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Professor of psychology job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected professor of psychology job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 159,400 new jobs for professors of psychology are projected over the next decade.
Professor of psychology salaries have increased 7% for professors of psychology in the last 5 years.
There are over 13,289 professors of psychology currently employed in the United States.
There are 12,530 active professor of psychology job openings in the US.
The average professor of psychology salary is $83,689.
Year | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
---|---|---|
2021 | 13,289 | 0.00% |
2020 | 13,459 | 0.00% |
2019 | 13,813 | 0.00% |
2018 | 13,868 | 0.00% |
2017 | 13,669 | 0.00% |
Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
---|---|---|---|
2025 | $83,689 | $40.24 | +2.0% |
2024 | $82,019 | $39.43 | --0.1% |
2023 | $82,115 | $39.48 | +4.0% |
2022 | $78,968 | $37.97 | +0.9% |
2021 | $78,294 | $37.64 | +4.1% |
Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 81 | 12% |
2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 55 | 9% |
3 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 106 | 6% |
4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 417 | 5% |
5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 306 | 5% |
6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 224 | 5% |
7 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 142 | 5% |
8 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 47 | 5% |
9 | New York | 19,849,399 | 812 | 4% |
10 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 120 | 4% |
11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 86 | 4% |
12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 38 | 4% |
13 | Alaska | 739,795 | 31 | 4% |
14 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 833 | 3% |
15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 442 | 3% |
16 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 262 | 3% |
17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 178 | 3% |
18 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 141 | 3% |
19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 41 | 3% |
20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 27 | 3% |
Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gainesville | 1 | 1% | $62,924 |
Kean University
North Carolina State University
University of Maine
Skidmore College
Ashford University
Wright State University Lake Campus
Mansfield University
University of Texas at Austin
Hanover College
University of North Florida
Texas Woman's University
Indiana University Kokomo
Gannon University
Graduate Theological Union
California State University, Fullerton
Eastern Washington University
Wayland Baptist University
Springfield College
Alex Holte PhD: My advice for someone new to the field of academia is to learn time management skills early and learn what type of service work you find interesting and would like to contribute to. From there, learn how to say “no” to opportunities that may not align with your goals as well. I feel a lot of new professors tend to find the need to be involved in everything, which can result in burning out later in their career.
Alex Holte PhD: I would say being able to work with AI may be something that is more important in the next 3-5 years. Right now it’s a new technology and people are just now learning how to integrate it in the workplace, but I feel it is possible the future workforce of tomorrow will necessitate some form of being able to use AI technology.
Alex Holte PhD: When you are starting out at any career, it is important to negotiate your salary. Many candidates feel that they have to accept their first offer, but in reality, at many jobs, there is some room for negotiation. Be mindful however, to not request a salary that is much higher than what is being offered as they may feel like a compromise would not be possible and move on to the next candidate.
Mia Fiore Ph.D.: First, I would tell all students that it is VERY different from teaching k-12. Unlike K-12, you are not placed in a school with a teaching job upon graduation; teaching in higher education is one of the most competitive fields, period. The next difference is that you are expected to be an expert/ master of your field. If you're also willing to accept that you will likely have to work as an adjunct professor (for low pay) first, then go for it! Teaching in higher education is the most rewarding job, especially for people who love learning.
Mia Fiore Ph.D.: Awareness and familiarity with technology has become more important, and it will continue to be more important in the next 3-5 years. With everything from peer-reviewed journals available online, to AI, technology is an important part of higher education.
Mia Fiore Ph.D.: Maximize your salary potential by teaching at a state school- if you do you can join the PSLF program and after ten years, your student loans will be forgiven.
Justin Whitehill Ph.D.: Perseverance pays off. Its worth it to pursue the career you want and not settle and be unhappy.
Justin Whitehill Ph.D.: In the area of genetics and genomics, the identification of areas of the genome that can be CRISPR’d and used to add an immediate benefit is going to be very important as every cropping system races to make genome editing a reality. AI will likely play a huge role in predicting genes/regions of the genome that will provide the biggest benefits.
