What Is The Best Career In Psychology

Psychology Careers In Research

Top Jobs For Psychology Majors (10 Jobs)

Psychology careers in research may be based within research agencies, public and private organizations or in universities. University-based careers vary but tend to combine research and teaching. Research careers within other sectors are even more wide-ranging but could mean contributing to governmental policy development or issues of importance for industry. You could also work for a charity or other non-profit organization, perhaps conducting research to help resolve challenges such as speech impediments, brain damage, child development or the impact of legal and illegal drugs on psychological health.

High Paying Psychology Jobs

We researched the highest paying psychology careers. To find salary information, we looked at reputable sources, such as the American Psychological Association , Bureau of Labor Statistics , and PayScale. Here you will find some of the highest paying psychology jobs on the market today. This list is designed to assist you with making informed decisions about your psychology education and career path. Our results are listed below.

Forensic Or Criminal Psychologist

Forensic psychologists apply psychology to the fields of criminal investigation and law. This has rapidly become one of the hottest psychology careers thanks to numerous portrayals in popular movies, television programs, and books.

While the field may not be as glamorous as it is depicted in the media, forensic psychology is still an exciting career choice with a lot of potential for growth. These psychologists often work with other experts to scrutinize insurance claims, perform child custody evaluations, and investigate suspected child abuse.

If you are interested in this area of psychology, you might want to also consider the related field of criminal psychology. Criminal psychologists perform a variety of duties such as developing profiles of criminals, assessing convicted criminals to determine their risk of re-offending, and helping law enforcement catch online predators.

The Value Of The Undergraduate Degree

Psychology majors, whether they have gone on to careers in psychology or other fields, cite courses in the principles of human behavior as especially important to life after college. The additional insight gained from these courses helps them, whether they are functioning as parents at home, managers on the job or professionals in other fields. Many bachelors degree holders credit their college psychology courses with teaching them how people, including themselves, learn. I use information on learning theory every time I conduct a training session for my employees, says a manager in a consumer products company. Above all, it is the rigorous training in the scientific method the need to do thorough, objective research, analyze data logically and put forth the findings with clarity that stands psychology majors in good stead as they pursue their future careers.

What Can I Do With An Associates Degree In Psychology

Explore a list of the highest paying psychology careers including ...

Social Service Assistant

Social service assistants provide services in a wide range of fields, including psychology, social work, and rehabilitation. They can take on many job titles, such as family service assistant, casework aide, addictions counselor assistant, or family service assistant. The job responsibilities of a social service assistant can include helping clients find assistance with daily activities, such as eating and bathing, coordinating social services, working with other professionals to develop treatment plans, or researching services or aid that are available to clients.

Median salary: $35,960

Psychiatric Technician or Aide

Psychiatric technicians work as part of a team, assisting psychiatrists, medical doctors, and patients with a variety of tasks. They often assist the elderly, patients who have been psychiatrically hospitalized, and persons with disabilities. Their job responsibilities include administering therapeutic aid and medications, assisting patients with daily activities, documenting patients conditions, and updating physicians.

Median salary: $31,570

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Best Jobs For Psychology Associate Degree Graduates

An associate psychology degree is an excellent option if youre looking to get some entry-level experience while deciding what career you ultimately want to pursue, or before entering a higher degree program. Though most psychology jobs require at least a bachelors degree, there are several career options for students with an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree in psychology.

Here are a few ideas of what to do with a psychology degree at the associate level.

Psychology Careers In Education

Psychology graduates interested in the education sector have a number of different options. As well as educational therapy, educational psychology and social work within education, psychology graduates may qualify as teachers, working in primary, secondary or tertiary level education. They may instead work within social services to help support learning in the community at all ages, or within the prison sector to provide support for young offenders.

To become an educational psychologist, you will need the same qualifications as any psychologist . This is a role concerned with the development of young people in educational settings, with the aim of enhancing learning and dealing with social and emotional issues or learning difficulties.

To teach psychology, depending on the level you choose, youll need an additional teaching qualification. To enter careers in tertiary education you will likely need a further qualification, such as a masters and/or PhD. Roles in higher education are likely to encompass both teaching and research .

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Bachelor Of Arts In Psychology

At the very basis of this degree, you are studying in the field of liberal arts. While often mistaken to be less academic than other degrees and assumed to be painted with the broad brush of only performing arts and fine arts, a Bachelor of Arts degree is as academic as it is creative.

A BA degree, while focusing on psychology, also focuses quite greatly on humanities and other social science courses. In this way, BA psychology degrees equip those that are enrolled in this course with skills that will benefit them beyond the field of psychology.

