In a sense, every career is a psychology career. Whether someone is a salesperson, a schoolteacher, or a sports coach, to be effective—and especially to advance in their line of work—they often need a fine-tuned understanding of what motivates people.
What Are Careers in Psychology?
While those who study psychology can go on to follow a multitude of different career paths—both inside and outside the world of psychologists. Even people who make it the focus of their careers can take on a variety of roles.
Research psychologists, who typically have earned or are pursuing doctoral degrees, develop and test hypotheses about human behavior and the mind. Therapists, who span a range of education and certification levels, focus on working with people to address personal problems and help produce improvements in their lives. Psychologists can work with technology, both influencing the design of it and studying the effects it has on the human brain. Industrial-organizational psychologists are in high demand; they may study how humans interact with computers, increase productivity in the workplace, or design training programs for employees.
Pain psychology is another growing area with opportunities to help people overcome opioid addictions and learn healthier ways to cope with pain. Psychologists may choose to work with law enforcement, either evaluating criminals or providing mental health care to first-line responders. There are even traffic psychologists who use their knowledge of the human brain to influence drivers to prioritize safety on the road.
Psychology majors have a number of career options available to them with a Bachelor’s degree (4 years of study), most notably occupational therapy assistant, human resources specialist, and rehabilitation specialist. They may work in such areas as rehabilitation, marketing, law enforcement, or education. Popular jobs include counseling job-seekers about career paths, work in school administrations, recruiting clients for businesses, assisting in academic or market research, and working in administration, sales, or marketing. Individuals with an undergraduate degree tend to earn between $23,500 to $100,500 per year.
Explore More About Psych Careers
For a comprehensive understanding of psych careers, read our complete guide: