Important Skills Needed to Become a Psychologist

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Skills Needed for Jobs in Psychology

The personality traits and skills needed to be successful in a psychology career will depend on what type of job you’re looking for, and some jobs may lean more heavily in one direction or another, but generally, everyone working in any psychology-related job will need to exhibit a few particular skills.

Analytical mind

Whether they work directly with clients or patients, teach others or work in a research setting, the desire to fully understand the behavior of others is perhaps the single most important trait when working in psychology, so an analytical mind is necessary.

Integrity

In both clinical and research settings, psychology professionals must be trustworthy. This means holding certain things in confidence, in the case of people working with clients, and it means having scientific integrity in the case of those working in research settings.

Interpersonal communication

Psychologists and others working within the psychology field are responsible for understanding people and often are charged with helping them understand themselves. This requires a great deal of skill in tactful communication and interpersonal relationships.

Observational powers

Working in psychology often means being able to pick up on behaviors or emotions that others would prefer to hide, so the ability to decode potentially important meaning from body language or facial expressions is crucial.

Problem-solving

Regardless of their job setting, psychology professionals need to be expert problem-solvers. That could mean helping a patient or client develop a plan for tackling their anxieties, or it could mean anticipating and resolving problems with the structure of a research project.

Why Work in Psychology?

In addition to having an existing skill or passion for the study of human behavior, jobs in psychology are as exciting as they are lucrative. For instance, according to federal employment data, psychologists are expected to see employment grow by 7% between 2023 and 2033, which is nearly twice the growth rate projected for all jobs.

Psychologists are far from the only professionals in the general field of psychology that have a lot to look forward to in the coming years. Marriage and family therapists, for instance, have even brighter job prospects than psychologists in general, as those jobs are projected to grow by 16.2% between 2023 and 2033.

One major reason why so many jobs in psychology are expected to open up in the next decade is the reduced stigma associated with seeking help for mental illness and behavioral disorders. A recent survey found that 76% of Americans believe mental health is as important as physical health.

How Much Do Psychology Majors Earn?

A variety of factors are in play when you talk about how much a psychology major can expect to earn in their jobs — industry, educational level, licensure and certification, location, job type, population served and many more. Clinical and counseling psychologists, one of the main occupations in the field, earn an average wage of $106,600 nationally, but that can range dramatically throughout the country.

How to Become a Psychologist

Education

Generally, psychology professionals who want to work directly with clients or patients diagnosing and treating mental health or behavioral issues need a doctoral degree, either a PhD in psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). Some psychologists who work in schools can earn certification with an Education Specialist (EdS) or Doctor of Education (EdD) degree.

But for many in the field of psychology who are pursing roles that don’t involve state psychologist licensure, a master’s or bachelor’s is appropriate. For instance, those who wish to become career counselors or marriage and family therapists can do so with a master’s degree, while substance abuse counselors may need only a bachelor’s degree, depending on the employer.

Experience

Experience requirements vary by job and patient population, and in some cases, a specific number of hours of supervised experience may be legally required. For individuals who seek jobs as psychologists, in most cases, an internship or residency period is necessary to be able to legally practice, and many employers will expect it regardless of any state rules.

In other cases, such as those who work in the treatment of substance use disorders, it may be helpful to have personal, first-hand experience with addiction, whether as an addicted person or the family member of one. For other jobs, volunteer experience working with an affected population or specific demographic may be helpful.

Certification & Licensure

Generally, the professional practice of psychology, in particular using the title “psychologist,” carries some significant legal obligations, including certification and state licensure. In every state, psychologists who practice independently (vs. working for a specific employer) must become licensed by the state.

Specific requirements vary, but in general, licensure requires a doctorate, an internship and supervised professional experience of at least one year. Candidates must also successfully pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology, and in many states, continuing education is required for maintaining licensure.

Board certification may not be required for all jobs, but in highly specialized areas like neuropsychology or psychoanalysis, it may be helpful to seek certification from an applicable board. For instance, the American Board of Professional Psychology provides certification in 15 psychology specialties, and gaining that certification can help boost a candidates bona fides.

