Psychologists

Summary

What Psychologists Do About this section

Industrial-organizational psychologists apply psychological research and methods to workplace issues.

Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and to their environments. They use their findings to help improve processes and behaviors.

Duties

Psychologists typically do the following:

• Study behavior and brain function by observing, interviewing, and surveying individuals
• Identify psychological, emotional, behavioral, or organizational issues and diagnose disorders
• Research and identify behavioral or emotional issues, such as anxiety and depression
• Test for patterns that will help them better understand and predict behavior
• Discuss the results of testing with clients or their families and, if needed, develop treatment plans
• Write articles, research papers, and reports to share findings

Psychologists seek to understand and explain thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Through techniques such as observation, assessment, and experimentation, they try to gain a better understanding about how beliefs and feelings influence people.

Psychologists often gather information and evaluate behavior through controlled laboratory experiments, psychoanalysis, or psychotherapy. They may administer personality, performance, aptitude, or intelligence tests. They look for patterns of behavior or relationships between events, and they use this information in their research or when treating clients.

The following are examples of types of psychologists:

Clinical and counseling psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. They help people deal with problems ranging from everyday issues to severe, chronic conditions.

Clinical and counseling psychologists typically interview clients, administer diagnostic tests, and provide psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups. They help clients identify their strengths and available resources to prevent or manage problems, and they design behavior modification plans that they help clients to implement.

Clinical and counseling psychologists sometimes work with a specific population, such as older people, or focus on a specific condition, such as cognitive disorders. Some states permit clinical psychologists to prescribe medication.

Industrial–organizational psychologists apply psychological principles to solve workplace problems and improve work-life quality. They study issues such as productivity, employee testing and selection, and organizational dynamics. They may work closely with top executives, training and development managers, and training and development specialists.

School psychologists study strategies to address educational, behavioral, or developmental problems that impact students’ learning. They may design and implement performance plans, evaluate performance, and counsel students and families. They may consult with teachers, administrators, and other educators.

Other psychologists include forensic psychologists, who work with judges, attorneys, and related specialists to understand the psychological aspects of a legal case; neuropsychologists, who study how dysfunction or damage to the brain, spine, or nerves affects behavior and cognition; and rehabilitation psychologists, who help foster independence in clients who have physical or developmental disabilities due to illness or injury.

Psychologists are among several specialists who focus on mental and behavioral health. For more information about some of these specialists, see the profiles on psychiatrists, a type of physician; marriage and family therapists, substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, and social workers.

Work Environment About this section

Counseling psychologists often have their own practices.

Psychologists held about 207,500 jobs in 2023. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up psychologists was distributed as follows:

The largest employers of psychologists were as follows:

Some psychologists work alone when researching, consulting with clients, or counseling clients. Others work as part of a team, collaborating with specialists to treat clients and promote overall wellness.

Work Schedules

Most psychologists work full time, but part-time work is common. They may work evenings or weekends to accommodate their clients’ schedules.

How to Become a Psychologist About this section

In most states, practicing psychology or using the title of “psychologist” requires licensure.

Psychologists typically need an advanced degree, such as a master’s or doctoral degree, in psychology. Licensing requirements vary by state and position.

Education

Psychologists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Applicants to graduate-level psychology programs typically have a bachelor's degree in a field such as psychology, education, or social science. 

Clinical and counseling psychologists typically need a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree. Ph.D. programs usually emphasize research that culminates in a dissertation, while Psy.D. programs focus on applying psychological principles to working with clients or patients. As part of either program, students are typically required to complete an internship.

Industrial–organizational psychologists typically need a master’s degree. Programs for these psychologists usually include courses in statistics, research design, and topics specific to understanding the relationships between people and workplaces.

School psychologists typically need at least a master’s degree in school psychology. Other degrees for school psychologists include education specialist (Ed.S.) and doctoral (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) degrees. School psychologist programs include coursework in education and psychology to address both of these components in students’ development. These programs also usually require completion of an internship.

Training

Most psychologists need supervised experience to qualify for licensure, which may include an internship or postdoctoral training. These experiences provide an opportunity for prospective psychologists to use their knowledge in an applied setting. The required number of hours for internships varies by state.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Most states require licensure for those who provide psychology services or use the title “psychologist.” All states and the District of Columbia require that psychologists who practice independently be licensed where they work. Licensing laws vary by state and by type of position. For more information, contact your state’s licensing board.

Clinical and counseling psychologists are licensed in every state. School psychologists also typically need a credential, such as a license or certification from their state’s board of education. Licensure typically requires applicants to have earned a master’s or doctoral degree and completed supervised experience. They also may need to have passed the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).

All states require psychologists to complete continuing education to maintain licensure. For more information about specific state requirements, visit the ASPPB.

Certification, which may be optional or may be required by employers, is available from professional associations. For example, the American Board of Professional Psychology offers certification in areas such as clinical health psychology, couple and family psychology, and rehabilitation psychology. The American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology offers certification in neuropsychology. Board certification typically requires candidates to have a doctoral degree and pass an examination.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Psychologists examine the information they collect and draw logical conclusions.

Communication skills. Psychologists spend much of their time speaking with people, writing reports, and describing their research. They must be able to convey ideas both orally and in writing.

Compassion. Psychologists often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations, so they must empathize with their clients.

Integrity. Psychologists need to keep client discussions confidential. Clients must be able to trust psychologists’ expertise in treating sensitive issues.

Interpersonal skills. Psychologists must be able to build a rapport with clients and work well with a variety of specialists.

Observational skills. Psychologists study individuals and groups to understand their interactions. For example, they may observe facial expressions and other body language for clues about their clients’ attitudes and behaviors.

Patience. Psychologists must be able to remain calm when working with all types of clients, including those who may be distressed.

Problem-solving skills. Psychologists collect information, design research, evaluate programs, and find treatments or solutions to mental and behavioral problems.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for psychologists was $94,310 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $54,860, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $157,330.

Median annual wages for psychologists in May 2024 were as follows:

In May 2024, the median annual wages for psychologists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Psychologists work in variety of settings, such as schools, hospitals, and private practice. Most are full time, but part-time work is common. Some work evenings or weekends to accommodate their clients’ schedules.

Job Outlook About this section

Overall employment of psychologists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 13,000 openings for psychologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Projected employment of psychologists varies by occupation (see table).

Employment of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists is projected to grow due to demand for psychological services in schools, hospitals, mental health centers, and social service agencies.

Demand for clinical and counseling psychologists will increase as more people turn to psychologists for help with their problems.

Employment of school psychologists will continue to grow because of an increased awareness of the connection between mental health and learning. These workers also will be needed to help students whose educational, behavioral, or developmental issues impact their ability to learn. 

Organizations will continue to employ industrial–organizational psychologists to help with tasks such as selecting and retaining employees, implementing trainings, and improving office morale.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link below goes to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Use the dropdown boxes to select an occupation.

• Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Profiles

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about careers in all fields of psychology, visit

American Psychological Association

For more information about industrial–organizational psychologists, visit

Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology

For more information about careers and certification in neuropsychology, visit

American Board of Professional Neuropsychology

For more information about careers for school psychologists, visit

National Association of School Psychologists

For more information about state licensing requirements, visit

Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards

For more information about psychology specialty certifications, visit

American Board of Professional Psychology

Occupational Requirements Survey

For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see

School psychologists (PDF)

CareerOneStop

For career videos on psychologists, visit

Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

O*NET

Clinical Neuropsychologists

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Neuropsychologists

Psychologists, All Other

School Psychologists