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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Yes, a psychology degree can lead to far more than therapy—but a bachelor’s degree is not a license to diagnose mental illness or provide independent psychotherapy. It is a broad behavioral-science degree that can prepare you for entry-level work in human services, behavioral support, research, market research, human resources, training, education support, corrections, public service, health education, and related business roles.
Licensed mental-health counselors, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, school counselors, behavior analysts, and psychologists generally need graduate education, supervised practice, examinations, and state authorization. The best choice depends on whether you want direct helping work, research and data, business, education, justice, or a graduate-level clinical career.
This guide covers more than 200 searchable job titles and career paths. They are not 200 separate licensed psychology professions or 200 separate Bureau of Labor Statistics occupations. Many titles overlap or fall under broader occupational categories. As the American Psychological Association explains, a psychology degree does not point to one single job; it provides skills that transfer across many types of work.
Quick comparison: psychology career paths by degree level
| Career direction | Examples | Can a bachelor’s degree be enough to enter? | Additional gate | Typical setting | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human services and behavioral support | Case manager, behavioral-health technician, victim advocate, residential counselor | Often | Employer training, background checks, crisis training, or state rules may apply | Community agencies, hospitals, residential programs, nonprofits | Meaningful direct impact, but emotional labor, caseloads, and shift work are common |
| Research and behavioral science | Research assistant, market research analyst, survey researcher, program evaluator | Often for entry-level roles | Research methods, statistics, data tools, or a portfolio | Universities, healthcare, government, consulting, technology | Less direct care; stronger quantitative preparation improves options |
| Business and people operations | HR specialist, recruiter, training specialist, project coordinator | Often | Internships, HR systems, business knowledge, or project experience | Corporate, nonprofit, healthcare, government | Potentially broader advancement, but psychology may be only one of several accepted majors |
| Education and student support | Academic advisor, student-success coach, admissions counselor, paraeducator | Often for support roles | School, district, or state requirements; teaching and counseling require separate credentials | Schools, colleges, youth programs | Strong fit for people interested in development, but pay and advancement vary by setting |
| Justice and public service | Probation officer, correctional-treatment specialist, victim/witness coordinator | Often, depending on agency | Agency training, background investigation, exams, physical or age requirements | Courts, corrections, juvenile justice, public agencies | Structured public-service work can be rewarding but stressful and sometimes safety-sensitive |
| Licensed clinical practice | Mental-health counselor, school counselor, MFT, clinical psychologist | No, not independently | Graduate degree, supervised practice, examination, and state license or credential | Clinics, schools, hospitals, private practice | Greater clinical scope, but graduate-school cost and time are substantial |
What the degree actually qualifies you to do
A bachelor’s degree in psychology usually gives you a foundation in human behavior, research methods, statistics, writing, communication, development, learning, and mental-health concepts. It does not automatically qualify you for every job that contains words such as psychologist, counselor, therapist, or behavior analyst.
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The distinction matters financially as well as legally. Before paying for a program, identify the job and license you ultimately want, then work backward to the required degree, supervised hours, examinations, and state rules. A bachelor’s degree may be a sensible first step toward graduate training, but it is not interchangeable with a counseling degree, a social-work degree, or a doctoral psychology degree.
How to read the job list
- B: Often reachable with a bachelor’s degree, although the degree may not be mandatory.
- B+: A bachelor’s degree plus a credential, technical skill, portfolio, state rule, or relevant experience.
- M: A master’s degree is typical; supervised practice or licensure may also be required.
- D: A doctoral or professional degree and licensure are typical.
- A: An adjacent career where psychology is useful, but the job is not specifically a psychology profession.
These labels are planning guides, not legal determinations. BLS’s “typical entry-level education” describes an occupational pattern; it is not a universal employer requirement or a guarantee of employment. Read the actual job posting and check the licensing authority in the state where you intend to work.
80+ psychology jobs and related career paths
The following list intentionally includes job titles people actually search for. Some titles overlap, and several map to larger BLS or O*NET categories. For example, O*NET includes UX research assistant, user-experience research assistant, research analyst, and clinical research assistant as related titles under broader social-science research work.
1. Human services, behavioral support, and mental-health services
These are among the most realistic immediate options for a psychology graduate who wants direct contact with clients but does not yet have a clinical license. Work may involve observation, documentation, referrals, crisis protocols, daily-living assistance, or structured behavioral support—not independent diagnosis or therapy.