Justin Whitehill Ph.D.: I wouldn’t know, I’m a professor.
Jane Kuandre: My advice for someone looking to pursue a career in academia would be to focus on building a strong publication record, developing a network of collaborators, and continuously seeking opportunities for professional development.
Jane Kuandre: Some essential skills for success in academia include critical thinking, effective communication, time management, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
Jane Kuandre: Networking is crucial for career advancement in academia as it allows individuals to establish collaborations, gain access to resources, and stay updated on the latest research trends.
University of Maine
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
Dr. Elizabeth Neiman: Students interested in enhancing their program of study with a WGS minor just 3 additional courses to take in WGS so as to complete a minor. Nursing students who have taken advantage of this opportunity report to me that they are excited about the perspectives that WGS studies provides them and that they feel more prepared than ever to begin a career in Nursing.
Dr. Elizabeth Neiman: I can reflect better on how I'd guide students to think about the work they do at UMaine in Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies so as to prepare for potential careers.
Dr. Elizabeth Neiman: Rather than answer your questions, I'll give you some background information: Since becoming Director of the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies program at UMaine in fall 2022, I have been doing a great deal of outreach to faculty in other departments across the university.
Skidmore College
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
Aurelie Matheron: Present yourself as a professional in your cover letter and interviews. The people who interview you will look at you as a future colleague and not a student. Use the past “I” to show what the future “I” will do. Meaning: in your interviews, say “I have developed X courses/projects and I have acquired X skills useful for a collaborative project at your institution. For instance, one project I will develop is XYZ.” You show your experience/expertise and how you will be using your skills. Don’t dwell too much on the “past I” and, I’d say, don’t use the past “we” => “at my former institution, we would do X or Z.” => this shows that you still view yourself as part of that community and don’t project yourself at your new institution. Once you have the job: observe the dynamics of your new work place. Meet with colleagues who also recently got a job at your institution. They will help you navigate the first year.
Aurelie Matheron: Leadership: you will be in positions of leading a program/department. Learn from current chairs by observing their own skills during meetings and moments of decision. Collaboration: develop interpersonal and interprofessional relationships that will allow you to build collaborative projects (interdepartmental courses, for instance).
Aurelie Matheron: Do some research online about how much someone earns at your stage of the career. If there is a significant gap, point out (diplomatically) that, because of your extensive experience in XYZ, you would like to get a X% increase in your salary. Be reasonable: if you want a 3% increase, ask for 5% (not 10% or more). Justify your negotiation: why should they pay me more? What experience can I show them to justify my request? If you have a higher offer from another place, you can say that “I have received another generous offer and would like to know about the possibility for matching that offer.” Salary is not the only thing you can negotiate: office space, computer/laptop, sabbaticals, course release, etc. Again, be reasonable: if you think you are entitled to XYZ requests, you also have to show why.
Ashford University
History
Fabio Lanza: I tell them not to expect that they can achieve the same, old-style academic career (like mine, for example). A tenure-track job in a research university to be clear. Those jobs exist but they are becoming rarer and rarer. I also tell them that if they forecast incurring in serious (or even non-serious) debt in order to get a PhD, they should not do it. They should not pursue that path at all. In the program, they should take all the chances they have to learn new skills, including skills that don't seem directly related to an academic career.
Fabio Lanza: To put it bluntly, if you want to make money, this is really not the career for you.
Fabio Lanza: Difficult to say, given how quickly things change. Digital humanities was and still is fashionable and important. Public history (museum, exhibitions, outreach). And teaching.
Wright State University Lake Campus
Lake Campus Science & Mathematics
Joshua Ricker Ph.D.: When looking through psychology instructor resumes, the skills that would stand out above all others involve experience. When speaking of experience, we are looking at it through a broad scope. Clearly, having taught previous courses would put one ahead of others, especially if this includes multiple courses. For example, many universities look for instructors capable of teaching in their focus areas and courses, including research methods or statistics.
