Psychology Careers

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The Psychology Profession

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Occupations today require a college educated
individual who can

• Write speak well
• Solve problems
• Learn new information quickly
• Work well with others on a team

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College graduates use their education in a wide
variety of fields Your future career may relate
more to your
work values,
transferable skills,
or personal career
interests than any specific academic major.
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• Related Skills for Psychology Majors
• Interpersonal Communication (oral written)
• Engage in Ethical Practice
• Knowledge of Human Development Behavior
• Problem Solving
• Able to Observe, Analyze, Interpret
  Information
• Decision Making
• Concern for Sensitivity to Others
• Interviewing Techniques
• Critical Inferential Thinking
• Good Listener
• Insight to Deal Effectively with People
• Able to Promote Healthy Relationships
• Ability to Resolve or Mediate Conflicts
• Understanding of Group Dynamics

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Related Career Titles for Psychology Majors

• Crisis Intervention
• Counselor
• Probation Officer
• Activity Leader
• Professional Employment
• Recruiter
• Advertising
• Labor Relations Specialist
• Art Therapist

• Customer Service
• Marketing/Sales Manager
• Media Buyer
• Public Opinion Surveyor
• Public Relations
• College Student Affairs
• Labor Relations Manager
• Mental Health Coordinator

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• Related Career Titles for Psychology Majors
• Recreation Specialist
• Community Social Service Worker
• Employment Agency Counselor
• Community Relations Director
• Sales Representative
• Community Relations Rep
• Social Service Administrator
• Copywriter
• Occupational Therapist
• Operations Manager
• Correctional Caseworker
• Teacher
• Health Educator
• Personnel Interviewer

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Psychologists - Significant Points
About 4 out of 10 psychologists are
self-employed, compared with less than 1 out of
10 among all professional workers.
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• Psychologists
• Significant Points
• Most specialists, including clinical
  counseling psychologists, need a doctoral degree.
  
• School psychologists need an educational
  specialist degree.
• Industrial-organizational psychologists need a
  masters degree.

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Psychologists - Significant Points

• Competition for admission to graduate psychology
  programs is keen. Some programs require a
  Bachelor's degree in Psychology.

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Psychologists Significant Points
Overall employment of psychologists is
expected to grow faster than the average
for all occupations through 2014.
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Psychologists - Job Outlook A bachelors
degree in psychology qualifies a person to assist
psychologists other professionals in community
mental health centers, vocational rehabilitation
offices, correctional programs.
Bachelors degree holders may work as research or
administrative assistants for psychologists. Some
work as technicians in related fields, such as
marketing research. Many find employment in other
areas, such as sales or business management.
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Psychologists Job Outlook Opportunities for
people holding doctorates from leading
universities in areas with an applied emphasis,
such as clinical, counseling, health,
educational psychology, should have particularly
good prospects. Psychologists with
extensive training in quantitative research
methods computer science may have a competitive
edge over applicants without this background.
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Psychologists Earnings Median annual earnings
of wage salary clinical, counseling, school
psychologists in 2004 were 54,950. The middle
50 percent earned between 41,850 71,880.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than 32,280,
the highest 10 percent earned more than
92,250.
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• Psychologists Earnings
• Median annual earnings in the industries
  employing the largest numbers of clinical,
  counseling, school psychologists in 2004 were
• Offices of other health care practitioners
  64,000
• Elementary secondary schools 58,360
• Outpatient care centers 46,850
• Individual family services 42,640

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Psychologists - Earnings Median annual
earnings of wage salary industrial-organizationa
l psychologists in 2004 were 71,400. The
middle 50 percent earned between 56,880
93,210. The lowest 10 percent earned less
than 45,620, the highest 10 percent earned
more than 125,560.
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Working Conditions
A psychologists subfield place of
employment determine his or her working
conditions. Clinical, school, counseling
psychologists in private practice have their own
offices set their own hours. However, they
often offer evening weekend hours to
accommodate their clients. Those employed
in hospitals, nursing homes, other health care
facilities may work shifts that include evenings
and weekends, while those who work in schools
clinics generally work regular hours.
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Working Conditions
Psychologists employed as faculty by colleges
universities divide their time between teaching
research also may have administrative
responsibilities many have part-time consulting
practices. Most psychologists in government
industry have structured schedules.
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Working Conditions
Increasingly, many psychologists are working
as part of a team, consulting with other
psychologists professionals. Many experience
pressures because of deadlines, tight schedules,
overtime. Their routine may be interrupted
frequently. Travel may be required in order to
attend conferences or conduct research.
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The End
Citation Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook
Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Psychologists, on the
Internet at http//www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm
(visited October 18, 2006).
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