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Field of degree: Psychology

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Psychology field of degree. Employment: 3,500,930. Median annual wage: $55,000.

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Table 1. Psychology degree, 2022
Data	Psychology	All fields
Employment	3,500,930	62,187,580
Median wage	55,000	66,000
Percent employed part time	18	14
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	62	62
Percent with an advanced degree	49	38
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 1. Types of psychology majors, 2022.

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Chart 1. Types of psychology, 2022
Psychology majors	Major share
Psychology	93%
Counseling Psychology	2
Miscellaneous Psychology	2
Industrial And Organizational Psychology	1
Clinical Psychology	1
Other	1
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a psychology degree, by occupational group, 2022.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a psychology degree, by occupational group, 2022
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Management occupations	15%
Community and social service occupations	13
Educational instruction and library occupations	12
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	11
Business and financial operations occupations	9
Other	39
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a psychology degree.

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Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a psychology degree
Occupational Outlook Handbook profile	Percent growth, projected 2023–33	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2022	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2022
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	19%	Doctoral or professional degree	3%	72%
Therapists, all other	12	Bachelor's degree	2	63
Managers, all other	6	Bachelor's degree	3	21
Registered nurses	6	Bachelor's degree	2	14
Lawyers	5	Doctoral or professional degree	2	92
Psychologists, all other	5	Master's degree	3	89
Social workers, all other	5	Bachelor's degree	3	46
Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors	4	Master's degree	2	60
Physicians, all other	4	Doctoral or professional degree	2	100
Elementary school teachers, except special education	-1	Bachelor's degree	4	49
Note: Occupational profiles may comprise multiple SOC occupations, which may have differing education categories. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (projected growth, entry-level education) and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (degree holders, advanced degrees).

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Field of degree: Psychology,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/psychology/psychology-field-of-degree.htm (visited June 17, 2025).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024