What Can You Do With a Available's Degree in Psychology?

| Nina Chamlou Modified on April 6, 2022

What Can You Do With a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology?

Are you fix to detect your college program?

The ability to understand human relationships, call back critically, empathize with others, and communicate well are but some of the skills you learn during your undergraduate studies in psychology. And employers are well enlightened of their value.

"Workers with high EQ [emotional intelligence] tend to make better decisions, maintain their cool nether pressure and stress, deftly resolve conflicts, respond positively to effective feedback, work well with others, and demonstrate leadership abilities," Jack Kelly, CEO of Compliance Search Grouping, wrote in an commodity for Forbes.

If you're approaching college graduation, you may be wondering, "What can I do with a available's in psychology?" Whether you lot plan to enter the job marketplace immediately or y'all are open to farther higher pedagogy, a number of paths are open to y'all.

How to Become a Psychologist

Many people acquaintance the study of psychology with therapy. But merely a small-scale fraction of students who pursue psychology in their undergraduate studies make up one's mind to accept this path. In most states, to become a clinical psychologist, you lot need a bachelor's degree, a doctoral degree, plus i-2 years of training and licensing.

Featured Online Bachelor'due south Psychology Programs

What Else Can You Do With a Bachelor's in Psychology?

A bachelor'south caste in psychology primes you for different career paths in various industries. Note that this is not an exhaustive list. Y'all may notice other means to leverage your psychology caste to your advantage.

Marketing

Psychology majors are well-suited for careers in marketing. The courses you take in your undergraduate studies, such as social psychology, human behavior, inquiry blueprint, and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticss, directly apply to many roles inside the umbrella of marketing.

Artistic roles in advertising benefit from an understanding of the culture, such as common or popular attitudes or beliefs. Roles in market place inquiry require knowledge of how to conduct inquiry and interpret findings. Roles in sales require a high level of empathy and good listening skills for success.

Ad, Promotions, and Marketing Manager
Everyman x% Median Annual Salary Highest 10% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$68,940 $141,490 $208,000 ten%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Journalism or Public Relations

You don't need to study English language or journalism to become a author. In fact, a knowledge base of operations in psychology can piece of work to your advantage. Your power to interpret example studies and research can requite you the analytical skills necessary for reporting on complex topics. And a high level of empathy can make you a better interviewer. Non to mention, the many bookish papers you wrote during your undergraduate studies count toward your writing experience.

Psychology majors are too typically diplomatic and practiced communicators, a crucial attribute of public relations (PR) specialists. In PR, you need potent networking skills and the ability to maintain positive relationships with journalists, managers, and clients.

Journalist
Lowest 10% Median Almanac Bacon Highest 10% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$25,510 $49,300 $127,370 6%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Public Relations Specialist
Everyman 10% Median Annual Bacon Highest 10% Projected Growth Charge per unit (2020-2030)
$35,350 $62,810 $118,210 11%
Source: U.Southward. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Government Worker

The government needs employees who empathize psychology for various positions. The Federal Bureau of Investigation hires psychology majors as special agents and forensic psychologists. Police precincts hire them as officers because of their skills in mediating and de-escalating situations.

Psychology majors likewise brand great parole officers, helping parolees find employment and deal with substance misuse.

Special Agent
Lowest 10% Average Almanac Salary Highest 10% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$41,000 $65,940 $118,000 Not available
Source: Payscale as of October 2021
Forensic Psychologist
Everyman ten% Average Annual Bacon Highest 10% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$39,000 $71,950 $100,000 Non available
Source: Payscale as of October 2021
Police Officeholder
Everyman ten% Median Almanac Bacon Highest 10% Projected Growth Charge per unit (2020-2030)
$39,130 $67,290 $113,860 seven%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist
Lowest 10% Median Annual Salary Highest 10% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$36,990 $55,690 $98,510 four%
Source: U.S. Agency of Labor Statistics

UX Designer

UX designers make products and services more than intuitive, enjoyable, and streamlined for users — often in a digital environment, like a business's website or app. Every bit a UX designer, you notice connections between data and design. For case, you may notice that people are visiting a customer's website but leave speedily. UX designers find why and accommodate the design to increase users' curiosity near the production or service.

An understanding of psychology fits well with this profession. Concepts similar memory limitation, cognitive load, and the psychology of colors all brand for a better designer. You may consider getting a certificate specific to UX design or attend a bootcamp to brand yourself a more competitive candidate. These programs are fairly short, ranging from 10 weeks to six months.

UX Designer
Everyman 10% Average Almanac Salary Highest 10% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$51,000 $74,870 $109,000 Not available
Source: Payscale as of October 2021

Human Resources

Human being resources (HR) professionals hire task applicants, manage them during their time at an arrangement, and permit employees go when necessary, amidst other tasks. While some colleges and universities offer a major in Hr, some do not.

Many students study psychology with the intention of pursuing a career in 60 minutes. Concepts learned during your psychology studies, like the reward system and motivational factors, contribute to forming more effective, empathetic HR managers.

