If you’re considering a master’s degree in psychology, you already know you want to improve the lives of others. But what exactly can you do with a master’s in psychology? Is it a worthwhile degree to pursue? Will you be able to get a job putting your knowledge to work once you graduate? Let’s explore the possibilities.

A master’s degree in psychology prepares students for careers as clinical or counseling psychologists, social workers, school psychologists, and more. The field is growing rapidly, with an estimated growth rate of 13% between 2016 and 2026 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). That means there are plenty of opportunities for those who want to pursue their dreams of working in this field!

Masters level psychologist jobs can be found in many areas including hospitals, schools and universities, private practice clinics and offices. The majority of masters level psychologist jobs require at least a master’s degree; however some positions may require additional education or experience such as a doctorate or doctorate in psychology. To gain easy access to the latest information on masters level psychologist jobs & what can you do with

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What Can You Do With a Masters in Psychology?

Psychology is a field which a lot of students choose to study for their undergraduate degree. To become a psychologist requires a lot of work and dedication, but at the end gives the satisfaction of helping people lead more fulfilled lives. Afterwards, many think that they should immediately pursue a doctoral degree which is a widespread misconception. In fact, more students continue to get their Master of Arts Degree in Psychology rather than a PhD.

Specifically 23,000 each year get their graduate degree as compared to 5,500 students who get their doctoral degrees in psychology.

A Masters in Psychology as with many other degrees has a wide application so it might be confusing for students to decide what job they want to get and what they want to do with the degree. So before deciding, students should do research on the degree and the opportunities it offers.

This article will focus on informing students who are considering this degree about what jobs can you get with a Masters in Psychology.

• Employment Prospects
• Most common employers
• Necessary skills
• Possible job positions
• Further education

Employment Prospects

There is a wide range of skills which a psychology Master’s degree gives students, both from a science and a theoretical perspective. This makes it possible for them to have career options in many industries and sectors. Employment prospects are determined by a few factors such as:

Focus of studies

Besides a general study of psychology, students are allowed to specialize in different topics within it.

The most common specializations are:

• Clinical Psychology – is a terminal degree which allows students to then work directly with patients who might have mental issues and become licensed clinical psychologists.
• Experimental Psychology – is a research based degree which focuses on discovering psychological phenomena and proving psychology concepts through extensive cognitive and social experiments.
• Applied Psychology – is a specialization which uses the concepts taught in school to apply them in the workplace and other environments so as to improve people’s lives and wellbeing.

Each one entails a set of careers which one can gain, so students usually take their time to choose.

Job growth

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics classified employment growth in psychology as 19% until the year of 2024

BLS’s report stated that most career prospects would be focused in industrial and organizational settings, and competition would be especially high in that.

So before you choose what specialization to do in Psychology, you have to consider what the statistics are saying about the job prospects of your degree.

Personal interests

Despite the fact that some degrees might have higher job growth than others, most people decide about what they want to focus on based on their personal interests. You might know that industrial psychologists will be the most demanded psychology job in the future, but if you are personally more interested in clinical psychology, then you will probably choose that.

Previous work experience

Employers also give priority to people who have had work experience that is related to the job position they are applying for. That is why employment prospects for graduates with a Masters Degree in Psychology are also dependent on the previous work experiences of the students.

If you are someone who has not immediately done a graduate degree after getting their undergraduate one, then you will probably have some work experience which relates to what you want to study and work. Based on that, you can also decide what job you want and look at the employment prospects.

So before you decide on what to focus on for your job prospects, consider the factors above to help you decide.

Most Common Employers

Due to the fact that a Masters in Psychology can open different career doors for students, there are also many employers that are seeking this type of qualification from students.

Some of the most common employers where you can work and get jobs with a Masters in Psychology are:

• The public sector so local and national governments
• Commercial and industrial companies
• Financial and marketing organizations
• Media companies
• The police force
• Social services

Necessary Skills

During their Master’s Degree, psychology graduate students should also focus on developing the many skills which are demanded in the labor market. It is not enough to just learn the theory and practice of psychology concepts, employers also want a few soft and analytical skills in potential candidates’ resumes.

You can build such skills while you are completing your degree as they go hand in hand with the Masters Degree in Psychology curriculum.

However, in order to be employable you should have these skills together with your graduate degree in psychology:

• Knowing how to navigate statistics and data
• Analytical research
• Team work ability
• Problem solving skills
• Familiarity with information technology
• Communication skills (written and verbal)

These skills all coincide with the jobs that you will have with your degree. In any career path that you choose with the psychology degree you will most likely have to handle statistics, analyze data, solve problems, and use technology.

Most projects are done in groups of researchers for example, so you will need to know how to best navigate the team work environment. And you will have to present your work both verbally and in writing in the form of reports and memos.

Because of this, if you have already graduated with a Master’s Degree in Psychology and do not yet possess these skills, the best course of action would be to take extra courses and learn them.

What Can I Do With a Masters Degree In Psychology?

There are various Masters in Psychology job positions that students can take after their graduation. Below we will mention a few of them and provide a brief description about what each job encompasses.

Clinical Psychologists – diagnose, asses, and treat people with various mental or emotional problems. These psychologists help their patients in improving their wellbeing and becoming healthier individuals. Most of them hold doctoral degrees, but there are also jobs available for those with a master’s degree.

Social Workers – have the possibility of diagnosing and treating mental illnesses or even continue employment in social welfare agencies.

