Psychology as a Career

Psychology is the 4^th most popular major, according to the U.S Department of Education. What makes Psychology such a popular major? Maybe it is the prospects of such a rewarding job, or providing students with valuable communication skills, and a variety of job opportunities. So, how can a psychology degree help you?

What can you do with a psychology degree?

Most people only relate psychology to being clinical, treating and assessing mental illness. However, there are many more paths one can embark on with a graduate degree. One path that stands out is educational psychology, which studies how people learn information. They use this information to improve the education for all students. Forensic psychologists apply their psychological knowledge to the legal field. One of the most interesting things they do is investigate insanity cases. Psychology has many different career possibilities.

Job statistics

Psychology jobs are expected to grow by 12% in the next decade, which is average for most jobs. However, the American Psychology Association believes that “psychologists… may face stiff competition from master’s degree counselors in the service delivery field.”  The median salary for psychologists, in May of 2021, was $81,040. However, this is not a good representation, as psychologists have a broad range of careers and earn different salaries. Among the highest paid career in psychology is psychiatry. Psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental issues. The average salary for this profession is $224,000 per year. The schooling to become a psychiatrist is more rigorous, including eight years of undergraduate, a graduate degree from medical school, and four years of residency.

What to do in high school

If you are interested in a career in psychology, there are many classes you can take in high school. Most obviously, it would be beneficial to take a psychology class or even AP psychology. Not only will these classes provide you with a background in the subject, but it will also show colleges that you are passionate about your major. Statistics is also another beneficial class. Statistics are necessary for psychologists to interpret information. Another class is Biology; this class studies living organisms and studies their physical behavior, which provides a direct background for psychology. It would also be beneficial to look into volunteer positions or a part-time job.

Pursuing Psychology in college provides a fulfilling career no matter which outlook one takes. However, there is a wide range of different careers and salaries each with different educational requirements.