| # | Job title | Gate | What the work involves and what else may be needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychiatric technician | B/B+ | Observes behavior, documents care, and supports patients; employer training, safety skills, and shift availability are common. |
| 2 | Psychiatric aide | B | Provides basic patient and unit support; communication, safety training, and physical readiness matter. |
| 3 | Mental-health technician | B/B+ | Supports patients in residential or inpatient behavioral settings; crisis training and background checks may be required. |
| 4 | Behavioral-health technician | B+ | Delivers structured support and records behavior; employers may require direct-care experience and specialized training. |
| 5 | Registered behavior technician | B+ | Implements applied behavior-analysis procedures under supervision; current BACB requirements and transition resources must be checked. |
| 6 | Behavior technician | B/B+ | Uses reinforcement, collects data, and follows structured interventions; employer training and supervision are typical. |
| 7 | Social and human-service assistant | B | Helps clients access social, rehabilitation, addiction, housing, disability, or veteran services; documentation and resource knowledge are essential. |
| 8 | Casework aide | B | Provides administrative and client-support assistance; organization and accurate records matter. |
| 9 | Case manager | B/B+ | Assesses needs, coordinates referrals, documents progress, and follows up; caseload management and agency-specific training are important. |
| 10 | Intake coordinator | B | Conducts screening interviews, handles records, and routes referrals; privacy procedures and communication skills are important. |
| 11 | Residential counselor | B | Supports residents in structured programs; nights, weekends, crisis response, and safety procedures may be part of the job. |
| 12 | Substance-use counselor in a bachelor’s-level setting | B+ | Provides education and client support in settings that permit it; state requirements vary substantially. |
| 13 | Recovery coach | B+ | Offers recovery-oriented support; peer or recovery-support certification and lived-experience rules may apply. |
| 14 | Peer-support specialist | B+ | Uses lived experience and formal support methods; state certification and eligibility requirements vary. |
| 15 | Crisis-line counselor | B+ | Responds through crisis protocols under training and supervision; this is not automatically independent clinical counseling. |
| 16 | Victim advocate | B | Provides trauma-informed information, safety planning, and resource navigation; court and crisis training can help. |
| 17 | Domestic-violence advocate | B | Supports safety planning and community referrals; confidentiality and trauma-informed practice are central. |
| 18 | Child-welfare caseworker | B | Interviews families, documents cases, and coordinates child services; agency hiring standards and background checks apply. |
| 19 | Family-services coordinator | B | Helps families create service plans and connect with programs; communication and documentation skills are valuable. |
| 20 | Community-health worker | B | Conducts outreach, education, and health-system navigation; local certification or employer training may apply. |
| 21 | Housing navigator | B | Assesses housing needs and coordinates benefits and referrals; knowledge of local programs is critical. |
| 22 | Reentry specialist | B | Connects formerly incarcerated people with housing, work, and treatment resources; justice-system knowledge helps. |
| 23 | Veteran-services coordinator | B | Coordinates transition support and benefits navigation; familiarity with veteran programs is useful. |
| 24 | Developmental-disabilities support specialist | B | Provides individualized support and observes behavior; employer training, safety skills, and patience are essential. |
| 25 | Direct-support professional | B | Assists with daily living and behavioral needs; physical and safety requirements vary by client. |
| 26 | Behavioral-health program coordinator | B/B+ | Coordinates client flow, schedules, records, and program operations; healthcare or nonprofit administration can help. |
| 27 | Employee-assistance-program coordinator | B/B+ | Handles intake, referrals, and administration; the role does not authorize independent therapy. |
| 28 | Crisis-intervention program coordinator | B+ | Coordinates crisis systems, training, and partnerships; crisis-response experience is often expected. |
| 29 | Family-support specialist | B | Provides parenting, family-service, and case support; agency-specific training is common. |
| 30 | Youth-services specialist | B | Plans and delivers youth programs; child-safety rules and developmental knowledge matter. |
BLS reports a 2024 median wage of $45,120 for social and human-service assistants and projects 6% employment growth from 2024 to 2034. Psychiatric technicians had a 2024 median wage of $42,590 and 20% projected growth, while psychiatric aides had a $41,590 median and essentially flat projected employment. These jobs can involve nights, weekends, physical demands, safety risks, and people who are distressed or physically uncooperative.
2. Counseling, rehabilitation, and licensed helping professions
These careers are related to psychology but should not be presented as bachelor’s-only options. The same title can have different requirements depending on the state, employer, population served, and whether the role involves independent clinical practice.
| # | Job title | Gate | Qualification reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Mental-health counselor | M | Typically requires a master’s degree, supervised clinical work, examination, and state licensure. |
| 32 | Licensed professional counselor | M | Requires a state-specific graduate counseling pathway and supervised practice. |
| 33 | Substance-use counselor | B+/M | Requirements range from lower education levels to graduate training depending on state and setting. |
| 34 | Licensed addiction counselor | M | Usually requires a state credential, supervised practice, and an examination or other specified requirements. |
| 35 | School counselor | M | Usually requires a master’s degree and state school credential; it is not the same as a school psychologist. |
| 36 | Career counselor | M/B+ | Requirements depend on whether the job is in a college, school, agency, or clinical setting. |
| 37 | Rehabilitation counselor | M | Typically a master’s-level profession involving disability, employment, and rehabilitation services. |
| 38 | Vocational rehabilitation counselor | M | State and employer rules vary; rehabilitation counseling preparation is commonly expected. |
| 39 | Marriage and family therapist | M | Requires graduate education, supervised practice, examination, and state licensure. |
| 40 | Licensed clinical social worker | M | Usually requires social-work education, often an MSW, plus jurisdictional licensure; psychology is not automatically a substitute. |
| 41 | Clinical social worker | M | Requires a social-work degree and the applicable state or employer qualifications. |
| 42 | Board Certified Behavior Analyst | M | Requires a qualifying graduate degree, coursework, supervised fieldwork, examination, and often state authorization. |
| 43 | Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst | B+ | Undergraduate-level behavior-analysis credential practiced under BCBA supervision; confirm current BACB and state requirements. |
| 44 | Psychometrist | M/B+ | Often requires graduate training or substantial clinical assessment experience, under a defined scope of supervision. |
| 45 | Psychological testing technician | B+/M | Administers or supports testing under supervision; employer and jurisdictional rules determine permitted tasks. |
| 46 | Behavioral-assessment coordinator | B+/M | Coordinates assessment services; assessment training and scope-of-practice limits are essential. |
| 47 | College mental-health counselor | M | Typically requires counseling licensure or a supervised graduate role. |
| 48 | Rehabilitation case manager | B+/M | May require rehabilitation, social-work, counseling, or case-management credentials depending on the setting. |
| 49 | Career-development practitioner | B+/M | Credential and work setting determine the permitted scope of advising and counseling. |
| 50 | Clinical intake therapist trainee | M | Generally a graduate-enrollment and supervised-practice position rather than a bachelor’s-level therapist job. |
BLS explains that mental-health counselors typically need a master’s degree and supervised internship, and that all states require mental-health counselors to be licensed. Substance-use and behavioral-disorder counseling requirements vary widely—from high-school-level entry in some roles to graduate education and private-practice licensure in others.
For school counseling, the American School Counselor Association recommends at least a master’s degree and state credentialing or licensure, usually with coursework, practicum, internship, and an examination.
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A psychology bachelor’s degree can lead to social-service work, but it is not automatically a social-work degree. The Council on Social Work Education states that a BSW is the minimum requirement for most social-work positions and that most jurisdictions require a social-work degree from a CSWE-accredited program for licensure or examination eligibility.