Experience in other realms of psychology will put you ahead as well. It is always advisable to try to become involved in a hands-on manner. Volunteer work in behavioral health services is a great way to learn more about psychology and develop clinical skills that will aid in teaching later on. Many places are taking in lab assistants that will give you knowledge of how psychological research is performed. All-in-all, actively participating in the world of psychology through one of these outlets will boost your resume.
Joshua Ricker Ph.D.: If there was one skill that would help you earn the most, it would be versatility. Psychology is a much broader field than most people think, which means it has the potential to open a huge variety of doors. As mentioned before, you will need experience, and that can occur in any of these subareas. If you are willing to try new things and open yourself up to multiple outlets, you make yourself a possible candidate for a nearly endless list of careers.
Joshua Ricker Ph.D.: Two specific soft skills are significant in terms of psychology. First, to be effective and successful in this field, one needs to develop critical thinking skills. You will end up working with research much more than you may initially think, and the ability to dissect the science and interpret things on your own is essential. Psychology is also becoming very mainstream in many aspects, so you will often be confronted with erroneous or misinterpreted information based on psychological research. Being able to sift through this and stop the propagation of this type of information is vital.
The second soft skill that is highly valued is the ability to work with others. Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior, and much of the time, we observe human behaviors. This means you will be working with others and having people participate in your research if you take that route. You will have much more success if you can harbor healthy relationships with others that you will come across in your career.
Joshua Ricker Ph.D.: The hard skills needed in this field are particularly dependent upon which area you find yourself in. Those who are teaching-focused will find that keeping up with your typical technical skills, such as being fluent in different computer programs, will make your life much easier. There is a good chance you will teach online at some point in your career, so having confidence in your ability to navigate various software programs is crucial.
If you find yourself involved in research or even teaching a research-related course, then it would be beneficial to establish a sound knowledge-base of statistical programs such as SPSS or R. Even if you are not doing the research yourself, you will always be relying on the interpretation of research and statistics for your courses, and these programs will eventually come in useful.
Dr. Nicolle Mayo Ph.D.: Psychology professors should be keeping up-to-date on the latest research and information in their field. To show that they are staying current and have the skills to understand and contribute to their field, there should be several research publications and presentations listed on their resume. These should be current. Familiarity and regularity with statistical software, like SPSS, NVivo, and others also stands out because skills are needed to operate these programs to conduct research. Taking leading positions, like the chair of a committee, shows an instructor can take charge and lead a team of people. The type of committee an instructor leads is another important variable. If they lead a curriculum committee, that is often viewed more impressively than a student group, for example. How effective their leadership is can be further explained through their references. Finally, the number, types, and frequency of courses taught are vital to note. The more experience an instructor has with teaching a course shows expertise. Of course, how effective that instructor is at teaching the course should be taken into consideration. Usually, student evaluations, separate from a resume or CV, can elaborate on this piece. These components represent both the hard and soft skills.
Dr. Nicolle Mayo Ph.D.: Hard/ technical skills include the expertise to run statistical software for conducting research more effectively and efficiently. Using programs, as I mentioned above (SPSS, NVivo, etc.), suggests you are staying current with conducting research. Other computer programming skills unique to the field or to teaching are also helpful. Familiarity with things like Nearpod can make teaching more interactive and accessible to students. Navigating online learning platforms (including D2L, Blackboard) and utilizing them beyond their basic capacities guides students to perform better in the classroom. Knowledge and regular use of other spoken languages also enhance communication with students who have different language backgrounds. Spanish and Chinese are becoming much more prominent for both native and foreign exchange students.
