Career Paths and Salaries
Wright State 8
Action Items for Every Psychology Major
| WS8-1 | Identify and define your professional and personal goals related to psychology |
| WS8-2 | Develop an elevator speech to describe your interest in psychology to others |
| WS8-3 | Be a critical consumer of psychological information |
| WS8-4 | Apply basic stats and research methods to real-world issues |
| WS8-5 | Speak and write both clearly and persuasively |
| WS8-6 | Dedicate time and talent to a professional organization (e.g. Psi Chi, Psych Club, MPA) |
| WS8-7 | Complete 2-3 learning experiences (e.g. Independent research, internship, volunteer with psychology agency) |
| WS8-8 | Develop professional mentors and role models |
Learning Outcomes for Psychology Majors
As a Psychology Major you have learned each of the below skills. Each skill below can be a line you add to your resume.
Knowledge of human behavior
- Understanding of thoughts, motivations, and feelings of individuals and groups
- Knowledge in how to assess human behavior and respond appropriately in work and non-work situations
Strong research skills
- Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data
- Ability to critically evaluate published and non-published information
- Ability to problem-solve
- Experience in using available resources to define goals, identify problems, and develop potential solutions
Strong ethical principles
- Familiarity with ethical principles relating to work practices
- Familiarity with ethical principles relating to the protection of information, including how to safeguard privacy and confidentiality
Ability to communicate information effectively both verbally and in written form
- Can communicate information in a concise and clear way
- Can communicate technical (including statistical) information clearly to non-specialists
- Can translate data into easily interpreted graphs and figures
Ability to work effectively in teams, both as a member and as a leader
- Can work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds
- Experience in taking initiative on group projects
- Can follow directions or an established protocol
- Responsive to positive or negative feedback
Strong self-management skills
- Ability to define and achieve goals in unclear situations
- Ability to develop and complete projects from idea conception through final presentation of results or work products
- Ability to manage multiple, simultaneous demands relating to school, work, and family
Careers in Psychology
Psychology involves uncovering the factors that underlie the behaviors of both human and animals. These factors can include genes, personality, cognitive operations (thinking), and interpersonal and situational dynamics. Understanding these factors can help enrich performance, physical health, creativity, and group behavior. Students studying psychology can pursue a career in:
- Advertising Agents
- Career Counselor
- Case Manager
- Child Care Worker
- Educators
- Laboratory Assistant
- Market Researcher
- Psychiatric Technician
- Probation and Parole Officer
- Rehabilitation Specialist
- Sales Representative
- Social Service Specialists
- Human factors
- Human resources
Average Salary by Psychology Degree Type
| Degree Type | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science (B.S.) | $50,971 |
| Master of Science (M.S.) | $55,400 |
| Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) | $83,977 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $93,750 |
(Source: payscale.com login required)