3. Psychology professions that usually require graduate education
In this group, the word psychologist generally signals advanced education and a regulated scope of practice. Research-oriented positions may not involve clinical licensure, while clinical, school, and independent assessment roles usually involve state authorization.
| # | Job title | Gate | Qualification reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Clinical psychologist | D | Typically requires a doctoral degree, supervised training, examinations, and state licensure. |
| 52 | Counseling psychologist | D | Usually requires doctoral psychology training and state licensure. |
| 53 | School psychologist | M/D specialist | Usually requires EdS or doctoral preparation plus a state credential; this is different from school counseling. |
| 54 | Industrial-organizational psychologist | M/D | Graduate training is typical; licensure depends on the work and jurisdiction. |
| 55 | Forensic psychologist | D | Requires doctoral psychology training and forensic specialization for psychologist-level work. |
| 56 | Neuropsychologist | D | Requires doctoral psychology education and specialized postdoctoral training. |
| 57 | Clinical neuropsychologist | D | Requires doctoral, supervised, and specialized clinical preparation. |
| 58 | Sport psychologist | M/D | Requirements depend on whether the role is licensed psychology, counseling, performance work, or coaching. |
| 59 | Rehabilitation psychologist | D | Typically requires doctoral psychology training and specialty experience. |
| 60 | Health psychologist | D | Doctoral clinical or counseling psychology training is typical. |
| 61 | Behavioral-medicine psychologist | D | Usually requires clinical or counseling psychology training and health-related specialization. |
| 62 | Geropsychologist | D | Requires doctoral training plus specialization in aging and older-adult care. |
| 63 | Pediatric psychologist | D | Requires doctoral clinical psychology training and pediatric specialization. |
| 64 | Public-health behavioral scientist | M/D | Research or public-health graduate training is often expected. |
| 65 | Psychology research scientist | M/D | Graduate research training is generally required for scientist-level work. |
| 66 | Psychology professor | D | Four-year institutions commonly expect a doctorate and a research record. |
| 67 | Postsecondary psychology instructor | M/D | Requirements vary by institution, course level, and accreditation expectations. |
| 68 | Psychological examiner | M/D | Title and scope are state-specific; independent assessment is not created by the bachelor’s degree alone. |
| 69 | Clinical research psychologist | D | Usually requires doctoral clinical or research training. |
| 70 | Quantitative psychologist | M/D | Requires advanced statistics, measurement, and research-methods preparation. |
| 71 | Cognitive psychologist | D | Research doctorate is typical. |
| 72 | Developmental psychologist | D | Research or clinical doctorate is typical. |
| 73 | Social psychologist | D | Research doctorate is typical. |
| 74 | Experimental psychologist | D | Usually requires a research doctorate. |
| 75 | Applied psychological scientist | M/D | Requires graduate research and applied-methods training. |
BLS reports that psychologists typically need an advanced degree and that licensing requirements vary by position and state. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards says psychologists must be licensed or registered under the laws of the jurisdiction where they practice; independent practice generally involves doctoral education, supervised experience, examination, and other state requirements.
4. Research, data, behavioral science, and UX
Research is one of the strongest ways to turn a psychology major into a marketable skill set. Coursework in research methods and statistics helps, but employers may also expect data cleaning, survey design, interviewing, usability testing, human-subjects procedures, or a portfolio.
| # | Job title | Gate | What employers may want beyond the degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | Research assistant | B | Study coordination, literature reviews, participant contact, data entry, and clear writing. |
| 77 | Social-science research assistant | B | Research methods, data management, interviewing, and reporting. |
| 78 | Psychology research assistant | B | Lab experience, statistics, protocols, and research-methods coursework. |
| 79 | Clinical research assistant | B/B+ | Human-subjects procedures, clinical research systems, documentation, and compliance. |
| 80 | Clinical research coordinator | B+ | Study operations, regulatory compliance, participant scheduling, and project experience. |
| 81 | Research coordinator | B | Scheduling, documentation, participant communication, and study logistics. |
| 82 | Research participant coordinator | B | Recruitment, screening, informed-consent procedures, and accurate records. |
| 83 | Survey researcher | B+/M | Survey design, sampling, statistics, questionnaire testing, and often graduate preparation for advanced roles. |
| 84 | Market research analyst | B | Consumer behavior, quantitative analysis, survey work, and presentation skills. |
| 85 | Consumer-insights analyst | B | Segmentation, interviews, surveys, business context, and presentation. |
| 86 | UX research assistant | B | Interviewing, usability testing, research operations, and a small project portfolio. |
| 87 | UX researcher | B+/M | Qualitative or quantitative methods, product knowledge, stakeholder communication, and portfolio evidence. |
| 88 | Usability analyst | B+ | Usability testing, human-computer interaction, analysis, and reporting. |
| 89 | Behavioral-science analyst | B+/M | Experimental design, statistics, evidence evaluation, and applied research. |
| 90 | People-analytics analyst | B+ | Excel, SQL, statistics, dashboards, and knowledge of HR data. |
| 91 | Institutional-research analyst | B+ | Higher-education data, reporting systems, spreadsheets, and analysis. |
| 92 | Program evaluator | B+/M | Evaluation design, statistics, outcome measurement, and grant reporting. |
| 93 | Policy analyst | B+ | Public-policy research, concise writing, evidence synthesis, and data analysis. |
| 94 | Data analyst | B+ | Statistics plus Excel, SQL, R, Python, or visualization tools. |
| 95 | Research-data analyst | B+ | Data cleaning, analysis, documentation, and quality control. |
| 96 | Psychometric data analyst | B+/M | Measurement theory and advanced statistics; graduate training is often preferred. |
| 97 | Assessment coordinator | B | Test administration, records, scheduling, and data reporting. |
| 98 | Behavioral-insights coordinator | B+ | Experimental or survey research, program coordination, and communication. |
| 99 | Customer-research analyst | B | Interviews, surveys, customer segmentation, and business presentation. |
| 100 | Market-research interviewer | B | Structured interviewing, recruitment, and accurate data collection. |
| 101 | Research-operations coordinator | B | Participant recruitment, scheduling, logistics, and research documentation. |
| 102 | Lab manager | B+/M | Research operations, compliance, purchasing, scheduling, and sometimes supervision. |
| 103 | Human-factors research assistant | B+/M | Human performance, usability, technology research, and applied methods. |
| 104 | Cognitive-lab coordinator | B+/M | Research protocols, participant management, and technical documentation. |
| 105 | Grant-research assistant | B | Literature reviews, data gathering, proposal support, and precise writing. |
Market research analysts typically need a bachelor’s degree. BLS reports a 2024 median wage of $76,950, projected 7% growth from 2024 to 2034, and approximately 87,200 annual openings. Psychology is relevant to consumer preferences, behavior, surveys, and data interpretation, but marketing, economics, statistics, and business majors may compete for the same roles.