Dr. Nicolle Mayo Ph.D.: Many of the above skills can contribute to your path of attaining the next promotion, which a Professor can apply to earn every five years. Effective teaching, regular research, and consistent service to the campus and community are tickets to getting promoted. How you do these things contributes to whether you receive a promotion. Student evaluations of your creative and flexible teaching, frequent research publications and/ or presentations, consultations, and leadership on committees boast promise and credibility.
Dr. Nicolle Mayo Ph.D.: Emotional intelligence is a bonus in this position, especially regarding instructor-student interactions. This represents the ability to communicate (actively listen, socialize, clearly convey information), resolve conflict, empathize, show compassion, and have strong self-awareness. These factors suggest that an instructor can teach well, address issues that arise with students and colleagues effectively, connect with others, and continue improving themselves, starting with the notion of knowing and understanding themselves. Flexibility or adaptability is extremely helpful, given the changing contexts and circumstances of a university, whether it changes in courses taught, the number of students you teach, types of students you teach, new computer programs to learn, new teaching tools, new administration, department chair leadership, budget cuts, etc. You have to be willing to adapt to this ever-changing dynamic. Creativity is a must. All students learn in different capacities, so teaching content in different ways keeps things fresh and helps students absorb the information easier. Creativity is also required in different committees. Innovative ideas to make your job more efficient or to solve problems that arise in or out of the classroom are so needed. Problem-solving is the other part of this because there are always issues that need to be solved. Whether doing this with students or on committees, this is a constant. Strong and effective leadership helps enhance the functioning of committees you operate, students you serve, and the university. This also gives you more credibility (especially if you are rising to the occasion of promotion).
James Pennebaker: A psychology degree can be an asset for a wide range of jobs, from HR and sales to positions in business, law enforcement, and health care. Most psychology majors have been trained in statistics and experimental methods and to appreciate how people think, feel, and behave. You have also been trained to think flexibly about a wide range of problems.
James Pennebaker: If you have basic social skills and can work with people from various backgrounds, you will be more likely to get hired, promoted, and build a stable social network at your job(s). Almost all companies and organizations value people who can write well and who can speak to their peers, management, and customers. It also helps to have a high level of energy and enthusiasm for your job. Virtually every employer I know is thrilled to find an employee who loves learning about the company and can troubleshoot problems without being asked.
James Pennebaker: Most jobs require a basic understanding of statistics. Even the basic working of Excel and spreadsheets is invaluable. The more you know about database management, PowerPoint, graphing, the business uses of social media, apps, and web design, the better. If you are still in school, consider researching with a faculty member to learn more about some of these issues. Also, take courses in other departments that really interest you, and that may provide skills that might help you in the kinds of jobs you might like to have. Try to find an internship or part-time job to learn more about the kinds of skills you lack and can learn.
James Pennebaker: Don't think about what skills will help you earn the most. Think about the skills that will help you learn the most. The jobs that make you the happiest and challenge you the most will be the ones you will excel in. If you become an expert in a job you care about, you will earn what you need and love going to work every day. And you can't beat that.
Hanover College
Department of Modern Languages
Alejandra Rodriguez-Villar Ph.D.: Something that stands out in any resume is the ability to speak two or more languages. If we are thinking of medievalists and early modern professionals, having a good command of romance languages and other European languages will be a great asset without any type of doubt. In any case, for anybody interested in history, it is critical to know the languages spoken in the studied space and those in the surrounding areas as an excellent way to understand and monitor mutual influences. Likewise, grads with a major in medieval, early modern, or general history, will have more opportunities in the job market if they show imagination and creativity as skills in their resumes. Unfortunately, we can only travel in time with our minds; being able to supply with our imagination and creativity what we cannot see presently is extremely important for a good historian. We often count on scarce, disconnected pieces of information, and having the necessary imagination to sense the possible connections is essential to develop a meticulous methodology to support our research findings. Talking about methods, if it is true that we need to be very imaginative to set the first steps to reconstruct history, we also need to be very systematic to produce a rigorous vision that we can call history and not fiction!
