For anyone interested in the PsyD degree, many career paths can be greatly personally satisfying, and may lead to lucrative incomes. Like any industry, the pay level is dependent on location, demand, and risk factors. For markets in large metropolitan areas such as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, higher salaries will be the norm as a big city generally is more expensive to live in.
The job outlook within the field of psychology according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is estimated at over 22%, expecting high levels of growth in employment opportunities for the industry through the year 2020.
Psyd Degree Jobs
Of all career paths open to those with a PsyD degree, it is worth noting that the best pay rates are achieved by earning a doctoral psychology degree. The following are 11 of the most lucrative, exciting, and in-demand career paths available to those with a PsyD degree.
The list is as follows:
- Private Practice Psychologist – Private practice psychologists are frequently the most well paid among all of the various professional psychologists. They invariably have years of experience behind them, establishing their practice seeing clients in a quiet, and comfortable evaluative setting where the pay is not so spectacular, but when these professionals eventually build up a sizable clientèle base and begin to generate a significant amount of business, they will enjoy a high salary.
- Engineering Psychologist – These well-paid professionals are tasked to study how humans and machines interact in the course of our daily lives and routines. They ordinarily work, in the private sector, and endeavor to maximize operational efficiency and reduce overhead for companies, while eliminating safety concerns. In other situations, they are expected to find ways to make commercial products easier to use. These products, when improved, can be further improved by even simpler procedures, easier to understand instructions and streamlined processes.
- Industrial Psychologist – The primary function of an industrial psychologist is similar to that an engineering psychologist, but the evaluations the industrial psychologist makes are done on products within the workplace. Their goal is to make the operational process as simple and efficient as possible. Any unnecessary step or redundancy is to be improved or removed. Any obstacles to quick and precise completion of the manufacturing process and the of goods are studied, broken down, and examined for possible changes that can improve efficiency and remove hazards.
- Administrative Hospital Psychologist – This position requires an experienced psychologist who has worked his or her way up through the organizational ranks to obtain a leading administrative role with a group of other psychologists who practice there. These professionals generally function in a manner akin to managers, supervising and guiding the work of other psychologists in larger facilities.
- Neuropsychologist – The study of various structures and components of the brain and their relation to mental health and illness is the science of neuropsychology. These highly trained professionals study the mechanisms of the brain in order to create more effective treatments for neurology patients. By becoming more familiar with these types of processes, they can create areas of specialization that will generate interest in future neuropsychology research projects.
- Forensic Psychologist – This profession combines the fast paced environment of criminal investigation with the art and science of psychology. These professionals are involved in the assessment of criminals and criminal behavior in various aspects of ongoing investigations. A forensic psychologist can work with courts in the justice system in both criminal and civil cases. Their work deals with people and situations that would be uncomfortable for many, and their increased salaries reflect that.
- Correctional Facility Psychologist – These professionals working in prisons and other similar environments are responsible for the management and the treatment of inmates being held in a correctional institution. They participate in training, addressing mental concerns, morale, and treating various psychological and behavioral disorders. Similarly to forensic psychologists, correctional facility psychologists enjoy a boost in pay rates as a result of the dangerous nature of the people and the locations with which they must work. Many psychologists would be uncomfortable in a prison or penitentiary or with individuals convicted of all manner of crimes.
- Military Psychologist – The lives and hardships endured by military men and women leave many opportunities for emotional trauma to take hold and damage lives, relationships, and careers. Military people and their families face many complicating factors that are specific to life in the armed forces. Professional psychologists who wish to work in these settings often develop specializations in such conditions as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as the most helpful in dealing with the range of issues that commonly arise with clients such as these.
- Clinical Psychologist – This is one of the most popular professional expressions of the discipline of psychology. The primary role of these professionals is the assessment of behavioral issues and devising treatment plans to work through problems associated with mental illness. There is a high level of stress associated with this line of work. For those who can handle the stress and conflict, it is a popular choice.
- Counseling Psychologist – Counseling psychology involves helping individuals to achieve a focus on increasing positive functioning in their lives. The ability to cope with stress and resolve personal and interpersonal problems is seen as the best way to help patients optimize their interior lives, make better choices, and develop healthier thinking patterns. In cases where patients are coping with difficult traumas or complications, patient care may need to be continuous.
- School Psychologist – Working in schools offers opportunities to be involved with students and the issues they face. School psychologists are expected to monitor student performance and to look for signs that a given child may need educational assistance. They assess the need for special education services, for problems at home, and for social problems with other children at school. School psychologists are interested in improving the social, emotional, and academic well-being of the students they serve.