Psychology Careers

If you are interested in undergraduate careers in psychology, you will be happy to know that a degree can open the door to many, different, psychology careers. Psychology has many subfields and so you are sure to find a number of psychology careers in which you are interested. The types of psychology careers you can pursue will depend on your education level. While some career fields can be entered with only an undergraduate degree, psychology, psychiatry and psychology research positions require a Ph.D.

With a bachelor’s degree in psychology, you can begin psychology careers in the social work field. Social work is expected to grow by 22 percent by 2016, much higher than the average. There will be more need for social services to help the growing elderly population. Social workers can also work with children and those with disabilities. Average salaries range from $38,000 to $55,000.

Psychology careers are expected to grow faster than the average within the next decade, although some specialties will grow more quickly than others. Industrial-organizational psychology careers are growing the fastest because companies are looking for ways to analyze employee behavior in the workplace, increase production and find the best employee matches for particular jobs. There are some psychology careers in the industrial-organizational specialty that require only a master’s degree, but better income and opportunities are available with a Ph.D. Psychologists in this field earn an average of almost $100,000 annually.

Forensic psychology is another hot field due to the popularity of crime shows. Forensic psychologists study human behavior in the areas of law and criminal investigations. They work with law enforcement agencies to investigate cases, such as fraud and child custody disputes. There is a lot of potential career growth in this field. The average salary is around $60,000 annually.

For those looking to combine their love of sports and human behavior analysis, there are psychology careers in the sports field. Sports psychology focuses on performance and motivation in sports. Sports psychologists help athletes improve their performance and focus on how sports can be used to improve health. Those who work in sports psychology careers can work in many different settings, such as athletic centers, hospitals, universities and research facilities. Salaries in this field range from $45,000 to $80,000.