What Can You Actually Do with a Bachelor’s in Psychology?
Quick Answer:
A bachelor's in psychology opens doors to diverse careers across business, healthcare, and social services, with median salaries around $60,000-$65,000. While you can't become a licensed therapist or psychologist with just a bachelor's degree, you can work in entry-level mental health support roles ($35,000-$46,000), pursue higher-paying psychology-adjacent careers in HR, marketing, or data analysis ($70,000-$140,000), or use it as a foundation for graduate school.
Table of Contents
- The Reality Check: Employment Statistics and Salary Expectations
- Direct Psychology Careers (Entry-Level)
- Psychology-Adjacent Business Careers (Often Higher Paying)
- Careers in Education and Social Services
- Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Careers
- Research and Data Analysis Roles
- The Transferable Skills Advantage
- Graduate School Pathways
- Setting Realistic Expectations
- Real Graduate Experiences
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Key Takeaways
Is a psychology degree useless? It's one of the most common questions prospective students ask, and for good reason. Psychology ranks as the fifth most popular undergraduate major in the United States, with 129,600 students earning bachelor's degrees in 2021-22. Yet misconceptions about career prospects abound.
Here's the reality: only 14% of psychology bachelor's degree holders pursue graduate degrees in psychology, while another 30% earn graduate degrees in different fields. The remaining 56% enter the workforce directly with their bachelor's degree. This suggests that most psychology graduates successfully apply their skills outside traditional clinical psychology careers.
This guide provides an honest, data-driven look at what you can actually do with a bachelor's in psychology. We'll cover real salary expectations, viable career paths, the value of transferable skills, and when graduate school becomes necessary. Whether you're considering this major or already have the degree, you'll find practical information to make informed career decisions.
The Reality Check: Employment Statistics and Salary Expectations
Before exploring specific careers, it's essential to understand the financial landscape. The median annual wage for psychology bachelor's degree holders is approximately $60,000 to $65,000. However, starting salaries tell a different story. Entry-level positions often begin around $44,700, and three years after graduating, the average psychology bachelor's graduate earns $35,412, about $11,000 less than the average for all bachelor's degrees.
The return on investment timeline for a psychology degree averages 8.5 years, compared to 4.52 years for all bachelor's degrees. Long-term earnings approach $67,000 annually, slightly below the $69,000 average for all bachelor's holders. These numbers aren't meant to discourage you but to set realistic expectations as you plan your career path.
Psychology graduates work across 88 out of 129 occupation categories, demonstrating the degree's versatility. According to the American Psychological Association, here's where psychology bachelor's holders actually work:
- Sales (20%)
- Professional Services (17%)
- Management or Supervisor Roles (16%)
- Teaching (11%)
- Accounting & Finance (9%)
- Employee Relations or HR (5%)
- Research (3%)
This distribution reveals an important truth: most psychology graduates don't work in traditional psychology roles. Instead, they leverage their understanding of human behavior across diverse industries.
Direct Psychology Careers (Entry-Level)
For graduates seeking to work directly in psychology or mental health without advanced degrees, several entry-level positions exist. It's important to understand that these are stepping stones rather than end careers, with modest salaries reflecting the support role nature of the work.
Behavioral Health Technician/Psychiatric Technician
These professionals work in hospitals, clinics, and residential care facilities, providing direct care and support to individuals with mental health conditions under clinical supervision. Responsibilities include monitoring patient behavior, assisting with daily activities, facilitating group activities, and documenting observations for treatment teams.
Salaries range from $31,794 to $46,800 annually, with a median of around $36,396. Most positions require a bachelor's degree in psychology, though some accept associate degrees with relevant experience. This role offers valuable clinical exposure for those considering graduate school.
Case Manager/Human Service Assistant
Case managers coordinate services for individuals and families facing challenges like homelessness, substance abuse, or mental health issues. They conduct assessments, connect clients with community resources, develop service plans, and advocate for client needs. This is one of the most common entry points for psychology graduates.
Salaries average $42,881 annually, with median pay around $41,410 to $45,120. The role requires strong organizational skills, empathy, and the ability to navigate complex social service systems. Many case managers advance to supervisory positions or pursue master's degrees in social work or counseling.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Technician/Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
Working primarily with individuals with autism spectrum disorder, ABA technicians implement behavioral intervention plans under the supervision of Board Certified Behavior Analysts. They collect data on behaviors, provide direct therapy services, and help clients develop communication and social skills.
