Psychology Jobs in the United States

Psychology Jobs Overview

People in psychology jobs apply the study of human behavior to a broad range of specializations, ranging from clinical practice to social work and even advertising. Access to this profession is varied. Practicing licensed psychologists must hold doctoral degrees, while other professionals like case managers and rehabilitation counselors hold post-secondary certificates and degrees.

Psychology professionals can work in many settings, including:

• hospitals
• schools
• universities
• private offices
• marketing agencies
• corporations
• government agencies

Their jobs may be focused on research, clinical work, or a combination of both and require regular, full-time hours in an office or shift patterns. Psychology jobs are available all over the U.S., but most opportunities can be found in California, Texas, Florida, Maryland, and New York.

Salaries in Psychology

In the U.S., psychologists earn between $45,361 and $107,248. Professionals who hold bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral psychology degrees can earn corresponding median salaries of $50,000, $60,000, and $90,000. Generally, the highest earners hold advanced degrees. Location, credentials, specialization, talent, and level of expertise all influence your compensation as well.

The best-paying cities for psychologists are:

• Sacramento, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Eugene, OR
• Jacksonville, FL
• Baltimore, MD

Psychiatry and industrial-organizational psychology are the highest-paying psychology career paths. We’ve listed some popular psychology jobs and their associated salary ranges below:

• industrial-organizational psychologists: $49,591-$112,967
• clinical and counseling psychologist: $42,760–$168,790
• school psychologists: $53,040-$128,000
• career counselor: $32,756–$55,339
• rehabilitation counselor: $29,120–$71,270

How to Find the Right Psychology Jobs for You

Anyone who wants insight into human behavior and decision-making can benefit from working with psychology professionals. There are a wide variety of roles in many different industries that you could choose to work in. As you plan your career, identify jobs that are a good fit for your skills, credentials, and interests.

Consider What You Want in a Job

When you search for a psychology job, prioritize what you want most and take stock of your short- and long-term career goals. Prestige, financial compensation, and opportunities to innovate or engage in socially meaningful work are all powerful motivators.

Your ideal job should align with your goals, lifestyle, skills, and values. Carefully review each job description and consider pursuing any additional training you may need to fill a particular role. For example, if you want to work with children, you may need a particular certification or license as well as a background check.

Evaluate the Scope of the Role

As you read through job postings, ask yourself these questions:

• Do my training and skills align with the job?
• Is the salary range suitable for my level of expertise?
• Are the expectations clearly stated?
• Do the schedule, hours, and work environment suit my needs?

To make the most of your search, make sure that your skills, education, and experience are a good fit for any role you apply for. Try to picture yourself performing the day-to-day duties of the role and working at that specific company. After all, the right job must be a good match for both employer and employee.

Research to Learn More About Your Opportunities

It takes more than filling out an application and landing an interview to find a great job. To build your career as a psychology professional:

• Reach out to peers and potential mentors to discuss the skills and resources you’ll need to do well in your field.
• Look for healthy organizational cultures that match your values and try to discover if people are happy where they work.
• Research online to learn more about the company’s reputation and priorities.

Choose Jobs with Opportunities for Growth

To grow in your psychology career, think about where you want to be in a few years’ time. Do your own research or ask prospective employers what employees need to do to grow within the organization.

Also, seek out companies that are active within the community and affiliated with professional societies. Consider your timeline for professional advancement and plan to acquire the training you need to achieve your goals.

How to Apply for Psychology Jobs

When you apply for a psychology job, you’ll need to review the work setting, skills, qualifications, and salary range associated with each role. Then, follow these steps as you prepare your documents:

• Highlight your relevant strengths, abilities, and accomplishments in your application.
• Emphasize desirable soft skills such as active listening, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and cultural competence.
• Create an action-oriented, accurate, and easy-to-scan resume that includes your work history, educational background, and worthwhile certifications for mental health and psychological first-aid training.
• Tailor your cover letter to the position by including skills you possess that are listed in the job description.

Make sure these documents are concise and error-free. If you're applying to a larger organization that uses software to select resumes, it’s especially important that your documents include targeted keywords to increase your chances of approval.

