Psychologist
Also known as: School Psychologist, I-O Psychologist, Counseling Psychologist, Industrial Psychologist, Behavioral Scientist
Study human behavior and mental processes to provide therapy, conduct assessments, improve workplaces, or support student development.
Salary Range
The highest-paid specialization or seniority level for psychologists.
About 1 in 200 reaches this level
About 204K psychologists per BLS; senior I-O consultants or private practice owners earning $280K+ number roughly 1,000-1,200.
Salary data based on 2025 BLS, Glassdoor, and industry reports. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.
How to Become One
This career typically requires a master's degree. Here are the top colleges for it:
AI Risk Assessment
AI impact varies sharply by specialty. Research psychologists face the most disruption: AI automates literature reviews, statistical analyses, and preliminary research designs. I/O psychologists see assessment scoring and workforce analytics automating. Clinical practice is safer but not immune. 67% of licensed psychologists now incorporate AI tools (240% increase from 2021), and BLS projects only 6% growth. The entry-level analytical work across research, I/O, and academic tracks is compressing.
Sources
Ratings reflect a 10-year outlook based on 2025-2026 research, weighted toward entry-level impact. Individual outcomes will vary.
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