Alejandra Rodriguez-Villar Ph.D.: As professionals with expertise in the past, our best contribution is to help people see history from a non-presentist point of view. Presentism tends to judge history with our present values and morals, which highly prevents us from understanding the studied period itself. While this type of judgment is debunked at a synchronic level -we don't apply our values spatially- we still see examples of this perspective diachronically applied when comparing different periods to ours. Judging history this way is unfair to the period we are analyzing. It can also lead us to dismiss significant advancements as just backward attitudes because, of course, everything that happened before us will look "obsolete" to our eyes. Although we can see a particular event in history as something negative according to our standards, it could have represented a major step ahead for the world at that moment. So, for professionals who deal with previous ages, connecting humans across time and not only across space is a priceless skill nowadays. With the vast increase in scholarship on the past, we will need more professionals able to transport people from one period to the other and help them understand its importance in the whole picture of a specific human group or the whole of humankind. This is what will allow us to value our present correctly. The most precious soft skill for everyone is often to try to understand before judging. Connectors are a great source of creativity and growth.
University of North Florida
Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
C. Dominik Güss: - Degree: PhD
- Previous teaching experiences: how long and how many different classes
- Evidence of teaching experience, for example, ISQ (Instructional Satisfaction Questionnaire) feedback and students' ratings. Or supervisor in-class visitation
C. Dominik Güss: - Ability to connect with students
- Ability to engage the listener
- Ability to explain complex material in an understandable way
- Being empathetic
- Mentoring students in projects
C. Dominik Güss: - Presentation skills
- Organizational skills
- Ability to work with technology
- Ability to teach in different formats: face-to-face f2f, distant learning DL/online, hybrid- a mix of f2f and DL
C. Dominik Güss: That partly depends on the expertise area of psychology. Some areas such as human factors or industrial/organizational psychology pay more than others, although overall, the salaries are quite standardized.
Texas Woman's University
Department of Psychology & Philosophy
Lisa Rosen Ph.D.: Undergraduate psychology coursework centers largely on developing research and analytical skills. Psychology majors can review the literature, identify relevant information, and evaluate research conducted by others. However, psychology majors also develop the skills to conduct their own research. Many majors can complete a research project from start to finish, which allows them to hone data analysis and interpretation skills and other skills critical to project management. Psychology majors also develop their communication skills as written papers and oral presentations are quite common. Through research and writing, psychology majors develop various computer skills, including word processing and statistical software.
Lisa Rosen Ph.D.: Psychology is one of the most popular majors in the United States and prepares students for a wide array of fields. Students develop marketable skills in undergraduate psychology programs that foster success in many fields and industries, including human resources, law enforcement, education, and social services. According to the American Psychological Association, about 45% of psychology majors continue to graduate degrees. In graduate school, students develop a great understanding of mental health, better preparing them for clinical, counseling, and school psychology positions. These positions are some of the more lucrative in the field, and there is even greater demand as individuals of all ages are reporting more symptoms of anxiety and depression and seeking mental health services at higher rates since the onset of the pandemic, which highlights the continued and growing need for psychology.
Lisa Rosen Ph.D.: Majoring in psychology equips students with many transferable skills that prepare them for work in diverse fields. Given the collaborative nature of many workplaces, I think it is noteworthy that psychology majors develop skills that promote successful teamwork. Psychology courses cover topics such as interpersonal communication, which may facilitate group interactions. Further, psychology courses foster an appreciation of diversity by focusing on individual differences, biases, and prejudice, preparing students to work collaboratively with diverse team members.
Psychology majors also have the opportunity to hone their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Coursework in cognitive psychology and learning highlights effective learning strategies that allow majors to develop new skills on the job, which may be especially critical as the pandemic has brought many changes to the workplace and increased reliance on new technologies. Psychology majors are also skilled at collecting and analyzing information for effective problem-solving.