While starting pay is modest, this field offers a clear advancement pathway. Bachelor's holders can pursue Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) certification and, with a master's degree, become Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), earning significantly higher salaries.
Mental Health Paraprofessional
Mental health paraprofessionals assist licensed mental health professionals in delivering care. They conduct intake assessments, facilitate group therapy sessions, provide crisis intervention, and maintain client records. This role requires working under direct supervision and staying within a defined scope of practice.
Pay generally ranges from $37,000 to $50,000 annually, depending on location, employer, and specific role. The position provides excellent experience for those planning to pursue graduate education in clinical mental health counseling or social work.
Rehabilitation Counselor
Rehabilitation counselors help individuals with disabilities lead independent lives by assessing abilities and limitations, developing rehabilitation plans, coordinating support services, and providing career counseling. They work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, government agencies, and private practices.
The average salary is approximately $46,820 annually. Many rehabilitation counselors pursue master's degrees in rehabilitation counseling to advance their careers and increase earning potential.
Community Case Worker/Social Service Specialist
Working in nonprofit organizations and government agencies, community case workers provide community outreach, direct client counseling, and case management services. Career counselors in this category earn a median of $61,710, making it one of the higher-paying bachelor's-level positions in direct social services.
Psychology-Adjacent Business Careers (Often Higher Paying)
Psychology graduates often find higher initial salaries and greater advancement opportunities in business settings where understanding human behavior provides a competitive advantage. These roles leverage psychology training while offering significantly higher earning potential than entry-level psychology support positions.
| Career Path | Median Salary | Entry Barrier | Graduate Degree Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Manager | $42,881 | Low | No |
| Behavioral Health Technician | $36,396 | Low | No |
| HR Specialist | $72,910 | Medium | No |
| Market Research Analyst | $76,950 | Medium | No |
| UX Researcher | $95,380 | Medium-High | No |
| Sales Manager | $138,060 | Medium | No |
Human Resources Specialist
HR roles leverage psychology training in employee relations, recruitment, training and development, and performance management. Psychology graduates understand motivation, workplace dynamics, and organizational behavior, making these essential HR competencies. Fifteen percent of psychology bachelor's holders work in management positions.
Human resources specialists earn a median of $72,910, while HR managers earn $140,030. The field offers clear advancement paths from HR assistant to specialist to manager, with knowledge of psychology providing distinct advantages in understanding employee needs and organizational culture.
Market Research Analyst
Market researchers use psychological principles to understand consumer behavior, design surveys, conduct focus groups, and analyze purchasing motivations. This is an ideal application of research methods and statistics training from psychology programs. The field is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034.
Median salary is $76,950. Psychology graduates excel in this role because they understand how to design valid research, interpret data, and draw meaningful conclusions about human behavior and decision-making patterns.
UX Researcher/Designer
User experience roles apply psychological principles, such as cognitive load, memory limitations, and behavioral patterns, to improve product design. UX researchers conduct user testing, analyze user behavior, and make recommendations to improve digital experiences.
Median salary for UX designers is $95,380. This growing field values psychology graduates who understand how people interact with technology and can translate research findings into design improvements.
Sales Representative/Sales Manager
Understanding customer psychology, motivation, and decision-making gives psychology graduates advantages in sales. They excel at building relationships, identifying customer needs, addressing objections, and closing deals.
Sales managers earn a median of $138,060, while marketing managers earn $161,030. Many psychology graduates find success in B2s, pharmaceuticals, or technology sales, where understanding complex human decision-making is crucial.
Training and Development Specialist
These professionals design and implement employee training programs, applying learning theories and knowledge of human development. They assess training needs, develop curricula, deliver training sessions, and evaluate program effectiveness.
Training and development managers have a median salary of $127,090. Psychology graduates understand how adults learn, what motivates behavior change, and how to measure training effectiveness, making them natural fits for these roles.
Advertising and Public Relations Specialist
Psychology knowledge informs persuasive messaging, target audience research, and campaign effectiveness. These specialists develop communication strategies, create promotional materials, manage media relations, and analyze public perception.
