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what are the range of jobs for psychologists?

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Daniela’s Answer

Hi Curtis,

Most graduates do not realize that there are many choices of careers from having a Bachelor’s degree to as high as having a doctorate degree in psychology. Here are some possible job opportunities for you:

Psychometrist/Clinician

A clinician is someone who administers psychological testing and scores them. They work under a licensed psychologist and they are not allowed to interpret test results or give clinical assessments.

To be qualified, you must be a graduate of clinical psychology, have extensive knowledge about administration and scoring of standardized tests. Salary ranges by state but you could expect an average base pay of around $10,000 to $20,000.

Substance Abuse Counselor

This is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States in which one works with clients addicted to alcohol, cocaine, or any other illegal drugs. To be qualified, you not only need an academic background, but you also need a strong personality dealing with patients undergoing recovery, and thus, suffer from withdrawal symptoms.

Some state laws require certification or licensure to be a substance abuse counselor. The base pay of a substance abuse counselor ranges from $25,000 to $40,000 depending on the state and years of experience.

Human Resource Personnel

The human resource workforce is the backbone of a successful company because this group of individuals work together in screening and recruiting the best applicants. One of its main duties is to also maintain good performance and behavior of its employees. The base pay of human resource personnel on the entry level ranges from $10,000 to $30,000.

If you decide to take your education one notch higher, there are more available careers to psychology graduates of a master’s degree.

Marriage and Family Therapist

A popular career in the clinical setting is becoming a marriage and family therapist (MFT). This requires masters in science or arts, licensure, and thousands of intern hours. They occasionally work in hospital settings beside psychiatrists and social workers, while other times in their own private practices. Their focus is facilitating behavioral change in the marriage and family sphere. Their average pay ranges from $40,000 to $100,000.

Masters in Clinical Psychology

You don’t need any further graduate study in clinical psychology, but you need to be licensed before going into practice. However, under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist, you could already provide psychotherapy and psychological assessments. They work with clients of all ages with different mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, behavior and eating disorders, neurological disorders and depression. For a starting career, expect a base pay of around $50,000 to $70,000.

Experimental Psychologists

This is a degree wherein students are being prepared for further graduate study. Some states may require a Ph.D. in order to hold the title of psychologist. You could be a laboratory manager, research assistant, or part of a marketing research team. The main task of an experimental psychologist is to conduct a pilot study using statistics on a chosen field or subject before pushing through with the major study. You’d also need an exceptional understanding of the different psychological research methods and have outstanding communication skills. An excellent writing skill is also important because this job also includes writing in academic journals and studies.

For the least experienced, the base pay is around $30,000 to $75,000 depending on the sector of employment and location. Salary could go as high as $80,000 for those more experienced.

Forensic Psychologists

Forensic psychology works in between psychology and the criminal justice system. The forensic psychologist must understand the standards of the American justice system in order to be a credible witness. The court designates the forensic psychologist as an expert witness and is duly assigned to evaluate if the defendant is competent in standing trial.

The task of a forensic psychologist is to prove if the accused is sane or mentally ill through psychological questioning and testing.

Forensic psychologists usually work with the police force, law enforcement personnel, the State attorney, and public defenders. Salary varies in different states but usually averages from $45,000 to $75,000. Again, salary depends on years of experience.

Sports Psychologist

In sports psychology, the sports psychologist is concerned on the effects of physical activity to the psychological health and performance of athletes. Sports psychologists work along with training coaches in developing rehabilitation and team building programs. They also provide counseling to athletes who undergo career transitions. The base pay of a sports psychologist usually averages from $40,000 to $70,000.

I-O Psychologists

Industrial and organizational psychology, involves studying behavior in the workplace. The industrial and organizational psychologist, or I-O psychologist, is geared towards the improvement of each employee’s productivity and motivation. They develop training and assess employees to further enhance the company’s workforce.

I-O psychologists could also work as a consultant for different companies. This increases earning potential to as high as $100,000.

Educational Psychologists

Psychologists who develop learning materials and understand the aspects of human learning are called educational psychologists. They could, for example, enhance one’s reading skills through a developed or new technique. They also assess the effects of educational interventions to learning and development.

Most educational psychologists focus on gifted children and those with disabilities. They study individual differences in terms of intelligence, creativity, motivation and cognitive style. This is a profession that also works at a strategic level to carry out research in improving a school’s educational policy. Their base pay is around $66,000 to $108,000 depending on the state and years of experience.

School Counselors

For those who prefer teaching or working in the educational setting, educational psychology, school psychology, and school counseling are the options to choose from. These positions are concerned on the overall mental welfare of the school’s employees and students.

School counselors work with troubled children, those with problems at home and in school. They help parents in addressing the concerns of their child. Base pay for a school counselor is around $50,000 annually. Earning potential could be increased with curriculum development.

Source:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/beyond-the-psychology-major/201606/14-career-options-psychology-majors

Have a good choice!
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