Salary Outlook with Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology Degree
As more Americans are seeking help with their mental health issues as they are living longer than ever, obtaining a Ph.D. in developmental psychology can be a solid career choice. With this advanced degree, you may work as a licensed developmental psychologist, or in academia and/or research. Many professionals earning their Ph.D. in this specialization choose to work as college professors or researchers, but it is possible to work in private practice as a psychologist with this degree.
Whatever type of Ph.D. in psychology you earn, it will take at least four to six years and a lot of money. So it is wise to understand what your salary potential is with this postgraduate degree.
Below is more information about the salary outlook as a psychologist with a Ph.D., as well as related fields.
Salary Outlook Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), the median salary for all psychologists is $92,740 per year. The bottom 10% earn $52,430 or less per year, and the top 10% earn $151,880 and up. Professionals with their PhD in developmental psychology can generally expect to earn towards the top of the income scale.
The BLS also reports the all other psychologists category, which includes developmental psychologists, earn a median salary of $117,750, while that figure for clinical and counseling psychologists is $96,100 annually.
Median salaries in the top psychology industries are:
- Government – $115,400
- Hospitals – $102,660
- Ambulatory healthcare services – $98,380
- Elementary and secondary schools – $84,750
Many professionals with this PhD may want to work as professors and college instructors, so it is beneficial to look at the salary potential for post-secondary psychology teachers.
The BLS reports the median wage for post-secondary psychology teachers is $82,140. The top 10% earn $151,890 and up per year.
High Salary Growth in Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology Job
The BLS reports the following sectors offer the highest average salaries for all other psychologists, the category that includes developmental psychologists:
- Scientific research and development – $131,220
- Educational support – $123,260
- Local government, excluding schools and hospitals – $118,690
- Federal, state, and local government (excluding schools and hospitals) – $117,690
Ph.D. Job Outlook
Because of the general higher demand for psychological services in America, getting your PhD in developmental psychology should offer you many career opportunities. It is anticipated that employment for psychologists will grow by 7% from 2023 to 2033, which is faster than average for all occupations. Employment for clinical and counseling psychologists is expected to grow by 13.3%.
Demand for clinical, counseling and developmental psychologists is expected to grow as more people want help with their problems as they age. More people also want to understand how the human brain develops and changes with age, so developmental psychologists will be needed in greater numbers.
If you are interested in a career in academia with your PhD in developmental psychology, you can expect to see a 5% increase in demand for post-secondary psychology teachers between 2023 and 2033, which is faster than average. The number of people who will attend college will rise in the next 10 years. They will continue to want higher education to gain the education and skills they need to meet their career goals.
Colleges will be hiring more instructors to meet this demand in the psychology field, but many of these jobs will be part-time. There are not as many full-time, tenured positions at college and universities, and you can expect tough competition for them.
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and labor market information for Psychologists, Post-secondary psychology teachers, and Psychologists, all other is based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed February 2025.
Featured Online Ph.D. in Development Psychology Programs
Walden University offers an online Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology where you will gain and apply knowledge of human growth and development to empower other people as a consultant, researcher or teacher. (Walden.edu)
SEE ALSO: Top Online PhD in Developmental Psychology Programs
Students apply the newest theories, research and best practices in human development to help individuals, families, and communities. You also will enhance your understanding between cognitive, physical, emotional, social, health and cultural components of development to help people overcome major challenges.
Key learning outcomes of this accredited Ph.D. program are:
- Synthesize research and theory in the key aspects of human development
- Develop your identity as a developmental psychologist
- Evaluate how critical issues in the developmental psychology field apply to major aspects of human development
- Produce unique scholarly research with advanced research methods
- Understand how major social and political issues, events and policies affect the field of developmental psychology
- Apply development psychology research in various organizations and institutions focused on issues that affect human development
- Participate in professional activities that relate to developmental psychology that promote social change for the better of the community
Required courses for graduation from this four-year Ph.D. program include:
- Themes and Theories of Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Culture and Psychology
- Development in the Digital Age
- Gender and Development
- Language and Cognitive Development
- Social and Emotional Development
- Culture and Psychology
- Research Theory, Design and Methods
- Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
Most students who graduate with this Ph.D. work in careers involving research, consulting, teaching or administration. You may seek employment in these fields:
- Academia
- Crisis intervention
- Early childhood education facilities
- Individual and family services
- Public and private hospitals
- Rehabilitation and senior centers
- Nonprofit human service organizations
- Community youth organizations
Conclusion
Earning your Ph.D. in developmental psychology is a solid career option if you want to work as a licensed psychologist, or if you want a career in academia or research. There will be strong job opportunities across the country for licensed developmental psychologists. There also is rising demand for postsecondary teachers in psychology, but full-time, tenured positions are fewer in number, and you may need to take part-time jobs as a college instructor to maximize your salary.
References
- Things You Can Do With a Doctorate In Psychology Degree. 2019 (N.D.). Retrieved from: https://psydprograms.org/50-things-you-can-do-with-a-psychology-degree/