Concentrations for Psychology Majors

Counseling: Helping people function better in their lives, jobs and relationships at all ages, focusing on life stresses and how to cope with them.
Clinical: Diagnosing and treating mental illness, including serious disorders like PTSD or depression.
Group: Focusing on group and relational dynamics in order to diagnose and treat disorders or disturbances within individuals and the group.
Industrial-organizational: Solving problems within workplaces or large organizations related to conflict between staff members.
Couples and families: Addressing behavioral or emotional disorders impacting the function of couples or family units.
Forensic: Providing expertise and (sometimes) counseling within an investigative or criminal justice setting.
Cognitive & neuropsychology: Focusing on study of how the human brain stores and processes information as it relates to behavioral and emotional well-being.
Pediatric & adolescent: Diagnosing and treating unique behavioral and emotional issues that affect children and teenagers.
Rehabilitation: Focusing on individuals impacted by substance use disorders, alcoholism or related problems.

Median Salary by Psychology Occupation

Industrial-organizational psychologists	$147,420
Clinical and counseling psychologists	$96,100
Psychologists in general	$92,740
School psychologists	$84,940
Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors	$61,710
Marriage and family therapists	$58,510
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors	$53,710
Rehabilitation counselors	$44,040

Jobs You Can Do With Psychology Degrees

Specific career options for psychology professionals will largely be determined by the education they have. That’s because almost everyone who wants to practice as a psychologist, therapist or counselor will need a state license, which usually requires advanced degrees. For instance, those who wish to practice independently as clinical psychologists must earn licensure before they can practice.

That said, working directly with individuals to alleviate their emotional or behavioral issues is not the only possible way to work in psychology, and people with a passion for understanding human behavior can use that passion to excel in a variety of jobs. An education in psychology opens the door to careers in fields as varied as marketing and human resources.

Median Salary of Psychology Majors by Degree Level

While the BLS doesn’t track salary data for psychologists by degree, it does categorize psychologist salary data by percentile. For the sake of comparison, the bottom 25^th percentile psychologist salary is associated with a bachelor’s degree, the median-to-top 25th% range is for those with a master’s, and the top 10th% psychologist salary is reserved for those with a doctoral degree:

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology	Master’s Degree in Psychology	Doctoral Degree in Psychology
$68,780	$92,740 – $124,960	$151,880

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

While most high-paying jobs in psychology can only be unlocked with more advanced training, there are lots of roles available for those with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. The foundational training received in an undergraduate program provides the fundamental knowledge of human behavior, and a person’s specific skills could further help them refine what type of entry-level psychology job is right for them.

Many people find success in the job market at this educational level, but many people may choose to work in an entry-level job for a few years before pursuing a master’s degree or doctorate, which can open up additional opportunities.

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

These professionals provide advice and guidance for people who are dealing with things like substance use disorder, alcoholism, eating disorders, mental illness or other behavioral and emotional disturbances. They may provide support to clients as well as their families in attempting to modify behavioral issues. These individuals may work within inpatient or outpatient treatment or mental health facilities, while others work in private practice. It may be necessary for them to consult with other providers, such as physicians or corrections officers as well. In some cases, they may work within the structure of 12-step programs or faith traditions.

Median wage: $53,710

Social and Human Services Assistants

These professionals help connect community members with necessary assistance, and those with a background in psychology will focus on providing help related to mental health, substance use or behavioral disorders. They most often work in clinics, hospitals or group homes, though some work in independent offices.

Median wage: $41,410

Market Research Analyst

They study market conditions related to the introduction and sale of goods and services, and those with a background in psychology use their expertise in human behavior to inform their recommendations. They may be responsible for things like creating questionnaires and conducting interviews, in addition to analyzing data, and they often work in consulting firms or in the finance space.

Median wage: $74,680

Training and Development Specialist

These professionals work to develop and administer programs to train employees, improving their knowledge base and skill set. They formulate training and assessment materials, using their expertise in psychology to ensure they are communicating well. They may work as independent consultants or within large organizations.

Median wage: $64,340

Master’s Degree in Psychology

At the master’s degree level, many more jobs become available that involve working directly with clients. While some master’s degrees in psychology stand on their own as terminal degrees, schools of psychology that prepare graduates for full authority licensure build master’s to be a precursor to the doctoral programs they offer. In addition to expanding opportunities for directly working with people to improve their mental health, psychology professionals with master’s degrees open up high-level non-clinical work, such as corporate leadership roles.