Public relations specialists earn a median of $69,780. Understanding human psychology helps create messages that resonate with target audiences and effectively influence public opinion.
These psychology-adjacent roles demonstrate how understanding human behavior creates value across industries. For a comprehensive overview of careers across all education levels, explore our guide to the 50 best jobs with a psychology degree.
Careers in Education and Social Services
Psychology graduates often transition into educational and social service roles where their understanding of human development and behavior proves valuable.
Teacher (with additional certification)
Psychology graduates can teach at elementary, middle, or high schools with appropriate teaching certification. Some specifically teach psychology courses at the high school level. Most states require completion of a teacher preparation program and passing certification exams in addition to a bachelor's degree.
Academic Advisor/Career Counselor
Academic advisors guide students through educational planning, course selection, and academic challenges. Career counselors help individuals identify career interests, develop job search strategies, and navigate career transitions. These roles apply developmental psychology and counseling principles in educational settings.
Career counselors earn a median of $61,710. The work combines helping others with using psychology knowledge in practical ways, making it satisfying for many psychology graduates.
Social and Community Service Manager
These managers oversee programs addressing homelessness, poverty, substance abuse, and mental health issues. They manage staff, develop program budgets, coordinate services with other agencies, and evaluate program outcomes.
The average salary is $77,030 annually. While many start as case workers or program coordinators, psychology graduates can advance to management positions with experience and demonstrated leadership abilities.
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Careers
Psychology backgrounds prove valuable in criminal justice settings where understanding human behavior, de-escalation techniques, and mental health awareness are increasingly important.
Probation and Parole Officer
Probation and parole officers supervise individuals convicted of crimes, monitor compliance with court orders, conduct risk assessments, recommend interventions, and connect clients with support services. Psychology training helps officers understand behavior change, assess risk, and work effectively with diverse populations.
Median salary is $64,520. Many departments actively seek psychology graduates who can bring behavioral expertise to community supervision.
Police Officer/Detective
Psychology backgrounds enhance de-escalation skills, crisis intervention abilities, and mental health recognition. Many police departments actively recruit psychology graduates for community policing roles where building relationships and understanding social dynamics are essential.
Median salary is $77,270. Psychology graduates often excel in roles that require strong communication skills and conflict resolution.
Correctional Officer
Correctional officers maintain security in jails and prisons while managing inmate behavior and de-escalating conflicts. Understanding psychology helps officers anticipate problems, communicate effectively with inmates, and maintain safety.
Median salary is $52,970. While challenging, the role offers stable employment with benefits and opportunities for advancement to supervisory positions.
Forensic Science Technician
Some psychology graduates specialize in criminal profiling and behavioral analysis, working with law enforcement to analyze crime patterns and understand criminal behavior. While most forensic science roles require additional specialized training, psychology provides a foundation for understanding behavioral evidence.
Median salary is $64,940. Combining psychology with forensic science or criminology creates unique career opportunities in criminal investigation and analysis.
Research and Data Analysis Roles
The research methods and statistics training from psychology programs translates directly to research and data analysis careers across industries.
Research Assistant/Coordinator
Research assistants work in academic, government, or private research settings, assisting in conducting psychological studies, recruiting participants, collecting data, and analyzing results. This role is particularly valuable for those considering graduate school, as it provides hands-on research experience.
Research coordinators manage research projects, ensure compliance with ethical guidelines, train research staff, and coordinate with principal investigators. These positions offer excellent preparation for doctoral programs.
Data Analyst
Psychology graduates with strong statistics backgrounds can transition into data analysis careers. They use their training in statistical methods, research design, and data interpretation to analyze business data, identify trends, and make data-driven recommendations.
Many psychology graduates successfully transition into data science by building additional technical skills in programming and database management. The analytical thinking and statistical foundation from psychology provide a solid starting point.
Psychometrist
Psychometrists administer neurological and psychological evaluations under a psychologist's supervision. They conduct standardized testing, score assessments, and report results. This specialized role requires training in psychological testing but doesn't require graduate degrees.
The position offers good intermediate experience and regular exposure to clinical assessment, making it valuable for those planning to attend graduate school in clinical or counseling psychology.
