HOW ARE PSYCHOLOGISTS EMPLOYED?

An education in psychology prepares individuals for a remarkable range of employment opportunities. According to Wise (1987), psychologists are employed in the five following major roles, but it is important to realize that many psychologists perform in more than one of these roles (e.g., the college teacher who counsels students, performs research, consults with other teachers to improve their testing procedures, and acts as the chairman of the department). The career paths that psychologists take are dependent upon their levels of education and their areas of interest.

TEACHING

Psychologists teach in two- and four-year colleges, and universities.

RESEARCH

Psychologists are employed by universities, government agencies, the military, and businesses to conduct basic and applied studies of human behavior.

PROVIDING SERVICES

Psychologists work with people of all ages and backgrounds who are coping with every imaginable kind of problem, by assessing their needs and providing appropriate treatment.

ADMINISTRATION

Psychologists work as managers in hospitals, mental health clinics, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, schools, universities, and businesses.

CONSULTING

Psychologists with expertise in a variety of areas are hired by organizations to provide consultative services on subjects or problems in the consultant’s area of expertise. These services can include designing a marketing survey and organizing outpatient mental health services." (p.10)

With a few exceptions, preparation for these careers requires education beyond the undergraduate level or a significant amount of relevant experience. It is also important to realize that it is illegal in most states for people to use the term "psychologist" to describe themselves if they have not been certified by a State Board of Examiners in Psychology. This certification process usually requires a doctoral degree, a period of supervised practice, an interview with two of the board's members, and successfully passing a standardized test.

OF BACHELORS-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATES

According to the September, 1994 issue of Salary Survey, the average salary offered to bachelors-level psychology majors who graduated with the class of 1994 was $20,488 with a range from $16,249 to $32,500. (The average salary offered to those with a master's degree in psychology was $23,944 and a doctorate in psychology was $43,278.) The results of their survey for 30 functional employment areas are listed below in decreasing order of salary offer.