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Field of degree: Psychology

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Psychology field of degree. Employment: 3,141,710. Median annual wage: $50,000.

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Table 1. Psychology degree, 2019
Data	Psychology	All fields
Employment	3,141,710	56,820,460
Median wage	50,000	60,000
Percent employed part time	20	15
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	60	61
Percent with an advanced degree	48	37
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 1. Types of psychology majors, 2019.

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Chart 1. Types of psychology majors, 2019
Psychology majors	Major share
Psychology	92%
Counseling Psychology	3
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, 2019.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a psychology degree, by occupational group, 2019
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Management occupations	14%
Community and social service occupations	14
Educational instruction and library occupations	13
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	10
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.

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 2020–30	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2019	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2019
Postsecondary teachers	24%	See How to Become One	3%	73%
Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors	11	Master's degree	3	60
Human resources specialists	10	Bachelor's degree	2	18
Lawyers	9	Doctoral or professional degree	2	92
Registered nurses	9	Bachelor's degree	2	12
Elementary school teachers, except special education	7	Bachelor's degree	4	48
Personal service managers, all other; entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling; and managers, all other	7	Bachelor's degree	3	20
Social workers, all other	6	Bachelor's degree	4	40
Physicians, all other; and ophthalmologists, except pediatric	5	Doctoral or professional degree	2	100
Psychologists, all other	2	Master's degree	3	92
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 21, 2022).

Last Modified Date: Friday, December 3, 2021