Become a Psychologist

The job market for psychologists is expected to remain strong, as of 2011.

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There are many opportunities for careers and good starting salaries in the field of psychology, which is wide and diverse, ranging from the well-known clinical or counseling areas of psychology to lesser-known areas such as industrial or environmental psychology. In fact, the American Psychological Association describes 19 subcategories of psychologist. As of 2010, there were more than 174, 000 psychologists working in the U.S., with the expected addition of 37, 700 between 2010 and 2020.

Job Market

The job market for psychologists is expected to remain strong as of 2011 and to continue to grow, showing an average rate of 22 percent between 2010 and 2020, faster than the average rate for all other occupations, with more jobs anticipated for those with advanced degrees in psychology, particularly for those holding doctorates, reports the BLS. As more members of the population reach retirement age throughout the decade, there will be openings in most fields of psychology, whether clinical, academic, industrial, or environmental. Also, the previous decade of war has contributed to the growing need for psychologists to counsel returning veterans. And, as the field of education relies more heavily on standardized testing, there will be an increased demand for academic psychologists.

Starting Salaries/Expected Earnings

Starting salaries for psychologists are varied and depend upon the branch of psychology practiced, level of advanced education, and geographical location. As of 2010, the lowest 10 percent of psychologist salaries were below $39, 200, the category that includes new hires. The median salary as reported by the BLS for 2010 was $68, 640. At the upper range of the salary scale are those with the highest level of education who practice industrial/organizational psychology and earn an annual median salary of $87, 330. Clinical psychologists earned a median income of $66, 810 in 2010; however, clinical psychologists have the autonomy to set their own schedules and take on as many clients as they choose to see, thus largely controlling their earnings.