UX research is a related career path rather than an automatic outcome of a psychology degree. A psychology graduate can become more competitive through usability-testing projects, interview protocols, research synthesis, product knowledge, and a portfolio that shows how research influenced a decision.
5. Human resources, organizational development, and business
Psychology can be useful in jobs involving hiring, motivation, training, employee experience, communication, customer behavior, and organizational change. The degree is usually one relevant major among several—not a substitute for HR systems, analytics, business, or project experience.
| # | Job title | Gate | What else helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| 106 | Human-resources specialist | B | Recruiting, employee relations, HR information systems, employment-policy knowledge, and internships. |
| 107 | Human-resources coordinator | B | Administrative HR experience, scheduling, records, and HR systems. |
| 108 | Recruiter | B | Sourcing, interviewing, candidate communication, and applicant-tracking systems. |
| 109 | Recruiting coordinator | B | Interview scheduling, communication, organization, and HR administration. |
| 110 | Talent-acquisition specialist | B | Recruitment marketing, sourcing strategy, interviewing, and candidate management. |
| 111 | Employee-experience coordinator | B | Employee surveys, engagement programs, internal communication, and project coordination. |
| 112 | Employee-engagement specialist | B+ | Survey analysis, organizational programs, and presentation skills. |
| 113 | Compensation analyst | B+ | Excel, job evaluation, compensation systems, and quantitative analysis. |
| 114 | Benefits analyst | B+ | Benefits administration, data accuracy, and compliance knowledge. |
| 115 | Job analyst | B+ | Job analysis, interviews, position descriptions, and documentation. |
| 116 | Compensation, benefits, and job-analysis specialist | B+ | Psychology can be a relevant field; analysis, HR systems, and employment-policy knowledge are important. |
| 117 | Labor-relations specialist | B+ | Employment law, collective bargaining, investigation, and labor-relations experience. |
| 118 | Training and development specialist | B | Instructional design, facilitation, presentations, adult learning, and workplace experience. |
| 119 | Learning-and-development coordinator | B | Program administration, learning-management systems, and communication. |
| 120 | Instructional designer | B+ | Learning-design methods, authoring tools, and instructional technology. |
| 121 | Learning-experience designer | B+ | Adult learning, digital design, user research, and content tools. |
| 122 | Organizational-development coordinator | B+/M | Organizational behavior, surveys, program evaluation, and change initiatives. |
| 123 | Management analyst | B+ | Business analysis, problem solving, presentations, and often several years of related experience. |
| 124 | Project coordinator | B | Scheduling, communication, documentation, and project-tracking tools. |
| 125 | Project-management specialist | B | Project methods, stakeholder management, budgeting, and delivery experience. |
| 126 | Customer-success manager | B | Communication, retention, problem solving, and customer data. |
| 127 | Customer-experience analyst | B+ | Customer data, journey analysis, surveys, and presentation. |
| 128 | Client-services coordinator | B | Relationship management, organization, and service communication. |
| 129 | Account manager | B | Persuasion, client strategy, communication, and business development. |
| 130 | Sales representative | B/A | Motivation, rapport, persuasion, product knowledge, and performance results. |
| 131 | Sales-development representative | B/A | Prospecting, written communication, resilience, and customer research. |
| 132 | Corporate wellness coordinator | B+ | Program design, health behavior, communication, and implementation. |
| 133 | Employee-wellness specialist | B+ | Wellness programming and behavior-change knowledge; this is not clinical treatment. |
| 134 | Change-management coordinator | B+/M | Organizational change, communication planning, and project experience. |
| 135 | Workforce-development specialist | B | Training, career services, employer partnerships, and labor-market knowledge. |
BLS reports a 2024 median wage of $72,910 for human-resources specialists, projected 6% growth from 2024 to 2034, and about 81,800 annual openings. Training and development specialists had a $65,850 median wage and 11% projected growth. These figures apply to the occupations as a whole, not specifically to psychology graduates.
Management analyst and project-management specialist roles can have higher occupation-wide medians, but they are not necessarily first jobs after college. BLS reports a $101,190 median wage and 9% projected growth for management analysts, with several years of related experience often expected. Project-management specialists had a $100,750 median wage and 6% projected growth. See the management analyst and project-management specialist profiles for the occupational context.
6. Education, student support, and career development
Psychology’s coursework in development, learning, motivation, and communication can be useful in schools, colleges, youth programs, and employment services. Support positions may be available with a bachelor’s degree, but teaching and school counseling are credentialed professions.