It is in this degree that you will learn writing, language, and other pertinent skills that can ultimately help you connect with individuals on a human level. Many people who pursue a BA degree in psychology are equipped to follow career paths that may not necessarily be in the field of psychology itself.

However, each course and each element of this degree is greatly intertwined with each other, providing students with a well-rounded approach to work life.

Human Development Across The Lifespan

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This survey course, which counseling psychology students often take during their first couple of semesters, explores how individuals grow and change throughout their lives. Covered topics may include biological, social, cognitive and emotional factors that can alter and influence human development. Additional topics may include crises, abnormal psychology, family dynamics and psychopathology in the context of development.

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What Is A Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology

A bachelor’s degree in psychology typically requires four years of study at an accredited college or university. In addition to general education courses, psychology majors often develop their understanding of psychology through specific classes like:

Psychological theory
Experimental psychology
Social psychology

Additional coursework related to the field of psychology that most academic institutions require for their students include:

General mathematics

These courses help prospective psychologists enter many industries and specific jobs with useful psychological knowledge to help them better perform the specifics of their role.

Mental Health Counselor: $39710

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Mean salary: $39,710
Focus: Assessment/Therapy
Stability & growth: Average/ Industry experiences extremely high yearly growth

Mental health counselors help people with problems concerning their personal lives and their emotional and mental well-being such as marital, family, and education problems, and substance abuse issues. Most states require at least a masters degree in counseling in order to become a licensed counselor. While the industry is growing, with expected 37% growth through 2020, the average mean salaries remain fairly low. In order to garner high salaries, mental health counselors must be experienced and educated, and as such lucrative paths within this career are highly competitive.

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Best Jobs With A Psychology Degree

Psychology ranks among the top three majors at the undergraduate level, and with good reason. Psychology students can go on to have lucrative careers in a variety of fields, from clinical practice to business, education, sports, and more. Careers in psychology are highly competitive, which begs the question: what job can you get with a psychology degree?

The best psychology degree jobs are dependent on your passions and interests, as well as which degree you pursue. In some professions, you can get started with just an associate or bachelors degree, while others require a graduate degree or higher. So, what can you do with a psychology degree? Lets run through some of your options.

Select your highest level of schooling below to navigate to a list of careers in psychology

My highest level of schooling:

Online Phd In Organizational Psychology What To Expect

This degree will benefit you if you desire to make the employee environment the best possible. To advance your mastery in this specialty, consider pursuing your dual masters and PhD in psychology. This process can be a smooth transition if you have first-hand knowledge of what organizational psychology PhD programs require. Are you excited already? Delve deeper to know the likely educational requirements, coursework, and the cost of these prestigious programs.

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Alternatives To The Psyd Degree

Before you decide if the Psy.D. is the right degree for you, it is important to spend some time considering your options. The Psy.D. can be an excellent choice if you want to focus your energy on being a practitioner of psychology. If you are also interested in conducting research, then you might want to consider the Ph.D. option.

If you know that you want to work in the field of mental health but arent sure if you want to spend the time and money on a doctorate degree, social work, counseling, school psychology, education, and health sciences are other academic options that might also hold some appeal.

Correctional Facility Psychologist $85000

Focus: Assessment/Consultation
Stability & growth: Above Average/Industry Experiences High Yearly Growth

Forensic Psychology may currently be one of the hottest and fast growing careers in psychology due to its glamorous portrayal in modern novels, popular TV shows, and movies, however, the reality of the job may not be as appealing. While the high-stress and uncomfortable situations associated with this profession boosting available salaries, the subject matter of the job may be a turn-off for some. Forensic psychologists lend their skills to insurance claim cases, child custody disputes, child abuse accusations, and other legal disputes in need of a psychological perspective. While the mean average salary is nothing to gawk at, experience and education can lead forensic psychologists to six-figure salaries and specialization, which allows one to focus on his or her favored area of the profession.

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Quantitative And Measurement Psychologists

Quantitative and measurement psychologists focus on methods and techniques for designing experiments and analyzing psychological data. Some develop new methods for performing analyses others create research strategies to assess the effect of social and educational programs and psychological treatment. They develop and evaluate mathematical models for psychological tests. They also propose methods for evaluating the quality and fairness of the tests.

General Skills For Psychologists

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Problem-solving skills. These skills are necessary since psychologists need to find treatments for the mental and behavioral problems of patients. Also, obstacles in an experiment or unexpected results in treatment might arise. In these situations, psychologists must think of alternative strategies and implement them quickly.

Communication skills. Strong verbal and written communication skills are important if you want to work as a psychologist. Aside from consulting and helping with patients, psychologists also need to write reports, explain the findings of an experiment, or present their works to other colleagues or professional organizations.

