Careers With a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

Psychology is one of the most popular college majors, but exactly what can you do with a bachelor’s degree in psychology? Although psychology is a relatively young field, it has surged to become one of the most popular undergraduate majors on college campuses worldwide. It is also one of the most popular online degrees.

If you are thinking about earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology (or you already have one), you might find yourself wondering exactly where you fit into the workforce. What exactly can you do with a psychology degree? What types of jobs are available?

Undergraduate degrees in psychology have gotten a bad reputation over the last few years. Career websites often rank the degree on their yearly “worst paid” or “most underemployed” lists, and yet psychology remains one of the most popular majors on college campuses worldwide.

Why? Simply put, psychology speaks to who we are as people. We all have that innate drive to understand ourselves and others. Why do other people do such strange things? Why do we sometimes do such strange things?

While some people turn to art, literature, poetry, or even medicine to help them better understand the human condition, psychology holds so many of the answers we seek to the questions about the human mind and behavior.

Recent reports also point to the increased need for mental health care services, which means that people who have a background in psychology and related fields will be needed to help meet this demand.

The goal of this article is to help you get a better understanding of the options that are available for psychology majors. Today’s job market can be competitive, and figuring out where your skills fit in can be challenging. Adaptability is essential since finding the job that is right for you might involve thinking outside of the box.

Career Options with a Bachelor’s in Psychology

While earning a graduate degree is required for many psychology jobs, the fact is that approximately 75% of students who earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology do not go to graduate school. According to one study, only around 25% of psychology undergraduates end up working in a field that is directly or closely related to their major.

So what do all of these psychology majors end up doing after they graduate?

It is important to remember that a psychology degree can be used in many careers. By carefully planning your future and being aware of the different opportunities that are out there, you can find a career that is perfectly suited to your educational background, skills, and personality. For more help determining which psychology career path is best for you, consider taking a career goal self-test that can help you determine which career path might be the best fit for you.

So what are the most commonly held careers for those with a bachelor’s degree in psychology? According to the College Majors Handbook, some of the top occupations that employ those with a bachelor’s psychology degree are:

1. Top- and mid-level management and administration
2. Sales
3. Social work
4. Other management occupations
5. Labor-relations, personnel, and training
6. Administrative positions
7. Real estate, business services, and insurance
8. Marketing

At first glance, most of these careers seem to have very little to do with psychology. The important thing to remember is that having a background in the science of the human mind and behavior can actually prepare you for a wide variety of careers.

Looking at this list, you might immediately realize that many of the top areas of employment for psychology majors actually have very little to do with psychology itself. So why are these careers so popular with people who have an undergraduate degree in psychology?

It is because these jobs utilize many of the skills learned during a psychology education, including interpersonal skills, communication skills, and human behavior knowledge.

Psychology Career Options to Consider

While many psychology undergraduates ultimately end up working in a field that is not directly related to psychology, there are still a number of psychology-related entry-level career options that you should consider.

Many students graduating with a bachelor’s degree will work in some division of human or social services. Some common job titles in the area include:

• Case Management
• Career Counselor
• Rehabilitation Specialist
• Psychiatric Technician

What skills might come in handy when working in the social service field? Psychology majors possess the empathy, care, research skills, assessment skills, and client advocacy knowledge needed to succeed in these jobs.

In addition to social services, a bachelor’s in psychology can provide excellent training for many other types of jobs. Some of the most important things you have learned during your undergraduate years are interpersonal skills.

Your understanding of the human mind and behavior makes you a good candidate for jobs that require strong communication skills. Some examples of jobs in this area include those in sales, marketing, case management, and social services.

As an undergraduate, you have also done considerable research and writing. These skills would be useful in positions as a library assistant, probation officer, business manager, caseworker, and many other related areas.

When searching for your first post-graduation job, be sure to consider all of the skills you have acquired during your time as a student. Make a list of things you learned in various classes to help you assess your skills and talents in order to find a job best suited to your educational background and professional goals.

Psychology Degrees Offer Flexibility

A bachelor’s degree in psychology is sometimes seen as a stepping stone toward a graduate degree. In fact, as many as 40% of psychology majors go on to business school, law school, or some other type of advanced degree program.

Looking at psychology undergraduate degrees as simply a step toward an advanced degree is often a mistake. Unfortunately, many mistakenly believe that to work in psychology or do anything with a psychology degree, you have to become a PhD-level psychologist.

One of the greatest advantages of a psychology degree, however, is in its adaptability. The key is to get out of the mindset of thinking that becoming a licensed clinical psychologist is your only career option.

By learning more about some of the many opportunities out there, you’ll be in a better position to make the most of your bachelor’s in psychology – whether that means immediately entering the workforce or using your undergrad degree as a jumping-off point to further studies.

Skills You Gain With a Psychology Degree

A psychology major prepares students for various entry-level positions in the workforce. As psychology majors, students gain essential skills, including:

• Critical thinking
• Project management
• Interpersonal communication
• Problem-solving
• Teamwork skills
• Adaptability to change
• An understanding of human behavior
• An understanding of scientific methods

These are all vital skills in any position, but they can be particularly useful in positions involving working with others, analyzing data, or managing groups.

In a shifting market, job-seekers need to be willing to look for different avenues and explore opportunities that they did not originally consider. If you graduated with the idea that you wanted to work as a case manager, only to find that the jobs in your area are scarce or pay less than you expected, it might pay to consider related positions that utilize similar skills but offer greater availability and advancement opportunities.

Things You Can Do With a Psychology Degree

Here are just some of the many different things you can do with a bachelor’s in psychology. If you currently have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and are actively looking for work, you might want to consider using some of these titles in your job search.

• Animal Trainer
• Career Counselor
• Case Manager
• Child Care Worker
• College Admissions Counselor
• Financial Aid Counselor
• Psychosocial Rehabilitation Worker
• Psychiatric Technician
• Science Writer
• Technical Writer
• Writer / Editor
• Youth Counselor

One important thing to note: job titles, educational requirements, and pay levels can vary dramatically from location to location. States often have specific laws regarding who can provide different levels of service.

Jobs listed in urban areas often feature much higher salaries, but job-seekers should be aware that such locations also come with correspondingly higher living costs. While people make more in these areas, they also pay more for things like housing, food, and transportation than people typically do in more rural or suburban areas.