Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEmployment StatisticsWhere Psychologists WorkWork Schedules Can VarySalariesJob Outlook

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Employment Statistics

Where Psychologists Work

Work Schedules Can Vary

Salaries

Job Outlook

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Psychology careers are diverse and highly varied. Psychologists work in many settings, including hospitals, schools, governments, and private practices. If you want to become a psychologist, it’s important to learn more about where you might work, what you’ll do, and how much you might earn.

So exactly where do psychologists work? According to the American Psychological Association, you can find psychologists working in:

At a GlanceWhere psychologists work and what they do depends on a lot of factors, including their job title and duties. Some work as therapists in mental health settings. Others perform research or work in real-world settings to help solve practical problems that affect people’s daily lives. Let’s take a closer look at some statistics, salary information, and job outlook to get a better idea of where psychologists and therapists work and what they do.

At a Glance

Where psychologists work and what they do depends on a lot of factors, including their job title and duties. Some work as therapists in mental health settings. Others perform research or work in real-world settings to help solve practical problems that affect people’s daily lives. Let’s take a closer look at some statistics, salary information, and job outlook to get a better idea of where psychologists and therapists work and what they do.

Statistics on Where Psychologists Work

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, psychologists held 196,000 jobs in 2022. Of these professionals:

So where exactly do all of these psychologists work? The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports:

Many psychologists and therapists work independently in research or working with clients to treat mental health conditions. Others work in more collaborative settings. They make up part of a therapeutic team and work alongside physicians,psychiatrists,social workers, and other healthcare professionals.

Places Where Psychologists Work

Common employment settings for psychologists and therapists include:

Educational Settings

As of 2022, an estimated 27% of psychologists work in elementary and secondary school settings.Some psychologists may work in teaching positions, but others may serve as counselors or other educational positions.

Educational institutions often employ psychologists in positions other than teaching, like counseling, testing, research, curriculum design, and administration.

School psychologists, for example, work in elementary and secondary schools to help kids with social, behavioral, emotional, and academic challenges.

In addition to the previously mentioned jobs, many psychologists hold faculty positions at colleges and universities.

While educational requirements vary depending on the specific job role, most psychologists who work in educational settings have a minimum of a master’s degree. Some positions may require a specialist degree in an area such as school psychology, counseling, or educational psychology.

Government Settings

Approximately 8% of psychologists work for government agencies.The government often employs psychologists to work in public hospitals, clinics, correctional facilities, and other settings.

While many positions in this employment area require a master’s or doctorate, some positions may be available with abachelor’s degree.

Healthcare Settings

Those who work in health care often work for:

Some entry-level positions are available with a bachelor’s degree, but most advanced positions will require at least a master’s level or doctorate degree.

After several years of experience, some psychologists, usually those withdoctoral degrees, can enter private practice or set up private research or consulting firms.

Other Settings

Psychologists are also employed in several other areas:

A psychologist’s work schedule depends largely upon the specialty area in which they work and who employs them. Those who work in school, business, government, or healthcare settings often work full-time each week during normal business hours.

Those who are self-employed or work for outpatient clinics may find that their work hours are less regular. They can often set their own schedules, but they may also find themselves having to work evenings or weekends in order to accommodate clients or deal with client emergencies.

Where psychologists work can have an impact on things likestress, job satisfaction, andburnout. For example, those who work in healthcare settings may experience more workplace stress and be at a higher risk for burnout.

Salaries Based on Where Psychologists Work

The median salary for all psychologists in 2022 was $85,330, which translates to $41.02 per hour. Median salaries for specific jobs include:

Psychologist Salary Info: The 9 Highest Paying Careers

Job Outlook for Psychologists and Therapists

Employment for psychologistsoverall is predicted to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that this is faster than the average outlook for most other careers.

For clinical and counseling psychologists, the estimated growth is 11%. The growing need for mental health services, as well as an aging population, may help drive the demand for psychologists to increase in the coming years.

What This Means For YouPsychology is a diverse field, which explains why psychologists and therapists work in many different settings. If you are interested in the field of psychology, it is essential to consider where you plan to work once you enter the job field. Employment setting may influence how much you earn, your work schedule, and the type of work you will be doing.

What This Means For You

Psychology is a diverse field, which explains why psychologists and therapists work in many different settings. If you are interested in the field of psychology, it is essential to consider where you plan to work once you enter the job field. Employment setting may influence how much you earn, your work schedule, and the type of work you will be doing.

80+ Jobs in Psychology to Consider

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Careers in psychology: Introduction.Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.Psychologists.Occupational Outlook Handbook.Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care.Defining ambulatory care.Williams AM, Reed B, Self MM, Robiner WN, Ward WL.Psychologists' practices, stressors, and wellness in academic health centers.J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2020;27(4):818-829. doi:10.1007/s10880-019-09678-4Bureau of Labor Statistics.Psychologists: Pay.Occupational Outlook Handbook.Bureau of Labor Statistics.Psychologists: Job outlook.Occupational Outlook Handbook.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Careers in psychology: Introduction.Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.Psychologists.Occupational Outlook Handbook.Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care.Defining ambulatory care.Williams AM, Reed B, Self MM, Robiner WN, Ward WL.Psychologists' practices, stressors, and wellness in academic health centers.J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2020;27(4):818-829. doi:10.1007/s10880-019-09678-4Bureau of Labor Statistics.Psychologists: Pay.Occupational Outlook Handbook.Bureau of Labor Statistics.Psychologists: Job outlook.Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychological Association.Careers in psychology: Introduction.Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.Psychologists.Occupational Outlook Handbook.Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care.Defining ambulatory care.Williams AM, Reed B, Self MM, Robiner WN, Ward WL.Psychologists' practices, stressors, and wellness in academic health centers.J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2020;27(4):818-829. doi:10.1007/s10880-019-09678-4Bureau of Labor Statistics.Psychologists: Pay.Occupational Outlook Handbook.Bureau of Labor Statistics.Psychologists: Job outlook.Occupational Outlook Handbook.

American Psychological Association.Careers in psychology: Introduction.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.Psychologists.Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care.Defining ambulatory care.

Williams AM, Reed B, Self MM, Robiner WN, Ward WL.Psychologists' practices, stressors, and wellness in academic health centers.J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2020;27(4):818-829. doi:10.1007/s10880-019-09678-4

Bureau of Labor Statistics.Psychologists: Pay.Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Bureau of Labor Statistics.Psychologists: Job outlook.Occupational Outlook Handbook.

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