Lisa Rosen Ph.D.: Psychology majors have the opportunity to develop soft skills through coursework. Common courses in the major include Psychology of Adjustment, Psychology of Stress, and Introduction to Counseling Psychology. Through these courses, students develop skills for success at work, including identifying and employing effective time management and coping strategies, which foster adaptability, self-awareness, and resilience. Coursework may also focus on listening and other helping skills that can foster empathy and service orientation. These soft skills will be a benefit almost any career.
Indiana University Kokomo
Department of Psychology
Brooke Komar: Regarding hiring instructors, our department first ensures the candidates have the appropriate degree in the content area we're most interested in hiring. I can not tell you how many candidate applications we have to wade through who are not qualified from the outset.
Those who have experience teaching use experiential and active teaching methods that engage students, and a strong presence with students in the classroom (during teaching demos) is important. We are a teaching institution, so a strong teaching record is paramount, while new hires are asked to do independent research in partial completion of promotion and tenure requirements. Those candidates who are effective problem solvers, resourceful critical thinkers, and can work collaboratively with others are individuals we'd likely hire.
Candidates who have a strong handle on computer skills and programs common to our profession (SPSS, Microsoft Office, Qualtrix, etc.) will prove to be stronger candidates than those who lack those skills.
At the end of the day, most universities have a defined pay scale associated with the various schools in which a candidate will be teaching. Humanities instructors earn far less than those in business and nursing on our campus. Having skills or certifications that are highly desirable will, at the very least, help candidates to rise to the top of the candidate pool. For example, I am a Board Certified Art Therapist. At the time of my hire, a colleague had just obtained an interdisciplinary grant to examine intersections between fine arts and psychology in treating addictions. So, while the job description didn't note they were looking for an art therapist, my experience, training, and certifications were unique and valuable.
Additionally, I would recommend that new graduates be willing to look outside of the scope of their "ideal" role and consider positions within agencies or companies where growth is possible. There, transferable skills and potential leadership opportunities can be gained. For example, several years before my role as a Lecturer in the psychology department, I worked in private practice. I'd experienced several consecutive losses and knew I wanted to take a break from direct client care for a while. While selling an item on the FB marketplace, I conversed with a gentleman who worked at Cigna Behavioral Health and asked if I was looking to leave private practice and wondered if I would apply to a Care Manager position within his agency. I did, was hired, and spent three years engaging in Utilization Review and Benefits management, consulting on clinical cases from a more academic perspective, applying my skills as a therapist through the lens of benefits management. I would have never in a million years been searching for that role. But, I believe it further prepared me for this teaching position in ways I could not have predicted at that time.
Lucy Parker-Barnes Ph.D.: Many graduates and undergraduates are impacted by the changes that COVID and the post-COVID vaccine world have had on the job market. Particularly, in the mental health field, our students have been impacted by an increase in the clients they need to serve while also being limited due to safety concerns. Additionally, our students endure common existential angst that other students are dealing with during COVID, including isolation due to being home, Zoom fatigue, and the existence of continued ambiguity due to the pandemic.
Lucy Parker-Barnes Ph.D.: For our counseling program, the various certifications and license requirements needed for career seekers include obtaining their National Counselor credential (i.e., by passing the National Counselor Examination), their state licensure, which in Pennsylvania includes the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) status, among others.
Lucy Parker-Barnes Ph.D.: Students graduating from counseling programs will increase their earning potential through specializing in their practice. For example, various private practice facilities and agencies seek to have various counselors representing folks focused in various areas. One such credential includes the CADC or Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor status. As described earlier, the most efficient way for students to earn more money includes gaining their full certification and licensure (NCC and LPC).
Graduate Theological Union
Berkeley school of theology (bst)
Sangyil Sam Park Ph.D.: I think that this pandemic situation will reset the job market in such a way that we have never expected-new jobs will be created and some of the traditional jobs will either be slashed or adjusted to meet the need of the new reality we have experienced for the past 12 months.