| # | Job title | Gate | Qualification reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 136 | Teacher assistant | B/A | District requirements vary; classroom experience and student-safety training help. |
| 137 | Instructional aide | B/A | Supports classroom learning; school experience and district rules apply. |
| 138 | Paraeducator | B/B+ | State or district requirements may apply, especially in special education. |
| 139 | Preschool teacher | B+ | State licensing and early-childhood education requirements vary. |
| 140 | After-school program director | B | Plans youth programs; child-safety and program-management experience matter. |
| 141 | Youth-program coordinator | B | Coordinates activities and staff; youth-program and safety experience help. |
| 142 | Student-success coach | B | Provides nonclinical retention and academic support; coaching and advising skills matter. |
| 143 | Academic advisor | B | Helps students plan programs and access resources; higher-education experience is useful. |
| 144 | Admissions counselor | B | Recruits and interviews students; communication, travel, and presentation skills may be required. |
| 145 | Financial-aid counselor | B | Explains aid options and manages records; federal and institutional training is necessary. |
| 146 | Career-services coordinator | B | Coordinates advising, employer relations, workshops, and student services. |
| 147 | Career coach | B+ | Coaching training may help; career coaching is not licensed mental-health counseling. |
| 148 | College-access advisor | B | Supports college readiness and first-generation students; outreach experience helps. |
| 149 | Student-affairs coordinator | B | Runs campus programs and administration; student-development experience is valuable. |
| 150 | Residence-life coordinator | B+ | Housing and student-affairs requirements vary; crisis response and evening availability may matter. |
| 151 | Orientation coordinator | B | Plans programs and public-facing events; organization and public speaking help. |
| 152 | Vocational-rehabilitation technician | B | Supports rehabilitation-services administration and client coordination. |
| 153 | Job coach | B | Supports people with disabilities in employment; individualized support skills matter. |
| 154 | Employment specialist | B | Helps clients find work and develops employer relationships. |
| 155 | Adult-education program coordinator | B | Coordinates classes, instructors, enrollment, and learner support. |
| 156 | Learning-support specialist | B+ | Provides academic interventions and student services; specialized training may be expected. |
| 157 | Special-education paraprofessional | B+ | Supports students under educator supervision; district, state, and safety rules apply. |
| 158 | Testing coordinator | B | Manages assessment administration, schedules, records, and reporting. |
| 159 | Parent-engagement coordinator | B | Builds family communication and outreach programs. |
| 160 | Educational-program evaluator | B+/M | Measures program outcomes and prepares reports; data and evaluation skills help. |
BLS states that most school counselors need a master’s degree in school counseling or a related field and a state-issued credential. Do not place school counselor or school psychologist in the bachelor’s-only category simply because a psychology bachelor’s degree is relevant preparation.
7. Criminal justice, corrections, and public service
Psychology can help with interviewing, behavior observation, rehabilitation planning, conflict management, and understanding development. Public-service jobs often impose additional requirements such as agency training, background investigations, physical tests, academy attendance, age rules, or jurisdiction-specific examinations.
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|---|---|---|---|
| 161 | Probation officer | B+ | Typically requires a bachelor’s degree, agency training, background checks, and jurisdictional qualifications. |
| 162 | Parole officer | B+ | Requires agency training and correctional-services requirements that vary by jurisdiction. |
| 163 | Correctional treatment specialist | B | Psychology is a recognized related field; work centers on rehabilitation and case planning. |
| 164 | Pretrial services officer | B+ | Court or justice-system requirements, interviewing, records, and risk-assessment procedures may apply. |
| 165 | Juvenile-justice case manager | B | Coordinates youth cases and services; justice and developmental experience help. |
| 166 | Corrections officer | B/A | Academy, background, physical, age, and agency requirements apply. |
| 167 | Police officer | B/A | Psychology may help, but academy, background, physical, age, and agency requirements control eligibility. |
| 168 | Criminal investigator | B+ | Often requires law-enforcement experience or an agency pathway in addition to investigative skills. |
| 169 | Fraud investigator | B+ | Investigative, financial, compliance, interviewing, and documentation skills may be required. |
| 170 | Compliance investigator | B+ | Investigates rules or complaints; regulatory knowledge and documentation matter. |
| 171 | Victim/witness coordinator | B | Provides advocacy and court coordination; justice-system and trauma-informed knowledge help. |
| 172 | Court liaison | B | Coordinates cases and communication with courts; procedure and records knowledge are important. |
| 173 | Forensic interview specialist | B+/M | Requires specialized interviewing and child-protection training; scope depends on employer and jurisdiction. |
| 174 | Reentry-program coordinator | B | Coordinates rehabilitation and community resources. |
| 175 | Restorative-justice coordinator | B+/M | Facilitation, conflict-resolution training, and program experience are useful. |
| 176 | Criminal-justice program coordinator | B | Handles program administration, reporting, and community partnerships. |
| 177 | Military mental-health specialist | B+ | Military occupational classification and training requirements apply; a civilian psychology degree alone does not create the role. |
| 178 | Crisis-intervention coordinator | B+ | Coordinates crisis systems and agency training; direct crisis experience may be expected. |
| 179 | Community-supervision case manager | B | Creates case plans, documents progress, and connects clients with resources. |
| 180 | Correctional counselor | B+/M | Scope varies by institution and state; clinical counseling functions may require graduate licensure. |
BLS reports that probation officers and correctional treatment specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree; common fields include criminal justice, social science, and psychology. The occupation had a 2024 median wage of $64,520 and projected 2.6% growth from 2024 to 2034.
8. Health education, nonprofit, communication, and adjacent careers
These jobs show the broadest interpretation of “related to psychology.” In many of them, the degree is useful because it supports communication, audience understanding, motivation, program design, or relationship management. It may not be the preferred major, and some careers require a separate state license or substantial experience.
