.
Common psychology specializations include:
Final thoughts
More than 90% of psychologists in the United States report high job satisfaction. However, the journey to becoming a licensed psychologist can take around a decade from the time you enter college. There are many related professions that draw on similar skills. If you are interested in working in the mental health field but do not want to get your doctorate, then counseling or clinical social work are other career options to consider.