Become a psychologist

With its diverse subfields and many applications, psychology offers a broad array of career paths for individuals at the bachelor’s, graduate, or doctoral level.

Career paths in psychology

Helping Businesses

Helping businesses

Promoting Health

Promoting health

Helping People Improve Their Lives

Helping people improve their lives

Related career resources

Subfields in psychology

With a diverse array of subfields, psychology can lead to multiple career paths that draw on a variety of interests, skills, and talents.
Brain Science and Cognitive Psychology

Brain science and cognitive psychology

Brain science and cognitive psychologists study how the human mind thinks, remembers, and learns. They apply psychological science to understand how we make decisions and perceive our world.
Environmental Psychology Makes a Better World

Climate and environmental psychology

Climate and environmental psychologists use psychological science to improve the interactions of people with the world around us.
Clinical Psychology Solves Complex Human Problems

Clinical psychology

Clinical psychologists integrate the science of psychology with the treatment of complex human problems.
Rehabilitation Psychology

Rehabilitation psychology

Rehabilitation psychologists study individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions and help to improve their overall quality of life.

Planning your career path

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Career guides

Information for students and educators for pursuing a career in psychology with a focus on career opportunities in the many subfields of psychology and resources for students of color.
Mentor

Individual development plan resources

The best way to ensure success is to create a plan—an individual development plan that includes career resources that help you map out your career pathway and take the first steps along the way.

Undergraduates: Preparing for success

Preparing to use your bachelor’s degree in psychology

Understand how your skills, degree, experiences, and brand prepare you to land a job that’s the right fit for you.

The skillful psychology student: preparing for success in the workplace

Prepare for success in the 21st century workplace.

Careers with a bachelor’s degree in psychology

We interviewed 13 psychology majors to learn how they prepared for their careers.

Applying to graduate school

Focus on finding the right fit for you. Graduate programs differ in students admitted, faculty composition, and financial resources.
 

Psychology Student Network

Teacher speaking with two students in a classroom.

Psychology Student Network (PSN) is APA's feature publication highlighting articles about undergraduate education and training in psychology.

APA Office of Applied Psychology video series on careers in applied psychology

This exciting new video series highlights interesting careers in applied psychology.

What does my future look like as a psychologist?

Career interviews highlight psychologists working in a multitude of settings.

Master’s careers in psychology

Is graduate school in your future?
 

Data from APA's Center for Workforce Studies

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There aren’t enough psychologists trained to treat kids in need

Here’s why. About 46% of psychologists report increases in demand from adolescents, but many don’t have the experience needed to treat them.
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Today’s graduate students are racially and ethnically diverse

Racial diversity varied across both subfields and degree levels.
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A psychology major opens doors

Undergraduate psychology studies build skills valuable in the job market.
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How many psychology majors go on to graduate school?

In 2017, about 3.5 million people in the United States held a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
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How much do psychology graduates earn?

Salaries of graduates with psychology degrees in the United States vary widely.
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Why psychologists take part-time jobs

Psychologists take part-time work for retirement, family, multiple jobs.
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Diversity among psychology faculty

When it comes to racial/ethnic minorities, the psychology discipline is less diverse than others.
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How the pandemic has impacted psychology graduate programs

Some institutions have waived requirements temporarily or permanently for submitting GRE scores as part of applications.