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Field of degree: Psychology

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Psychology field of degree. Employment: 3,418,420. Median annual wage: $53,000.

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Table 1. Psychology degree, 2021
Data	Psychology	All fields
Employment	3,418,420	59,687,450
Median wage	53,000	63,000
Percent employed part time	19	14
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	61	62
Percent with an advanced degree	49	38
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 1. Types of psychology majors, 2021.

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Chart 1. Types of psychology, 2021
Psychology majors	Major share
Psychology	92%
Counseling Psychology	3
Miscellaneous Psychology	2
Clinical Psychology	1
Educational 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, 2021.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a psychology degree, by occupational group, 2021
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Management occupations	15%
Community and social service occupations	13
Educational instruction and library occupations	13
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	11
Office and administrative support 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 2022–32	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2021	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2021
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors	18%	Bachelor's degree	2%	68%
Lawyers	8	Doctoral or professional degree	2	91
Social workers, all other	7	Bachelor's degree	3	44
Human resources specialists	6	Bachelor's degree	2	19
Registered nurses	6	Bachelor's degree	2	13
Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors	5	Master's degree	2	62
Psychologists, all other	5	Master's degree	3	92
Postsecondary teachers, all other	4	Doctoral or professional degree	3	72
Managers, all other	3	Bachelor's degree	4	21
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 November 17, 2023).

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, September 6, 2023