Patience. Many of the job roles in psychology will require patience and sensitive listening and questioning skills. If a psychologist works with people with mental or behavioral issues, their patience will be tested.

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Why Pursue A Career In Psychology

A career in psychology can be fulfilling, especially if you have a passion for learning and listening to others. If you also enjoy recording, analyzing, and interpreting data, psychology careers might just be right for you. The job responsibilities can be challenging and stressful but your work also has the potential to make a huge impact on peoples lives. As of 2019, a total of 177,655 degrees in psychology have been awarded in the United States .

There are many types of specializations in the field of psychology so the job responsibilities are also different from one job to the other. Some of the most common duties you can expect as someone in psychology-related occupations include conducting scientific research on behavior and brain function, identifying/diagnosing mental and emotional disorders, and researching/writing articles to educate and share your findings with others.

Moreover, you might also be in a position where you will need to deliver counseling services, discuss medical treatments with clients and their families, or supervise other clinicians and interns while performing their duties. You might also work in the criminal justice system where you will be tasked to interpret and provide your expert opinion on a criminal case.

Kickstart Your Psychology Career With A Degree From University Of The Cumberlands

At University of the Cumberlands, we are proud to offer a number of excellent degree programs within the field of psychology, including undergraduate degrees as well as masters degrees and doctoral degrees. Through these accredited degree programs, we are able to prepare students for a wide range of fascinating and rewarding psychology careers.

If you are interested in learning more about the psychology degree programs offered at University of the Cumberlands, contact an admissions counselor or request more information today.

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Correctional & Forensic Psychology

Average Salary for Correctional Psychologist: Around $71,000 or $80,000
Average Salary for Forensic Psychologist: $60,000
Top earners in forensic/correctional psychology: Around $110,000
Education: 68 years

If you like CSI and want to solve crimes by catching killers well then, forensic psychology might not be for you! Sure, depending on where you work, you might be doing some of the same stuff you see on TV , but most forensic psychologists are just psychologists who utilize their expertise in the context of the legal system. Its much more common for forensic psychologists to deal with things like custody disputes, performing visitation risk assessments or evaluating someones mental health so it can be used to help make a legal decisions. In other words, forensic psychologists are basically clinical psychologists who work in the criminal justice system, which is why many of them actually have degrees in clinical psychology.

How You Earn A Psyd

The educational requirements for the Psy.D. are designed to train psychologists to utilize their understanding of the science of the mind and behavior to treat and diagnose mental illnesses. Most Psy.D. programs take approximately four to seven years to complete, depending on the program specialty, an individual’s prior education, and so on. During this time, students study and practice a wide variety of topics, including psychological assessment, diagnosis, and clinical interventions.

As with the Ph.D. degree, Psy.D. students must participate in a supervised practicum as well as a supervised internship in a clinical setting. During the practicum, students usually work part-time under the supervision of a licensed psychologist in a variety of different clinical settings. The internship is a full-time position and usually lasts at least one year. After completing an internship, students are then able to take state and national exams in order to become licensed psychologists.

The American Psychological Association accredits both Psy.D. and Ph.D. programs. No matter what type of program you are considering, you should definitely check to see if the program is APA accredited. Most state licensing boards require applicants to have completed their degree and supervised internship at an APA accredited institution.

How To Start Your Career In Psychology

Psychology education that you can take at the undergraduate level includes an associate degree and a bachelors degree. Though specific admission requirements will vary depending on your chosen program, most are commonly shared so you can have an idea of what to prepare before you start your application.

You can begin your career in psychology by choosing which field you would like to focus on when finding a job. The psychology professional has three primary fields: clinical and counseling psychology, behavioral psychology, and academic or research psychology .

Positions under the clinical and counseling field include child psychologists, clinical forensic psychologists, and geropsychologists. On the other hand, you can work as a marriage and family therapist, a behavioral counselor, or an industrial/organizational psychologist if you choose to focus on behavioral psychology. In the academic or research field, you can work as a psychology professor, a researcher, or a lab manager. Entry-level jobs in each field often require a bachelors degree, while clinical roles and positions in the academe will require a postgraduate degree.

Best Jobs For Psychology Majors: 2022 Edition

Do you have a fascination with human nature? Do you want to understand why we do the things we do? If this describes you, a psychology degree might launch you into a career you love. Psychology majors find jobs that are both fascinating and in high demand. But what are the career options? What are the best jobs for psychology majors?

In this article, we will explore some of the most exciting and lucrative careers available to those with an education in psychology. We will also discuss how to pursue these careers. Read on, psych majors the future is bright.

Article Navigation: Who is a Psychology Major? | 7 Best Jobs for Psychology Majors | Best Jobs for Psychology Majors: FAQs | In Conclusion: The Best Jobs for Psychology Majors

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