Psychologist: Career Information

Psychologists study the human mind and human behavior. The most popular area of specialization is clinical psychology. Other areas of specialization are counseling psychology, school psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, forensic psychology and experimental or research psychology.

Psychologists held about 170,200 jobs in 2008. About 29% of these psychologists worked in counseling, testing, research, and in administration at educational institutions. Approximately 21% worked in health care. About 34% of all psychologists were self-employed.

To work as a clinical or counseling psychologist one must have a doctoral degree — either a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. degree. With a Ph.D. one can teach, do research or have a clinical and counseling position. With a Psy.D. one can work in a clinical or counseling setting. It usually takes five to seven years to earn a Ph.D. or Psy.D. and includes completing a dissertation. School psychologists often are required to have a specialist degree in school psychology which takes three years of full time graduate study and a one year internship. There is a lot of competition for admission into graduate psychology programs.

Psychologists who deliver patient care must meet certification or licensing requirements in all States and the District of Columbia.

Overall employment of psychologists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2018, but outlook will vary by specialty. Employment growth for industrial-organizational psychologists, for example, is projected to be faster, through 2018, than it will be for all occupations requiring at least a master's degree.

In 2009, salaried clinical, counseling and school psychologists earned a median annual salary of $66,040, while salaried industrial-organizational psychologists earned $83,260.

Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much psychologists currently earn in your city.

A Day in a Psychologist's Life

Clinical psychologists

• help mentally and emotionally disturbed clients adjust to life;
• help medical and surgical patients deal with illnesses or injuries;
• help people deal with times of personal crisis, such as divorce or the death of a loved one;
• interview patients and give diagnostic tests;
• provide individual, family, or group psychotherapy;
• may collaborate with physicians and other specialists to develop and implement treatment and intervention programs patients can understand and comply with;
• may design and implement behavior modification programs
• sometimes train graduate students in the delivery of mental health and behavioral medicine services in universities and medical schools

Counseling psychologists advise people on how to deal with problems of everyday living.

School psychologists work in elementary and secondary schools or district offices to resolve students's learning and behavior problems.

Industrial-organizational psychologists apply psychological principles and research methods to the workplace in the interest of improving productivity and the quality of worklife.

Developmental psychologists study the physiological, cognitive, and social development that takes place throughout life.

Social psychologists examine people's interactions with others and with the social environment.

Experimental or research psychologists study behavior processes using human beings and animals.

Forensic psychologists work with lawyers, judges and other legal professionals who are involved in civil or criminal cases. They perform psychological assessments and interpret and present their findings, sometimes as courtroom testimony.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Psychologists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm (visited April 1, 2010).
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, Clinical Psychologists, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/details/19-3031.02 (visited December 6, 2010).
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, Industrial-Organizational Psychologists, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/details/19-3032.00 (visited December 6, 2010).

Should You Become a Psychologist? Take a Quiz to Find Out.