| # | Job title | Gate | Qualification reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 181 | Health education specialist | B | Develops health information and programs; public communication and program evaluation help. |
| 182 | Community-outreach coordinator | B | Builds public partnerships and communication programs. |
| 183 | Social and community service manager | B+ | Usually requires a bachelor’s degree plus related experience managing programs and staff. |
| 184 | Nonprofit program coordinator | B | Coordinates services, volunteers, reporting, and community partnerships. |
| 185 | Fundraising coordinator | B | Supports donor communication, campaigns, events, and records. |
| 186 | Development officer | B | Builds donor relationships and fundraising strategy; results and communication matter. |
| 187 | Donor-relations specialist | B | Maintains donor communication, events, and database records. |
| 188 | Public-relations specialist | B | Writes and manages communications; portfolio and media skills are valuable. |
| 189 | Communications specialist | B | Creates internal or external communications; writing and audience analysis matter. |
| 190 | Content strategist | B+ | Combines writing, audience research, content planning, and analytics. |
| 191 | Copywriter | B/A | Portfolio and writing ability usually matter more than the major. |
| 192 | Technical writer | B+ | Requires clear technical communication and subject-matter or documentation skills. |
| 193 | Social-media strategist | B+ | Requires content production, platform knowledge, analytics, and audience insight. |
| 194 | Community manager | B | Manages engagement, moderation, communication, and conflict. |
| 195 | Event planner | B/A | Project management, vendors, budgets, communication, and experience matter. |
| 196 | Patient-experience coordinator | B | Supports service quality and communication in healthcare settings. |
| 197 | Healthcare-administration coordinator | B | Coordinates healthcare operations; systems, privacy, and compliance knowledge help. |
| 198 | Medical-office manager | B+ | Usually requires administrative and healthcare experience in addition to the degree. |
| 199 | Recreation coordinator | B | Designs and runs programs; group facilitation and scheduling are important. |
| 200 | Activities director | B | Plans activities in senior-care or residential settings; program and safety experience help. |
| 201 | Alumni-relations coordinator | B | Builds relationships, organizes events, and manages communications. |
| 202 | Real-estate agent | B+/A | State licensing examination and other state requirements apply. |
| 203 | Insurance agent | B+/A | State license, product training, and regulatory requirements apply. |
| 204 | Claims adjuster | B+/A | Employer and state rules vary; investigation and documentation skills help. |
| 205 | Loan officer | B+/A | Financial-services regulations, employer training, and customer communication apply. |
| 206 | Animal trainer | B/A | A psychology degree does not replace animal-training experience and specialized knowledge. |
| 207 | Coach | B/A | Coaching qualifications and sport- or subject-specific experience may be required. |
| 208 | Recreation-therapy assistant | B+ | Recreation-therapy credentials or employer requirements may apply. |
| 209 | Customer-service supervisor | B | Customer-service experience, coaching, scheduling, and performance management matter. |
| 210 | Call-center quality analyst | B+ | Uses data, coaching, quality standards, and performance analysis. |
| 211 | Patient-access representative | B | Handles scheduling, intake, and communication in healthcare administration. |
| 212 | Volunteer coordinator | B | Recruits, trains, schedules, and supports volunteers. |
Health education specialists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree; BLS reports approximately 71,800 jobs in 2024. Social and community service managers typically need a bachelor’s degree plus related experience, with a 2024 median wage of $78,240 and projected 6.4% growth from 2024 to 2034.
Salary and employment outlook: useful benchmarks, not promises
The following figures are occupation-level benchmarks from the BLS. They are useful for comparing broad directions, but they do not tell you what a new psychology graduate will earn. Pay changes with location, industry, experience, full-time status, public versus private employment, licensure, and job responsibilities.
| Occupation | Typical entry education | 2024 median wage | Projected growth, 2024–2034 | Annual openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychologists | Advanced degree typically | $94,310 | 6% | 12,900 |
| Mental-health, substance-use, and behavioral-disorder counselors | Bachelor’s to master’s, depending on specialty | $59,190 | 17% | 48,300 |
| Human-resources specialists | Bachelor’s | $72,910 | 6% | 81,800 |
| Market research analysts | Bachelor’s | $76,950 | 7% | 87,200 |
| Training and development specialists | Bachelor’s plus experience | $65,850 | 11% | 43,900 |
| Management analysts | Bachelor’s plus experience | $101,190 | 9% | 98,100 |
| Project-management specialists | Bachelor’s | $100,750 | 6% | 78,200 |
| Social and community service managers | Bachelor’s plus experience | $78,240 | 6.4% | 18,600 |
| Social and human-service assistants | High school typical; bachelor’s may help | $45,120 | 6% | 50,600 |
| Psychiatric technicians | Varies by state and employer | $42,590 | 20% | Included in combined BLS projection |
| Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists | Bachelor’s | $64,520 | 2.6% | 7,900 |
| Health education specialists | Bachelor’s | $63,000 | 4.5% | 7,900 |
| All occupations | — | $49,500 | 3% | 18.9 million |
See the BLS occupational projections and characteristics table and the individual BLS profiles for the underlying education, wage, opening, and projection definitions. Projections are estimates, not guarantees of job security.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which psychology paths tend to pay more?
Among the benchmarks above, management analysis, project management, psychology, market research, social and community service management, and HR can show relatively high occupation-wide median wages. But the salary is attached to the occupation—not to the psychology major. A management analyst may have years of consulting or industry experience; a psychologist may have spent many years completing doctoral training and supervised practice.
If your financial goal is to maximize the value of a bachelor’s degree, compare the full path rather than only the eventual salary:
- Expected time and tuition for additional education.
- Whether the target job requires unpaid or modestly paid supervised hours.
- Local wages and cost of living.
- Availability of full-time jobs and benefits.
- Whether you already have the technical skills employers request.
- Whether the work’s schedule, emotional demands, and advancement opportunities fit you.
Which paths are growing fastest?
In the current BLS benchmarks, psychiatric technicians show 20% projected growth, the combined mental-health and substance-use counseling category shows 17%, training and development specialists 11%, market research analysts 7%, psychologists 6%, HR specialists 6%, and social and human-service assistants 6% from 2024 to 2034. A high projection does not mean every applicant will find a job, and a lower projection does not make a career impossible.
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The counseling figure includes roles with different education and licensing levels. The psychiatric-technician figure should not be read as a guarantee for psychiatric aides, whose outlook is essentially flat in the cited BLS profile.