The Transferable Skills Advantage: Why Psychology Grads Succeed Across Industries
The real value of a psychology degree lies in developing highly valued transferable skills that employers seek across industries. These skills explain why psychology graduates successfully work in 88 different occupation categories.
Research and Analytical Skills
Training in research methods, statistical analysis, data collection, and critical reasoning equips graduates for roles that require evidence-based decision-making. Psychology majors learn to evaluate research quality, design studies, analyze data, and draw valid conclusions. These skills transfer directly to roles in market research, data analysis, policy research, and program evaluation.
Communication Skills
Psychology programs develop written and oral communication abilities through research papers, presentations, and clinical documentation. Graduates learn to explain complex concepts clearly, present findings to diverse audiences, write professional reports, and communicate with people from various backgrounds. These competencies prove essential in business, education, healthcare, and social services.
Understanding Human Behavior
Awareness of factors shaping behavior, social interactions, and individual differences provides advantages in client-facing roles, team management, and customer relations. Psychology graduates understand motivation, personality differences, developmental stages, and social influences. This knowledge helps in sales, management, human resources, marketing, and any role involving interpersonal interaction.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Evaluating arguments, analyzing information, and applying theoretical frameworks develop strong critical thinking applicable across professions. Psychology teaches students to question assumptions, consider alternative explanations, recognize biases, and think systematically about complex problems. Employers value these analytical reasoning skills in virtually every field.
Empathy and Interpersonal Skills
Understanding psychological principles fosters emotional intelligence, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to build effective working relationships. Psychology majors develop active listening skills, perspective-taking abilities, and awareness of diversity issues. These competencies enhance team collaboration, customer service, conflict resolution, and leadership effectiveness.
Project Management
Experience in planning and undertaking research develops planning, organization, and project management skills. Psychology students learn to manage timelines, coordinate resources, track progress, and adapt to challenges. These abilities transfer to business project management, program coordination, and administrative roles.
Ethical Awareness and Resilience
Psychology training produces self-reflective, ethically aware professionals who handle workplace challenges effectively. Graduates understand ethical decision-making, maintain confidentiality, respect boundaries, and navigate difficult situations professionally. This moral foundation proves valuable in healthcare, business, education, and research settings.
Graduate School Pathways: When Additional Education Opens Doors
While 56% of psychology bachelor's holders enter the workforce directly, graduate education significantly expands career opportunities and earning potential for those seeking to advance in psychology or related fields. Master's degree programs prepare graduates for licensed counseling and therapy positions.
Master's Degrees (Typically 2 Years)
Common master's degrees for psychology graduates include:
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC): Provides mental health counseling in clinical settings, private practice, or community agencies
- School Psychologist: Works in educational settings assessing students, providing interventions, and consulting with teachers and parents (some states require specialist-level degrees beyond master's)
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC): Offers counseling services for mental health, career, and life challenges
- Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT): Specializes in relationship and family counseling.
- Substance Abuse Counselor: Helps individuals recover from addiction and substance use disorders
Master's-level positions offer better salaries and more clinical responsibility than bachelor's-level roles. Licensed Professional Counselors are in high demand and can earn six figures once fully licensed and established in private practice or leadership positions. About 30% of psychology bachelor's holders eventually pursue graduate degrees in fields other than psychology, including education, social work, public health, and business.
Doctoral Degrees (PhD or PsyD, Typically 5-7 Years)
Doctoral degrees are required for:
- Licensed Psychologist: Provides psychological assessment, diagnosis, and treatment; can prescribe in some states with additional training
- University Professor: Teaches psychology courses and conducts research at colleges and universities
- Clinical Psychologist in Independent Practice: Operates a private practice providing specialized psychological services
- Research Psychologist: Conducts research in academic, government, or private settings
Doctoral-level positions offer the highest earning potential in psychology. Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists earn an average of $85,654 annually. Industrial-organizational psychologists earn a median of $109,840 to $139,280. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook, licensed psychologists have a median salary of $94,310 and a 6% projected growth from 2024 to 2034.
About 14% of psychology bachelor's holders eventually earn graduate degrees specifically in psychology. Most people complete their graduate education by age 30, suggesting that those who pursue advanced degrees typically do so within a few years of completing their bachelor's degree.