School Counselor

These individuals assist students in developing the academic and personal skills needed to succeed in their educational journeys. They may evaluate a student’s academic and emotional aptitude and recommend potential courses of study, help them plot out their career goals and collaborate with teachers and parents to help students achieve success.

Median wage: $61,710

Marriage and Family Therapist

These therapists help couples and family units manage emotional, mental or behavioral problems that impact the family unit. They help couples and families learn methods of coping with issues and communicating their needs in a healthy way.

Median wage: $58,510

Human Resources Manager

Human resources directors are responsible for managing all functions of personnel and related departments within organizations, which often involves recruiting, hiring and developing staff members as well as consulting with upper-level management on larger business decisions.

Median wage: $136,350

Sociologist

These individuals study society and behavioral patterns of large groups. They are most often focused on research, including collecting and analyzing data on social, religious, economic and political groups or institutions and analyzing the impact, growth and history of such groups. Sociologists may specialize in various areas, including crime and poverty, religion, families, or gender and race.

Median wage: $101,770

Doctoral Degree in Psychology

Terminal degrees within the field of psychology are structured as Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) and Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). While both can help qualify candidates to become licensed psychologists, the PsyD is expressly practice-focused, making it ideal for those who work directly with clients. A PhD can serve the same purpose, and is also ideally suited for those going into academia, research and publishing.

In every state, those who wish to practice as independent psychologists must first earn a doctoral degree, followed by a professional internship after that, though specific rules on those vary. Some who wish to do similar work without that particular title or who will work for an employer may not need state certification, but that will vary by job.

Clinical Psychologist

Clinical psychologists work directly with clients and patients to diagnose and treat mental illnesses, develop tools to modify problem behaviors and instill strategies for coping with everyday stress. In some states, these professionals can become authorized to prescribe medications, though that is not standard, and most will specialize in specific types of therapies or populations.

Median wage: $96,100

School Psychologist

These psychologists work in educational settings, most often primary and secondary schools, evaluating and addressing the mental health and behavioral concerns of students. They are often responsible for developing and evaluating individualized plans for student success, and they sometimes will need to coordinate with outside parties, such as parents or the legal system.

Median wage: $84,940

Forensic Psychologist

These professionals work within or very close to the criminal justice or civil court system, evaluating defendants for competency to stand trial, providing expert testimony related to human behavior and sometimes providing direct counseling services to defendants or incarcerated individuals.

Median wage: $117,750 (BLS: psychologists, all other)

Neuropsychologist

Neuropsychologists study the relationship between the physical structures of the brain and an individual’s behavioral state. In practice, this may mean consulting with patients who have experienced a traumatic brain injury or who have been diagnosed with a degenerative brain condition and helping predict and manage the impact on their mood and behavior.

Median wage: $117,750 (BLS: psychologists, all other)

Where Can I Get a Job With a Psychology Degree?

While not all psychology degrees will lead to full authority psychologist licensure, it can be helpful to examine data related to that role as a proxy for all jobs that become available after a degree in psychology. The good news is that psychologists are generally in-demand in every state and, as we’ve already discussed, such jobs are projected to become even more popular in the years to come. But the prevalence of these jobs do vary widely by state.

Locations

The decision of which state is best for you is a highly personal one that will include factors like cost of living, weather, politics, crime rates, environment, culture and many more. While psychologist jobs generally are available in every state, there’s no doubt the wages and concentration of those jobs is incredibly variable depending on the state.

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

State	Median Annual Salary	Employment Per 1,000 Jobs
New Jersey	$130,700	0.478
Oregon	$126,830	0.252
California	$126,450	0.660
Washington	$110,480	0.289
Rhode Island	$110,000	0.815
Ohio	$105,680	0.246
Nevada	$104,020	0.241
Alaska	$103,530	0.390
Maryland	$102,680	0.917
Minnesota	$101,160	0.580
New York	$99,870	0.776
Maine	$97,770	0.337
Wisconsin	$97,080	0.483
Massachusetts	$95,780	0.921
Kentucky	$95,130	0.357
Alabama	$94,740	0.212
Hawaii	$92,480	0.453
Tennessee	$89,980	0.197
Arizona	$89,830	0.201
Virginia	$89,520	0.483
Iowa	$86,300	0.353
Illinois	$85,990	0.820
Missouri	$83,840	0.579
South Dakota	$83,470	0.339
Colorado	$83,100	0.435
Utah	$82,350	0.708
New Mexico	$81,640	0.328
Indiana	$80,480	0.470
Georgia	$79,410	0.146
Florida	$78,730	0.280
Vermont	$78,700	0.413
North Carolina	$78,630	0.472
Michigan	$77,530	0.580
Oklahoma	$76,190	0.160
Texas	$75,140	0.313
North Dakota	$74,110	0.374
Pennsylvania	$73,470	0.499
Montana	$67,590	0.642
Kansas	$66,390	0.232
Wyoming	$65,810	0.236
Idaho	$65,590	0.730
Arkansas	$65,440	0.325
West Virginia	$65,350	0.994
South Carolina	$59,580	0.315
New Hampshire	$48,780	0.433
Connecticut	–	0.404
Delaware	–	0.410
Louisiana	–	0.264
Mississippi	–	0.181