Search the job listings themselves to find keywords that are associated with each psychology job you are considering. Reflect any requirements in your resume and application. Some examples of common psychology keywords are:

• EMDR
• mental health
• psychotherapy
• personal development
• cognition
• mindfulness
• group therapy

Create a Profile and Submit Your Application

To apply for a psychology job on Monster, create an account and personal profile. Once you confirm your account is active, upload your resume as a .doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf, or .txt file.

Check your application for errors, then click “Upload Resume.” Make sure your settings are adjusted to allow employers to find you easily, and you’ll be ready to go. Monster also offers an expert resume writing service to get your application in the best shape possible.

How to Follow Up After You Apply

It’s important to follow up with prospective employers after you apply for a psychology job. Give the company some time to review applications, and then reach out to ask about the timeline and status of your application.

Make sure the hiring manager receives your follow-up note. Search the directory on the company website, check the job ad for instructions, or reach out to a company contact or the HR department and ask them to point you in the right direction.

How to Manage the Interview Process

To prepare for your interview, review common psychologist interview questions and ask people you trust for feedback as you rehearse your answers. Try to learn about how the organization’s interview process works. Research its successes and challenges so you can show how you will use your problem-solving skills to help them achieve objectives.

Here are some essential tips for doing well in your interview:

• Dress appropriately for the position and err on the side of formality.
• Learn as much as you can about the interview format before you go in, so you’ll be prepared to answer every question.
• Actively listen and make eye contact as you interview.
• Show that you can skillfully relate to your colleagues, supervisors, and clients by communicating positively, politely, and clearly.
• Highlight your abilities and problem-solving capabilities by using the STAR method to answer questions.
• Ask questions, and if possible, take the opportunity to tour the office and meet the people you will work with to ensure the work environment is compatible with your needs.
• Discuss opportunities for advancing your career and ask about benefits, compensation, and the day-to-day work environment.

How to Handle the Post-Interview Follow-Up

Within 24 hours of your first interview, send a brief thank-you email to the hiring manager. Mention one specific takeaway from the meeting and express your enthusiasm about the role.

If the employer hasn’t replied to your follow-up by the expected date, sit tight. You should contact the employer right away if you receive a competing offer or news that could influence their decision. Otherwise, wait a week and send a second, short, positive follow-up letter to the hiring manager to politely let them know you are looking forward to their reply.

How to Respond to a Job Offer

When you get a job offer, acknowledge it by email within 48 hours. Thank the employer and let them know how much time you need to review the opportunity.

It should only take a few days to accept a winning proposal. Ask for more time if you need to weigh competing offers or consider moving to another city. Usually, you will be expected to make your decision within a week.

Negotiating Your Salary and Benefits

As you consider your job offer, determine if the salary meets your expectations. If not, get ready to negotiate your compensation package. Be cheerful and demonstrate your value as the conversation progresses, and try not to be defensive in the face of difficult questions.

Tips for a Successful Negotiation

When you negotiate compensation, try to create opportunities for mutual reward. Be flexible but be wary of giving up too much bargaining power if you are just starting out or entering an adjacent field.

Benefits like vacation days, a flexible work schedule, and a supportive, satisfying work environment may balance out a lower salary offer. Consider the value of health insurance and other work-related perks as well. Work with the hiring manager to keep the negotiation moving forward and make sure you remain on good terms.

Career Paths

If you hold a bachelor’s degree or a certificate in psychology, you could potentially work as a criminal profiler, teacher, market researcher, or public relations specialist. Try not to limit yourself and look for positions in other industries, like law enforcement, marketing, education, and public relations, that make good use of your psychology background. Continue to pursue educational and training opportunities so you can move up in your field or change your course of action.

Clinicians have the most career options and a wide variety of jobs to choose from. If you are a prospective clinical psychologist, you must complete your graduate degree, pass state required exams, and undergo field training to become licensed to practice in the U.S.

You may start working in schools, clinics, mental health centers, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and community facilities. Research psychologists may begin their careers at universities. Eventually, experienced psychologists may open a private practice or work as professors.

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