Melinda Blackman Ph.D.: As for faculty/professors' salaries, they have increased moderately over the years with the cost of living.
Melinda Blackman Ph.D.: I think that organizations will see that for many positions that their employees can successfully work from home. Many organizations may give up their physical space and turn into virtual workplaces to save money.
Melinda Blackman Ph.D.: Statistical analysis skills are key for organizations that want to evaluate their productivity, the effectiveness of their training programs and look at trends within their company. Also survey development skills are another bonus to have as well as critical thinking skills.
Jillene Seiver Ph.D.: Anything that pays the bills is a good job! But for psychology majors, jobs that allow them to use their knowledge of human behavior and mental processes are ideal. Managerial positions, HR positions, and sales positions are often a good match. For those students who focused on the scientific/statistical side of psychology, jobs in market research, statistics, test administration, and evaluation are good.
Jillene Seiver Ph.D.: Of course. I am in psychology, and there are two main types of psychologists: Applied (counseling, clinical, I/O, and school) and Basic Research/Academia.
Applied: One known change is the increase in telehealth. Psychology pioneered this method of treatment, but it has really become mainstream, and I suspect many clinical psychologists and counselors will spend at least part of their day in this type of therapy session.
Basic Research/Academia:
-More classes will be online and hybrid, now that everyone has been forced to adopt this strategy.
-More research studies will be conducted online in one way or another.
-Fewer faculty jobs will be tenure-track.
Jillene Seiver Ph.D.: Learn basic computer programming. At the minimum, HTML coding, but at a higher level, databases and statistical packages are good skills to have under your belt. Given the changes in the professional landscape thanks to the pandemic, being confident in a cyber situation will benefit all psychology majors in their careers.
Dr. Perry Collins: In the behavioral sciences field, the license as a professional counselor is very popular and there seems to be a good number of jobs available from my experience.
Dr. Perry Collins: I am not convinced that there will be an enduring impact. However, graduating students need to understand that it may take longer to find their first professional job and to not get discouraged. The economy wants to get back on track.
Dr. Perry Collins: In my field of psychology and behavioral sciences, it would definitely benefit students to consider pursuing a graduate degree that is on track for some sort of licensure such as marriage and family therapy, professional counselor, clinical social worker, licensed psychologist, etc.
Elizabeth Morgan Ph.D.: Psychology graduates have so many good options - employers definitely appreciate the skills and knowledge that psychology programs develop in college students. A good job would be fairly dependent on the individual - it would be one that the person finds interesting and rewarding, that they are skilled at but that also presents manageable challenges, and one that helps them further their knowledge and skill development. This might include working with in a school that provides specialized services for children with autism or developmental disabilities, it might include work as a paraprofessional in an inpatient psychiatric or rehabilitation facility and helping develop programs and workshops, it might include working for a human resources office to assist in the development of more inclusive hiring practices, or it might be working as a program director for an after school programs for youth in urban areas. There are many different options that would be good jobs because of the skills and experience they afford to the graduate as well as the ways that they also give back to the community and help others.
Elizabeth Morgan Ph.D.: I believe so. One likely enduring impact is their recognition of the need to be flexible during these times and adapt to new modes of working and learning, as well as giving up participation in previously anticipated activities and events (such as sports participation, living in residence halls, graduation ceremonies, etc.). Having been forced into these situations means that they might value consistency more, but also be more confident in taking on change and flexibility in the workplace in the future. Also because of the difficulties over the past year or so, we will likely see increased need for mental health support, which is an area that psychology graduates could be well positioned to help with.
Elizabeth Morgan Ph.D.: A clear one for graduates in psychology is to seek a graduate degree - typically a master's or potentially a doctorate. There are also additional certifications that can be obtained to help students become eligible for different positions or job duties. Also, because psychology degrees prepare graduates for such a broad array of potential jobs that have various earning potential means that graduates can seek jobs in fields that pay more, in addition to seeking graduate degrees or certifications.