Setting Realistic Expectations: What You CAN and CAN'T Do
Understanding the limitations and opportunities of a bachelor's degree in psychology helps you make informed decisions about your education and career path.
What You CAN'T Do with Just a Bachelor's Degree
State licensing laws strictly regulate who can provide mental health services. With only a bachelor's degree in psychology, you cannot:
- Provide therapy or counseling independently
- Become a licensed psychologist
- Call yourself a "psychologist" (this is a legally protected title)
- Open a private practice for mental health services
- Diagnose mental health conditions
- Administer and interpret most psychological tests independently
- Prescribe medications
These restrictions exist to protect public safety and ensure that appropriately trained and licensed professionals provide mental health services. Understanding these limitations helps set realistic career expectations.
What You CAN Do with a Bachelor's Degree
Despite the limitations in independent clinical practice, many meaningful opportunities exist:
- Work in mental health support roles under supervision
- Build a successful career in business, HR, marketing, or sales
- Use psychology knowledge in education, criminal justice, or social services
- Gain valuable experience before graduate school
- Earn $60,000-$100,000+ in psychology-adjacent fields
- Conduct research as an assistant or coordinator
- Help people through case management and support services
- Apply psychological principles in consulting or organizational development
The Decision Framework
Your career success with a psychology bachelor's degree depends on aligning your goals with realistic pathways:
For aspiring therapists or psychologists: View the bachelor's degree as the first step in a longer educational journey. Plan to pursue a master's degree (for counseling roles) or a doctoral degree (for psychologist licensure). Use bachelor's-level positions to gain clinical experience and clarify your specialization interests.
For those entering the workforce immediately: Focus on psychology-adjacent roles in business, human resources, market research, or user experience that offer better pay and advancement opportunities than entry-level psychology support positions. Emphasize your transferable skills in interviews and applications.
For career changers and explorers: The degree provides versatile skills applicable across industries. Consider how psychological knowledge enhances your target field. Many successful professionals combine psychology backgrounds with business, technology, healthcare administration, or other domains.
For those passionate about helping others, entry-level positions such as case management, behavioral health support, or ABA work offer fulfilling ways to support people while gaining experience. These roles provide meaning and purpose even with modest salaries, and can lead to graduate education opportunities.
Real Graduate Experiences: What Reddit Users Say
Real perspectives from psychology graduates provide valuable insight into the bachelor's degree experience. Online discussions reveal both challenges and success stories.
Common Challenges
Many graduates express frustration that bachelor-level psychology positions are limited and low-paying. One graduate noted that with a bachelor's in psychology, better opportunities often come from pivoting to fields like banking, finance, HR, corporate communications, software sales, marketing, or project management rather than pursuing direct psychology roles.
Another graduate shared honest advice: "I would advise against pursuing a psychology degree if your only goal is to obtain a bachelor's. Having completed both a BA in psychology and a master's in counseling, I found that with just the bachelor's, I was limited to low-paying positions like case manager, intake specialist, mental health technician."
The pay disparity creates frustration for many: "I'm frustrated by many psychology positions that require a master's degree and only offer around $25 an hour." This reflects widespread concerns about return on investment for bachelor-level positions in direct psychology work.
Success Stories
However, many graduates found success by leveraging their psychology background creatively. One graduate stated, "I have a psychology degree. I work in marketing and can get jobs making six figures," demonstrating that psychology skills translate well to business roles where understanding human behavior provides competitive advantages.
Another shared: "During my gap year after completing my bachelor's degree, I worked as a research assistant, which I found to be very rewarding." Research positions offer valuable experience and often better pay than direct care roles.
A graduate earning a solid salary explained: "I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Currently, I'm earning $65,000 in a metropolitan area. This degree offers a significant amount of versatility, especially if you can effectively communicate your skills to potential employers." This highlights the importance of translating psychology training into marketable professional competencies.
The Graduate School Consensus
Many emphasized the importance of planning. "Psychology is definitely worth it if u want to do a phd. As u want to become a psychologist, most of the time, u need a PhD anyway." Another advised: "If you're not going to do the psych masters, switch to a BA degree in business," suggesting double majoring or switching if graduate school isn't the goal.
One user summarized the consensus: "It's a good degree to get if you're expecting to get a master's or phd in something later on, or even law school. But expect to stay in the $20-$30 an hour range for quite a while if you're going to work in the field with just a bachelor's."
