A psychology degree opens the door to a wide range of rewarding careers. The knowledge and skills gained can also provide transferable skills for many careers not directly related to psychology. But what psychology degree jobs are available, and which paths offer the best prospects for graduates?
Whether you’re considering getting a psychology degree, or you’re a recent psychology graduate looking for opportunities, this post is for you. Below, we explore the many jobs you can get with a psychology degree, as well as outline an alternative route to traditional university study.
Popular careers in psychology
A psychology degree gives you a deeper understanding of human behaviour, making it a super versatile qualification. Here are some of the most popular career options for psychology graduates:
Clinical Psychologist
As a clinical psychologist, you’ll assess a range of patients and plan treatments to improve their quality of life. You’ll also be able to conduct research, lead teams and train staff.
Clinical psychologists can also work in a variety of settings, from hospitals to public services such as prisons. In the NHS, salaries range from £35,392 (Band 6) to £114,849 (Band 9) in senior roles. This is in accordance with the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay rates.
Educational Psychologist
Educational psychologists work with young people, to assess their learning and behaviour in educational and early years settings. They also support teachers and parents and conduct research surrounding children and their education.
Once qualified as an educational psychologist, you can earn salaries from £42,422 up to £86, 587 in senior and principal positions.
Forensic Psychologist
As a forensic psychologist, you can work within the criminal justice system to assess and evaluate defendants. Their role ranges from providing evidence in court, to rehabilitating inmates, and assessing their risk of reoffending before parole.
Typically, forensic psychologists earn between £35,000 and £57,000 a year. However, as with many roles in psychology, this varies on experience and can grow much higher in senior roles.
Counselling Psychologist
Counselling psychologists use psychology to treat mental health problems from depression and anxiety to trauma and bereavement. This is often done by understanding a patient’s behaviours, difficulties, and experiences to carry out the appropriate therapy. It’s also possible to work in academia and research. From this, you could develop a further understanding of behaviour and improve the emotional wellbeing of others.
As a qualified NHS counselling psychologist, it’s possible to earn between £43,742 (Band 7) to £96,376 (Bands 8c to 8d) of the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay rates. However, this depends on the level of experience required and the seniority of your role.
Occupational Psychologist
As an occupational psychologist, you can improve workplace wellbeing and productivity by working with organisations to improve employee job satisfaction. People in this role can also work in a variety of settings, from smaller businesses to large organisations across a range of sectors.
The average salary for an occupational psychologist ranges depending on experience, the sector you’re in and the seniority of your role. This means salaries can range from £27,000 in starter positions to £70,000 in senior and leadership positions.
Highest paying jobs with a psychology degree
Careers in psychology often have high earning potential, due to the specialist skills and qualifications required. However, as stated above, this can vary based on experience, responsibility, and the level of qualifications held by the individual.
Clinical and counselling psychologists and psychiatrists are some of the highest paid roles in psychology. This is because these roles often require a doctorate level postgraduate qualification.
It’s also possible to earn high salaries in academia, teaching, and research roles, due to the level of expertise and specialist knowledge required.
Jobs outside of psychology
Many psychology graduates opt for careers outside traditional psychology fields. A degree in psychology provides transferable skills like communication, problem-solving, and data analysis, which are attractive for many roles, including:
- Human Resources
- Marketing and Market Research
- Social Work
- Teaching
- Law Enforcement
Due to the skills a psychology degree can equip you with, it can provide many opportunities across a wide range of fields and industries. So, it’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular degree topics in the UK!
Is a psychology degree worth it?
The demand for psychology professionals is growing, as mental health awareness and workplace wellbeing initiatives are becoming commonplace. Therefore, a psychology undergraduate degree can make you both highly employable and open you up to a high earning potential. It can also lead you to many rewarding career paths from counselling to forensic psychology.
Whether it’s gaining the qualifications needed to progress to postgraduate and doctorate level study, or learning transferable skills to boost your career potential across a variety of industries, a psychology degree could be perfect for you.
Study a psychology degree online with learndirect
If you’re interested in a career in psychology, it’s never too late with learndirect.
Degree level study can feel overwhelming, especially if you are going back into education or balancing your studies around work or family commitments. However, by choosing a Psychology Online Degree Pathway with learndirect, you can study the first 2 years of a psychology degree online, with a place guaranteed at one of our partner universities for your third year.
This means you can also study at your own pace, save on commuting costs associated with traditional on-campus study, and balance your education with other commitments.
Our programmes are designed to help you progress toward a fulfilling career, without the need to sacrifice your daily life.
Discover your potential with learndirect and start your psychology journey today.
If you want to learn more about our Online Degree Pathways, click below to download your free brochure!