Industries

Government

Psychologists employed by government agencies most often are hired to help police officers, firefighters or military service members cope with the stresses of their jobs.

Average wage: $95,220

Hospitals

Many psychologists are employed by inpatient hospitals, whether those are mental health facilities or hospitals that deal with all types of patients.

Average wage: $100,970

Ambulatory health care services

Ambulatory healthcare services generally refers to outpatient mental health facilities or clinics.

Average wage: $112,840

Elementary and secondary schools

These professionals work with students and teachers.

Average wage: $90,910

Individual and Family Services

This is one of the most relevant sectors for any psychologist or counselor.

Average wage: $90,140

How Can I Get a Psychology Job?

While this will depend on what educational level is required and whether you’ll need a license to practice, the best way to get a job in psychology is much the same as it is for any other job — make a solid resume and build your professional network. Psychology can be a difficult field to quantify when it comes to building a resume, so be sure to list all certifications, specialties and licenses you’ve received so that anybody looking at your resume will know immediately that you have been endorsed by a professional body or a state board.

It’s also helpful to decide what type of organization you want to work for, assuming you’re not going into your own private psychology practice. For instance, a market researcher with a bachelor’s degree in psychology may choose to work for a company or nonprofit that’s doing important work in the mental health field, or a counselor who has a personal family history of substance use may narrow their focus to inpatient treatment facilities. In other words, following your passion may lead you to your ideal job.

Many professional organizations in psychology operate job boards, including the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Alternatively, it can be helpful to consult with professors and other faculty members throughout your education journey who may be able to point you in the right direction professionally.

Professional Resources for Psychology Majors

American Psychological Association

The preeminent body for advancing the understanding of psychology, the APA provides accreditation to doctoral programs in psychology as well as regularly publishing data and analysis related to the practice and study of psychology.

American Board of Professional Psychology

Founded in 1947, the ABPP is the primary professional organization that confers board certification for licensed psychologists in a total of 15 specialty areas.

National Association of School Psychologists

The NASP represents more than 25,000 school psychologists and related professionals throughout the U.S. and 25 other countries and is the largest organization of school psychologists.

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association aims to ensure humane care and treatment of individuals with mental illness and is the leading organization in the practice of modern psychiatry. The group aims to promote and advance the cause of psychiatry.

Association for Psychological Sciences

A nonprofit that’s shaping the understanding of psychological science, the association supports active psychological science throughout the world and promotes scientific perspectives in the study of human behavior and related areas.

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

With more than 50,000 member marriage and family therapists throughout the U.S., Canada and abroad, the association is the main professional organization for couples and family therapists.

Psi Chi

An international honors society, Psi Chi promotes outstanding achievement and advancement in the study and application of psychology throughout the world. The organization, formally titled the International Honor Society in Psychology, was founded in 1929.

SIOP

The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, SIOP is the leading professional organization for the study and practice of industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology.

American Academy of Clinical Psychology

Founded in 1993, the academy is a professional membership organization for those who have earned board certification as licensed psychologists.

American Academy of Forensic Psychology

The academy is a membership organization for board certified forensic psychologist that aims to provide continuing education and scientific exchange among members.

References

May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary for Psychologists, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, Psychologists, all other, Sociologists, Human Resources Managers, Training and Development Specialists, Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists, Social and Human Service Assistants, Rehabilitation Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors, Industrial-Organizational Psychologists, and School Psychologists. National labor market information and