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.
The Many Uses of Psychological Education
Within each domain of psychology, there are a wide array of subdisciplines and specializations. Someone with a bachelor’s degree may pursue openings in residential counseling, rehabilitation assistance, admissions counseling, or youth advocacy programs. Alternatively, they may enter the corporate sector, applying their skills to business administration, public relations, market research, or similar areas. With a master’s degree, an individual can become a counselor at a school or community center or start a private practice (if their state allows it—some require a doctoral degree).
What's more, formal training in psychology can be useful in many fields. An in-depth understanding of human motivation , for example, can be especially valuable for those seeking careers related to marketing or advertising . In addition, training in psychology can provide information that is particularly helpful for those in or seeking leadership positions in any field.
Psychology is a popular major in college and for good reason: College students who major in psychology tend to have a better understanding of human behavior and how to ethically address problems that might crop up based on individual personalities. These skills make a psychology major a valuable asset in many different career areas, including business, education, advertising and marketing, social work, law, medicine, communication, human services, project management, public affairs, and more.
The essential qualities of effective therapists include high empathy, the ability to tolerate strong emotions in others, and low defensiveness. Good therapists patiently teach people new coping skills and gently confront problematic attitudes and behavior. They can build a positive rapport and maintain healthy interpersonal boundaries .
Explore More About Psych Careers
For a comprehensive understanding of psych careers, read our complete guide: