Psychology Salary, Job Description, and Fields of Specialization

Many may know that psychology is a profession that works closely with people of all ages to better help a person's well being as a whole. Some even know that psychologists study human behavior to figure out determining factors in disorders. What most do not know, though, is that there is a lot more to a psychologist than simply sitting in their own office, with a patient on the couch, counseling them until they are better. This has been the typical psychologist/psychiatrist view from many TV shows and movies. There is a lot more to this field than that. And there are many different venues to specialize in as well. Some of the things that we'll be getting into in this article include:

• What does a psychologist do on a daily basis?
• How much is the average psychology salary for this vocation?
• What can one emphasize when studying psychology?
• Do I have what it takes to become a psychologist?

These questions, and others, will help to determine whether or not you would be a good fit in this career field. Hopefully, by reading this article, you'll finally know if this is the path you should take; or even want to take. So let's get into it.

Psychologist Job Description

The job description of a psychologist consists of a numerous amount of different tasks. Some psychologists own their own businesses, so you can take into account the entrepreneurship of this field as well. The following list is a great resource to see what these professionals could be doing on a daily basis. This is not an exhaustive this, but it is quite comprehensive.

• Treat individuals with a variety of disorders through psychological methods
• Study and assess individuals to determine behavioral problems
• Research new methods of treatments
• Teach in colleges and universities
• Supervise other up-and-coming psychologists
• Offering therapy and treatment for a number of anxieties
• Owning and operating a small business
• Study relationships between humans, animals, and nature

There are definitely other things that psychologists do day-to-day, but this gives you a good idea of what to expect working as one.

Average Psychology Salary

Receiving a Bachelor's degree in Psychology is not enough in this field. You'll need to excel in a certain area, and even then, you'll want to obtain a Master's degree, at least! A plain B.A. in psychology will not be enough to give you the psychologist salary that is typical in this industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2008, the average annual income for a psychologist is $84,220 per year. The hourly rate is currently $40.49 per hour.

Different Specializations Within Psychology

To become a specialist in an area, you'll need to gain as much training and experience as possible. Once you enter college, you'll want to start interning and volunteering with government agencies, private companies, or even health care facilities. In this way, you will begin to build a quality portfolio for your future employers.

Then there are the many different fields of emphases. Within psychology, you will find a number of divergent possibilities that you can specialize in. Here are a few that may interest you:

• Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Health Psychology
• School Psychology
• Clinical Psychology (the majority of psychologists are clinical)
• Geropsychology
• Counseling Psychology
• Forensic Psychology

These are just a few of the many options you have to specialize in once you enter your graduate program.

Do You Have What it Takes?

Now that you've read through this description of the field of psychology, are you interested? Well, there are a few qualities that one should possess before thinking about entering this career.

• Selflessness – Do you put others before yourself on a consistent basis?
• Compassion – Are you willing to look at every with care and sincerity to help them out?
• Patience – Can you deal with difficulties in a calm and understanding manner?
• Sympathy – Are you able to sympathize with people and their struggles?
• Intelligence – Can you retain knowledge well?
• Discernment – Are you able to find the causing factors in people's behaviors?

These are just a few characteristics that make psychologist successful psychologists. If you have most of these, then consider yourself made for this position. Are you capable of training yourself to be a person of compassion, discernment, etc? If so, then maybe you should consider becoming a psychologist and specializing in a certain field of study. If you have what it takes, then take the first step and move forward with your future. The best of luck to you!

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