subject: Most Popular Psychology Jobs [print this page] Most Popular Psychology Jobs Most Popular Psychology Jobs
The American Psychological Association lists many kinds of psychology jobs and specialties that can be pursued with a psychology degree to suit a wide variety of interests and needs. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics Employee Outlook Handbook, psychology jobs are expected to increase 12 percent from 2008 to 2018.
The American Psychological Association lists a number of popular psychology jobs, mostly involving research and counseling. Beyond the typical notion of psychological counseling that helps people identify and work through their problems, the APA lists a number of intriguing specialties.
Cognitive and perceptual psychologists study "human perception, thinking and memory."
Development psychologists look at how people develop through age, looking at childhood or adolescent development, and as lifespans increase, psychologists study aging and the elderly.
Engineering psychologists study how people work with machinery and how design might be improved.
Sports psychologists work with athletes to maintain motivation and improve performance.
Health psychologists look at the relation to people and health, and attempt to determine why some people follow or don't follow health advice, or why others may engage in behaviors they know are unhealthy.
School psychologists work directly with schools to counsel students.
The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics predicts that school psychologists are among the psychology jobs that will be in high demand in the future, as more research is performed about how psychological issues such as bullying, development and behavioral problems affect learning. The U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics also predicts that there will be a high demand for psychology jobs regarding the treatment and prevention unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking, alcoholism and obesity that drive insurance costs up.
They also forecast an increased need for psychologists specializing in geropsychology to work with aged populations and their mental and psychical health. They foresee an increase of returning veterans needing psychological help, as well as psychologists who specialize in depression, marital problems, job stress and addiction.
Overall, professionals with psychology jobs make a good salary. The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics found the median wage among clinical, counseling and school psychologists to be $64,140 in 2008. Among the most lucrative types of psychology jobs are health care practitioners, with an annual mean wage of $87,270 in 2009. Psychiatrists and psychologists who work in substance abuse hospitals had a median wage of $83,120 in 2009.