The psychology skills package employers understand
Do not put only course names on your résumé. Translate coursework into evidence of workplace skills. APA’s career-pathway guidance emphasizes skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, problem solving, research, and data analysis.
| Psychology coursework or experience | Employer-facing skill | Example evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Research methods | Study design, evidence evaluation, data collection | Designed a survey, recruited participants, or summarized findings. |
| Statistics | Data interpretation, measurement, reporting | Analyzed a dataset and presented results clearly. |
| Social psychology | Group behavior, persuasion, teamwork | Explained how group dynamics affected a project or audience. |
| Cognitive psychology | Decision-making, attention, usability | Connected user behavior to an interface or communication problem. |
| Developmental psychology | Age-appropriate communication and support | Adapted an activity or service for a specific age group. |
| Abnormal psychology | Mental-health literacy and referral awareness | Recognized the boundary between support and clinical treatment. |
| Learning theory | Training, behavior change, instructional design | Created a lesson, training module, or behavior-support plan. |
| Laboratory work | Documentation, protocols, quality control | Followed a protocol, maintained records, and handled data accurately. |
| Writing-intensive courses | Reports, summaries, case notes, presentations | Produced concise evidence-based written work for a defined audience. |
The most valuable “degree plus” combinations
The psychology degree is often the foundation. A second skill set is what differentiates candidates:
- Psychology + statistics: research, psychometrics, survey work, program evaluation, and behavioral science.
- Psychology + data analytics: people analytics, market research, institutional research, and data analysis. Build Excel, SQL, R, Python, or visualization skills as the target job requires.
- Psychology + HR internship: recruiting, HR coordination, employee experience, and talent acquisition.
- Psychology + UX portfolio: UX research assistant, usability analysis, and product research.
- Psychology + crisis training: behavioral health, advocacy, residential services, and crisis programs.
- Psychology + grant writing: nonprofit program coordination, evaluation, and research support.
- Psychology + teaching credential: education roles that require state authorization.
- Psychology + public policy: policy research, government programs, justice, and community services.
- Psychology + communication: public relations, content, community management, fundraising, and customer experience.
- Psychology + healthcare administration: patient access, program coordination, clinical research operations, and medical-office management.
- Psychology + social-work graduate degree: the appropriate educational path for social-work licensure, rather than assuming the psychology degree is interchangeable with a BSW or MSW.
- Psychology + counseling graduate degree: a route toward licensed counseling, subject to state rules.
- Psychology + behavior-analysis graduate coursework: a possible route toward BCBA eligibility, subject to current BACB and state requirements.
How to choose the right direction
If you want to help people one-on-one without immediate graduate school
Look at behavioral-health technician, psychiatric technician, case management, victim advocacy, recovery support, community health, residential support, developmental-disability services, probation, and correctional treatment. Expect more direct human impact, but also more emotional labor, crisis exposure, documentation, high caseloads, and possible nights or weekends. Advancement into independent clinical work generally requires graduate school.
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If you want therapy, diagnosis, or psychological assessment
Start with the target license, not just the phrase “psychology career.” Compare counseling, marriage-and-family therapy, social work, school counseling, psychology, and behavior-analysis pathways in the state where you plan to practice. Confirm required degree accreditation, supervised hours, examinations, background checks, and renewal rules before enrolling.
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If you like research, statistics, or evidence
Consider research assistant, social-science research assistant, clinical research coordinator, market research analyst, UX research assistant, survey researcher, program evaluator, institutional-research analyst, behavioral-science analyst, psychometric data analyst, or people-analytics analyst. Build a portfolio containing a survey, interview study, analysis, dashboard, usability test, or evaluation report.
If you prefer office or business work
Consider HR specialist, recruiter, employee-experience coordinator, training specialist, instructional designer, customer-success manager, project coordinator, market research analyst, or management analyst. Add internships and practical tools rather than relying on the major alone.
If you want justice-related work
Search for probation officer, correctional-treatment specialist, victim/witness coordinator, juvenile-justice case manager, forensic interview specialist, reentry coordinator, compliance investigator, or community-supervision case manager. Check agency requirements early because the degree may be only one part of eligibility.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIf you want to work with children or students
Explore youth services, education support, developmental-disability services, child welfare, student-success coaching, academic advising, college access, or special-education paraprofessional work. If you want to be a school counselor, teacher, or school psychologist, research the separate state credential and graduate or specialist degree requirements.
A practical six-step plan
- Choose a work function. Decide whether you want direct care, research, business, education, justice, health communication, or a licensed clinical role.
- Read 10 local job postings. Search by function rather than only the word psychology. Record required degree, experience, tools, schedule, pay range, and license language.
- Identify the missing skill. It might be statistics, SQL, Excel, research operations, HR software, crisis training, grant writing, project management, or a state credential.
- Get evidence before graduation. Use an internship, faculty lab, volunteer role, campus job, practicum, portfolio project, or part-time human-services position.
- Translate the résumé. Replace “completed abnormal psychology” with evidence of mental-health literacy, documentation, ethical boundaries, research, communication, or referral skills—whichever you can honestly support.
- Verify the gate before spending money. Check the state licensing board, employer, accreditor, or credentialing organization. Do not assume a job title has the same meaning everywhere.
Search terms that produce better results
Search for job functions and combinations such as:
- psychology bachelor’s degree
- behavioral-health technician
- mental-health technician
- case manager psychology
- social-services coordinator
- research assistant psychology
- clinical research coordinator psychology
- market research analyst psychology
- consumer-insights analyst
- UX research assistant
- people-analytics coordinator
- human-resources specialist psychology
- training and development specialist psychology
- probation officer psychology
- correctional-treatment specialist
- victim advocate psychology
- student-success coach
- career-services coordinator
- community-health worker psychology
Use employer career pages, general job boards, O*NET, state workforce systems, and local government or nonprofit listings. Do not rely on outdated references to APA’s PsycCareers board: APA announced that PsycCareers closed on July 31, 2026.
Important boundaries and common mistakes
- Do not call yourself a therapist because you studied psychology. A bachelor’s degree may qualify you for support work or some bachelor’s-level substance-use roles, not usually independent therapy.
- Do not call yourself a psychologist because you have a psychology degree. The bachelor’s degree is normally preparation for graduate psychology training and licensure.
- Do not treat counselor, coach, and behavior technician as interchangeable titles. Their scopes, supervision, credentials, and legal meanings differ.
- Do not assume a psychology degree makes you a social worker. Social-work licensure generally requires the applicable social-work degree.
- Do not assume a BLS education field is a legal rule. Verify the employer and state requirement.
- Do not mistake an occupation median for an entry-level wage. Median figures include experienced workers.