The Realistic Take
A balanced perspective emerged from the discussions: "Sometimes just having a bachelor's alone is good to get a good job if you don't want to go to grad school. Most jobs will hire you no matter what your degree is in; a bachelor's shows you have your education, are hardworking, and dedicated."
Another offered practical advice: "HR, teaching, social worker, pursue a higher degree to become a therapist, work in advertising, management, admin, or you can work for the local council. You can also go into data science if you took enough statistics classes." This shows the breadth of options available to psychology graduates who think beyond traditional psychology roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a psychology bachelor's degree useless?
No, but it's not a direct professional credential like engineering or nursing. Its value depends on how you apply the transferable skills and whether you pursue graduate education or pivot to psychology-adjacent fields. Psychology graduates work across 88 different occupation categories, demonstrating the degree's versatility when approached strategically.
Can I become a therapist with just a bachelor's degree?
No. Providing therapy requires at least a master's degree and state licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, or similar credential. Bachelor's-level positions in mental health are support roles where you work under the supervision of licensed professionals.
What's the average salary with a bachelor's in psychology?
The median salary for psychology bachelor's holders is $60,000-$65,000, though starting salaries are typically lower, around $35,412, three years post-graduation. Psychology-adjacent careers in business, such as HR, market research, or UX design, often pay significantly more, ranging from $ 70,000 to $100,000+. Entry-level direct psychology positions typically pay $35,000-$46,000.
Should I major in psychology if I'm not going to graduate school?
Consider double-majoring or minoring in psychology while pursuing a more directly applicable major, such as business, data science, or communications. This provides flexibility while maintaining employability. Alternatively, plan to leverage psychology knowledge in business roles where understanding human behavior offers advantages, such as HR, sales, marketing, or management.
How long does it take for a psychology degree to "pay off"?
On average, 8.5 years, compared to 4.52 years for all bachelor's degrees. This longer timeline reflects lower starting salaries in direct psychology positions—long-term earnings approach $67,000 annually, slightly below the $69,000 average for all bachelor's holders. Psychology-adjacent business careers typically offer faster returns on investment.
What's the job market like for psychology majors?
The overall psychology job market is projected to grow 6% through 2034 for licensed psychologists, with mental health counselors seeing a more substantial 19% growth. However, this growth primarily benefits those with graduate degrees. Competition for graduate programs and licensed positions is intense. Bachelor's-level positions exist but are more limited and lower-paying than positions requiring advanced degrees.
Key Takeaways
- A bachelor's degree alone has limitations in clinical psychology: you cannot provide independent therapy or become a licensed psychologist with just a bachelor's degree. Entry-level positions are support roles with modest pay ($35,000-$46,000).
- Graduate school significantly expands options: Master's degrees open counseling and therapy careers, while doctoral degrees are required for licensure as a psychologist. About 14% of psychology graduates pursue graduate degrees in psychology, while another 30% pursue graduate education in other fields.
- Psychology-adjacent careers often pay better: Roles in HR ($72,910), market research ($76,950), UX design ($95,380), and sales management ($138,060) offer higher salaries than direct psychology positions and don't require graduate degrees.
- Transferable skills are the real value: Research methods, statistical analysis, critical thinking, communication, and understanding human behavior make psychology graduates attractive across industries, explaining why they work in 88 different occupation categories.
- Realistic salary expectations matter: Median earnings of $60,000-$65,000 mask a lower entry-level reality ($35,412 average three years post-graduation). The degree takes 8.5 years on average to pay off, versus 4.52 years for all bachelor's degrees.
- Strategic planning is essential: Success requires aligning your goals with realistic pathways—whether pursuing graduate school, pivoting to business roles, or gaining experience in support positions before advancing.
- Employment is diverse but scattered: Most psychology graduates (56%) enter the workforce directly, working across sales (20%), professional services (17%), management (16%), teaching (11%), and other fields rather than traditional psychology roles.
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2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures and job growth projections for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, Industrial-Organizational Psychologists, School Psychologists, Psychologists-All Other; Psychiatric Techs; Psychiatrists; Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health and Mental Health Counselors; Marriage & Family Therapists; and Social Workers are based on state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2025.
