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Occupational Outlook Handbook > Field of Degree > Psychology >

Field of degree: Psychology

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Psychology field of degree. Employment: 3,035,610. Median annual wage: $48,000.

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Table 1. Psychology degree, 2018
Data	Psychology	All fields
Employment	3,035,610	55,381,020
Median wage	$48,000	$59,000
Percent employed part time	20	15
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	59	59
Percent with an advanced degree	49	37
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

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Chart 1. Types of psychology majors, 2018
Psychology majors	Major share
Psychology	92%
Counseling psychology	3
Miscellaneous psychology	2
Educational psychology	1
Industrial and organizational 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.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a psychology degree, by occupational group, 2018
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	40
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

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Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a psychology degree
Occupational Outlook Handbook profile	Percent growth, projected 2019–29	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2018	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2018
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	21%	Doctoral or professional degree	3%	74%
Counselors, all other	13	Master's degree	2	46
Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors	8	Master's degree	2	60
Registered nurses	7	Bachelor's degree	2	12
Social workers, all other	5	Bachelor's degree	4	38
Elementary school teachers, except special education	4	Bachelor's degree	5	50
Lawyers	4	Doctoral or professional degree	2	93
Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary	4	Master's degree	2	55
Psychologists, all other	2	Master's degree	3	90
Personal service managers, all other; entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling; and managers, all other	-2	Bachelor's degree	3	21
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 15, 2021).

Last Modified Date: Monday, November 30, 2020