- Do not assume the same title means the same work. Case manager, counselor, psychometrist, behavior technician, and psychological examiner can vary by state and organization.
- Do not assume “criminal profiler” is a normal entry-level job. Investigative, intelligence, forensic-interview, and correctional-treatment titles are more useful searches.
- Do not assume every business job prefers psychology majors. Employers may prefer business, marketing, economics, statistics, communications, computer science, or specialized experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jobs can I get with a bachelor’s degree in psychology?
Common entry-level or adjacent options include behavioral-health technician, psychiatric technician, case manager, social and human-service assistant, victim advocate, community-health worker, research assistant, market research analyst, HR specialist, recruiter, training coordinator, academic advisor, student-success coach, probation officer, correctional-treatment specialist, and nonprofit program coordinator. The exact requirement depends on the employer and state.
Can I become a therapist with a psychology bachelor’s degree?
Usually not as an independently licensed therapist. A psychology bachelor’s degree can lead to behavioral-health support, case management, residential services, and some bachelor’s-level substance-use roles. Independent counseling generally requires a graduate degree, supervised practice, examination, and state licensure. See the applicable BLS counseling requirements.
Can I become a psychologist with a bachelor’s degree?
The bachelor’s degree is normally a prerequisite for graduate psychology education, not the terminal qualification for independent psychologist practice. Doctoral education, supervised experience, examination, and state licensure are typically required. Requirements are jurisdiction-specific; consult ASPPB and your state board.
Is psychology a good degree for human resources?
It can be. Psychology helps with interviewing, motivation, communication, group behavior, and employee experience. HR internships, applicant-tracking or HR-information-system experience, employment-policy knowledge, and data skills can matter as much as the major. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as typical for HR specialists.
Can psychology majors work in UX research?
Yes, psychology research and cognition courses can be relevant, but the degree does not guarantee a UX research job. Build experience in interviews, usability testing, qualitative or quantitative analysis, product research, and research operations. A portfolio is often important. O*NET identifies UX research assistant as a related research title.
What is the highest-paying job with a psychology degree?
There is no single guaranteed highest-paying job for psychology graduates. Occupation-wide 2024 BLS medians include $101,190 for management analysts, $100,750 for project-management specialists, and $94,310 for psychologists. The first two often require experience, while psychologist roles generally require advanced education and licensure. These are not guaranteed starting salaries for psychology majors.
What psychology jobs do not require graduate school?
Behavioral-health technician, psychiatric technician, case manager, victim advocate, community-health worker, social and human-service assistant, research assistant, market research analyst, HR specialist, recruiter, training coordinator, academic advisor, student-success coach, probation officer, correctional-treatment specialist, and many nonprofit roles may be available without graduate school. Some require certifications, agency training, experience, or state authorization.
Can I become a social worker with a psychology degree?
A psychology degree can qualify you for social-service jobs, but it is not automatically a social-work degree. The Council on Social Work Education says a BSW is the minimum requirement for most social-work positions and that most jurisdictions require an appropriate accredited social-work degree for licensure or examination eligibility.
Do I need a license to be a behavioral-health technician?
There is no single nationwide answer. Employer training, background checks, supervision, safety training, and state rules may apply. A registered behavior technician has separate BACB requirements, and behavior-analysis rules can change. Check the employer, state law, and current BACB resources.
What certifications help psychology graduates?
The useful credential depends on the target job. Behavior-analysis roles may involve BACB credentials; peer-support and recovery roles may have state-specific certifications; teaching, real estate, insurance, and law-enforcement roles have their own requirements. Do not pay for a certificate until employers or the licensing authority for your target role recognize it.
Is a BA or BS in psychology better for jobs?
Neither is universally better. A BS may include more science, laboratory, or statistics coursework, while a BA may allow more flexibility for electives. Employers usually care more about the curriculum, research experience, internships, technical skills, and evidence of performance than the label. Compare actual course requirements rather than assuming one degree title wins.
Should I minor in statistics, business, communication, or computer science?
Choose the minor that matches your intended work and that you can use to produce evidence. Statistics or computer science can strengthen analytics and research; business or HR can support people operations; communication can support public relations, fundraising, customer success, and content. A completed project or internship is often more valuable than a minor by itself.
What internships should psychology students pursue?
For direct helping, consider residential services, behavioral health, disability services, victim advocacy, child welfare, or community health. For research, seek a faculty lab, clinical research team, survey project, or program-evaluation role. For business, pursue HR, recruiting, training, market research, customer research, or people analytics. Select an internship that produces verifiable skills and references.
Which psychology jobs involve children?
Youth-services specialist, child-welfare caseworker, family-support specialist, developmental-disabilities support specialist, direct-support professional, after-school program director, youth-program coordinator, teacher assistant, paraeducator, special-education paraprofessional, college-access advisor, and student-success coach are possible directions. School counselor, school psychologist, and teacher require separate credentials or advanced preparation.
Which psychology jobs involve research?
Research assistant, psychology research assistant, social-science research assistant, clinical research assistant, clinical research coordinator, survey researcher, market research analyst, consumer-insights analyst, UX research assistant, program evaluator, institutional-research analyst, behavioral-science analyst, psychometric data analyst, and research-data analyst are useful searches.
Which psychology jobs can be remote?
Some research, market research, HR, recruiting, training, customer success, project coordination, content, and data roles may offer remote or hybrid work. Direct-care, residential, hospital, school, corrections, and community-outreach work is more often location-based. Remote availability depends on the employer and is not guaranteed by the degree.
The Bottom Line
A psychology degree is best viewed as a flexible foundation, not an automatic clinical credential. With a bachelor’s degree, target human services, behavioral support, research, HR, training, education support, corrections, public service, health education, and related business roles. Add a concrete second skill—statistics, data, HR, UX research, communication, education, healthcare administration, or behavior analysis—to become more competitive.
If your goal is therapy, diagnosis, psychological assessment, school counseling, social-work licensure, or independent psychology practice, begin with the target state license and work backward through the required graduate degree and supervised training. Compare the education cost, time, likely starting pay, local job market, and work demands before committing.
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