What Can You Do with a Psychology Degree?

So, you’re taking Psychology 101 and you’re officially hooked. You’re absolutely fascinated with the human brain and learning about how people’s minds work. But now, you may have questions like:

When will you stop self-diagnosing yourself in class? 

Never. 

Will your friends treat you like a free therapist? 

Almost certainly.

What can you do with a psychology degree? 

Ah, we’re so glad you asked! As a matter of fact, there are a variety of careers you can pursue with a psychology degree. We’ll explain the many possible career paths for psychology majors below.

For more helpful tips on choosing a career path, check out our blog: How to Choose a Career.

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In What Fields Do Psychology Majors Work?

One common misconception about psychology degrees is that they’re only a good fit for a career in psychology, when in fact, a psychology degree is extremely versatile. Psychology majors gain a number of transferable skills by the time they graduate, including skills in research, analysis, problem-solving, communication, reasoning, and critical evaluation.

These skills, along with specific knowledge related to their concentration, set psychology degree holders up for a variety of careers in many different fields, such as the following:

• Healthcare and Therapy
• Social Services 
• Human Resources
• Business
• Research
• Law
• Education
• Marketing/Advertising
• Government/Military

So, What Can You Do with a Psychology Degree?

Hopefully, we’ve made it clear that psychology degrees can lead to a wide range of rewarding careers. But what can you do with a psychology degree, specifically? The answer mostly depends on the type of psychology degree you earn and your career goals.

If you want to land one of the highest-paying careers within the field of psychology, you’ll have better job prospects with a graduate-level degree, like a PhD. Some job titles — like a licensed psychologist — require a doctoral degree in psychology, period. 

But if you’re getting an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in psychology, don’t fret! There are plenty of job opportunities for all types of psych degrees. Here are a handful of career possibilities:

• Psychologist – Pretty straightforward, right? If you go to grad school and get a doctoral degree, you can work as a psychologist and have a wide range of subfields to choose from. The job outlook for psychologists is strong, growing three percent faster than the national average, and is hopefully set to grow stronger as society continues to prioritize mental health.
• Research Assistant – Interested in psychology research? Scoring a research assistant job as an undergraduate is a great way to further your career in academic research. Sometimes called program assistants, research assistants help support the lead researcher or specialist by collecting data and conducting literature searches to move the project forward.
• Market Research Analyst – If you’re analytical and enjoy qualitative work, think about becoming a market research analyst. As a market research analyst, you’ll gather data, analyze market trends and consumer sales, and make suggestions to help companies market their products to consumers. This is a great career path for psych majors because it involves studying consumer behavior.
• Lawyer – If you’re not already a pro at defending your degree choice at the holiday dinner table, you will be eventually. Just think of it as great practice for when you become a lawyer and debate/negotiate your way to justice on a daily basis.
• Counselor – Counselors work with individuals and families, providing them with guidance and emotional support. They may encourage clients to talk about their emotions and experiences to help them gain insight. This job title requires a master’s degree, which takes about two additional years to obtain on top of your undergraduate degree.
• Social Worker – Due to their knowledge of human behavior and sensitivity to emotions, psychology majors tend to make excellent social workers. Social workers can be found in a variety of settings, including schools, mental health clinics, and human service agencies. On average, social workers make $50,470 per year and employment is expected to grow 13 percent through 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Additional Job Titles for Psychology Degree Holders

• Academic Advisor
• Adoption Specialist
• Behavior Technician 
• Child Care Program Supervisor
• Community Health Worker
• Copywriter
• Crisis Phone Worker
• Drug/Alcohol Abuse Specialist 
• Family Advocate
• Genetics Counselor
• Grant Writer 
• Human Resources Personnel 
• Public Health Educator 
• Vocational Coach
• Shelter Worker
• Social and Community Service Manager 
• Staffing Coordinator
• Teacher

Kickstarting Your Psychology Career

Earning your psychology degree can be a deeply rewarding experience. But like most degree programs, finding internships is incredibly important for psychology degree-seekers. By supplementing your degree with practical experience, you can beef up your resume and set yourself up for career success.

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