Human being Resources Specialist
Everyman 10% Median Almanac Salary Highest 10% Projected Growth Charge per unit (2020-2030)
$37,710 $63,490 $109,350 10%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Alternative Graduate Programs for Psychology Majors

In 2017, about 3.5 meg people in the U.S. held a available's caste in psychology. Of those, 14% also held graduate degrees in psychology. Even so, about 30% held graduate degrees in other fields, such as education, health, and social services, according to the American Psychological Clan.

While you can certainly enter the workforce with an undergraduate degree in psychology, pursuing a primary's degree tin can give yous a more specialized skill set and boost your income potential. Here are some alternative graduate programs for psychology majors.

Counseling

If you're looking for a way to help individuals reach their goals in a ane-on-one context, simply you don't want to pursue a doctoral degree to become a clinical psychologist, consider a career in counseling. You tin specialize in different areas, including mental health, school, career, grief, spousal relationship, and substance utilize counseling.

An undergraduate degree in psychology tin prepare y'all for graduate school programs in counseling. All types of counselors will be in high need in coming years.

School and Career Counselor
Lowest 10% Median Annual Bacon Highest 10% Projected Growth Charge per unit (2020-2030)
$35,620 $58,120 $97,910 eleven%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor
Lowest x% Median Annual Salary Highest x% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$30,590 $47,660 $78,700 23%
Source: U.Due south. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Marriage and Family Therapist
Lowest 10% Median Almanac Salary Highest 10% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$33,140 $51,340 $92,930 16%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Law

You lot might think that law and psychology don't share much in common. Just they're really quite connected. Psychologists seek to understand human behavior, while the police aims to regulate it.

If yous concur a bachelor's degree in psychology, yous authorize for admission to many law programs. The Law Schoolhouse Admission Examination was once a universal requirement to authorize. But now, many reputable institutions, including Harvard and the University of Arizona, only require the Graduate Record Examinations.

Traditional law school typically takes iii years to complete, although many institutions offer two-yr fast-track programs. And so, yous could practice law in only a few years if yous already have an undergraduate degree in psychology under your belt.

Lawyer
Lowest 10% Median Annual Salary Highest 10% Projected Growth Charge per unit (2020-2030)
$61,490 $126,930 $208,000 9%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Educational activity

You don't need an undergraduate degree in education to get a school instructor. A liberal arts education provides an excellent groundwork for teaching. But the theory and skills you gain past majoring in psychology, specifically, will assist you exist more empathetic toward students and model positive communication styles.

Not every country requires a primary'south degree to become a teacher. But even in states that do non, belongings a chief'southward caste is almost an unwritten rule for eligibility. It also qualifies you for a higher salary.

Wait for chief's degree programs in didactics or education. With teaching, you can specialize in a particular discipline and gain expertise in effective teaching. An education caste also qualifies you to teach, but it equips you lot to influence change in school policies and curricula.

Kindergarten and Elementary Schoolhouse Teacher
Lowest 10% Median Annual Salary Highest 10% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$40,030 $60,660 $100,480 7%
Source: U.S. Agency of Labor Statistics
Middle School Teacher
Everyman 10% Median Annual Salary Highest 10% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$forty,930 $60,810 $98,840 seven%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
High School Teacher
Lowest 10% Median Annual Salary Highest 10% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$41,330 $62,870 $102,130 8%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Audiologist or Speech Language Pathologist

Psychology straight relates to the medical field, as mental wellness contributes to one'south overall well-existence. Y'all don't need a caste in medicine or science to starting time a career in healthcare.

The need for audiologists and oral communication language pathologists will greatly increment in coming years. Need for audiologists will increase 16% between 2020 and 2030, while demand for speech pathologists will increase 29% over the aforementioned menstruation.

Audiologists identify, appraise, and manage hearing disorders. Speech language pathologists treat people with advice and swallowing disorders. These 2 professionals sometimes work together. Both require graduate degrees, which typically take 2-three years to complete.

Audiologist
Lowest x% Median Annual Salary Highest x% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$56,550 $81,030 $128,160 sixteen%
Source: U.South. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Speech Language Pathologist
Everyman x% Median Almanac Salary Highest x% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$50,370 $eighty,480 $122,790 29%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Public Administration

Graduate programs in public administration prepare students to carry out regime policy. If you savor planning, organizing, and making improvements, you might consider a career in public administration.

To work in this expanse, you lot need a strong agreement of social psychology, advice, urban planning, and social scientific discipline research methods. These skills help you to design, implement, and measure the impact of authorities programs.

Graduates with a master's degree in public policy can work for government agencies, nonprofits, or private policy groups. You can find work in different industries, such as healthcare, natural resources management, or social justice.

Your main duties will include conducting research, analyzing programs' performance and efficacy, and possibly managing other employees and projects.

Authoritative Services and Facilities Managing director
Everyman 10% Median Almanac Salary Highest 10% Projected Growth Rate (2020-2030)
$56,080 $98,890 $169,930 nine%
Source: U.South. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Additional Resources for Psychology Students

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