School Psychologists – work in assessing, diagnosing, and treating children who are having problems related to their behavior, emotions, or academics. They work with parents and teachers to help kids become healthier and achieve their goals.

Counselors – have similar duties to clinical psychologists; however, they do not necessarily prescribe medication. Through discussion and reflection, they try to help people in overcoming their struggles with mental health problems.

Forensic Psychologists – are involved in criminal investigation procedures and law. They work in assessing and treating criminal behavior by interacting with criminal offenders and prisoners, as well as victims and anyone involved in the legal court system.

Human Factors Psychologists – are professionals who help in various stages of product and environmental designs. They help in human error, workplace safety, human-computer interaction, ergonomics, and explore the ways humans interact with the daily products they have to use.

Industrial Organizational Psychologists – are psychologists who use their degree to create safer workplaces, training courses, conducting tests, hiring employees, and researching different aspects of the job environment.

Occupational Psychologists – assist organizations in improving their employees’ performance and job satisfaction. They work with organizational cultures and change as well as work in team and individual settings.

Health psychologists – work with people who have been diagnosed with various illnesses. They assist them in improving their psychological response to and management of their diseases.

Mental health worker – are involved with people who are experiencing common mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and panic attacks to help them in improving and managing their situation. They help by providing therapy and cognitive interventions towards recovery.

Sports and Exercise Psychologists – work and assist people who are involved in sports and exercise, whether they are team or individual based. These psychologists are mostly concerned with the emotional wellbeing of the sports players and help them in improving it.

Teaching Psychologists – can spread their knowledge in either colleges or universities. Teaching positions are highly competitive, but those with Masters Degrees in Psychology can also work in career counseling, academic advising, and recruitment for students in higher education.

Other job positions

Besides the job positions that were described above, there are also a ton of other things that people who have a Masters in Psychology can become involved in.

Below, we will mention some job positions in various public and private sectors.

Local, State, and Federal Government

• Rehabilitation counselor
• Social service manager
• Parole officer
• Vocational rehabilitation provider
• Psychosocial specialist
• Self-reliance specialist
• Developmental specialist
• Drug and alcohol specialist
• Employment counselor
• Human resources analyst
• Psychology program manager

Jobs in Healthcare and Mental Health Services

• Behavioral counselor
• Health project coordinator
• Psychiatric technician
• Rehabilitation specialist
• Group home coordinator
• Family services worker
• Child protection worker
• Child care supervisor

Jobs in Business, Sales, Marketing and Advertising

• Human resources manager
• Advertising agent
• Market researcher
• Employee trainer
• Public relations representative
• Project manager
• Sales representative
• Store manager

Further Education

Students who have obtained their Master’s Degree in Psychology and still have not yet been able to find a suitable job position, also have the option of continuing their education.

Even though some of the specializations of the Master’s Degree are considered terminal, meaning that there is no need to get an additional degree or extra training, many students want to become more specialized and knowledgeable in their fields.

The next step in the profession of Psychology is getting a PhD in Psychology in any of the areas of specialization that universities offer. Doctoral Degrees in this field are highly competitive and only a handful of total applicants are actually accepted.

These degrees combine both the practical aspect of psychology with further research and students are expected to complete a major research project in their field of interest.

PhDs in Psychology are also quite long and take a few years to complete, so before you decide to continue your education and training in psychology, consider the benefits and costs to enrolling in a doctoral program.

A lot. A master’s degree in psychology can prepare you for a range of careers helping others.

If you’re considering a master’s degree in psychology, you already know you want to improve the lives of others. But what exactly can you do with a master’s in psychology? Is it a worthwhile degree to pursue? Will you be able to get a job putting your knowledge to work once you graduate? Let’s explore.

A master’s degree in psychology—is it worth it?

The short answer? Yes. Master’s programs in psychology will give you the foundation you need to conduct or apply psychological research that ultimately improves the lives of others. If you’d like to pursue a career as a psychologist, you must start with a graduate degree in psychology before earning your doctorate.Learn more about Walden’s online MS in Psychology degree program.LEARN MORE TODAY 

What can I do with a master’s in psychology?

When it comes to jobs with a master’s in psychology, positions are as diverse as the field of psychology itself—and there’s no shortage of psychology master’s programs to prepare you for these vocations.

Those with a master’s degree in psychology work both independently and within teams of diverse professionals, including lawyers, doctors, engineers, teachers, policymakers, and business executives. They work in both the public and private sectors. Some psychology professionals work primarily as researchers, while others are primarily practitioners. Many do both as scientist-practitioners. Earning a master’s degree in psychology can also prepare you for advanced studies and put you on track to earning a doctoral degree.

Just a sampling of jobs with a master’s in psychology includes:^*

• Human resource manager
• Market researcher
• Project coordinator/manager
• Family services worker
• Instructor at a community college
• Social service manager

• Health project coordinator
• Employee trainer
• Research assistant
• Data analyst/manager
• Organizational consultant
• Intervention advocate

Possible career settings include:

• Child and family service organizations (e.g., day care agencies, after-school programs within schools and communities, Head Start programs, or early childhood education programs)
• Schools
• Community colleges
• Local, state, or federal governments

• Group homes
• Healthcare agencies
• Law enforcement agencies
• Nonprofit organizations
• Religious organizations

Interested in exploring real-life positions attained by recent graduates of psychology master’s programs? These Walden University graduates are working around the country—and the world—helping individuals and communities with their master’s in psychology.