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Roughly 25% of all American adults suffer from a mental illness in any given year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Whether it’s depression, substance abuse or a form of anxiety, psychologists play a big role in helping people suffering from mental health issues.

Psychologists are non-medical doctors (PhDs) who specialize in studying the mind and human behavior. The field of psychology is large and aspiring psychologists will be able to choose the specialty where they think they can make the greatest positive impact.

The Benefits of a Career as a Psychologist

There are so many benefits to becoming a psychologist it’s hard to know where to even begin. Well, let’s start with the obvious – it’s a career where you can make a real impact in people’s lives. In addition, you may also have a flexible work schedule should you choose to run your own practice. This can be great for parents of young children. No two days are ever really alike, as you will deal with a variety of people and their challenges. And speaking of challenges, the field of psychology is diverse and challenging, so you will constantly grow as a person and a professional! Many psychologists also value the variety of work settings available—private practice, hospitals, community clinics, schools, universities, and corporate wellness programs—so you can align your career with the population you most want to serve. Demand is closely tied to mental-health need: the most recent national NSDUH estimate shows 22.8% of U.S. adults (58.7 million people) experienced any mental illness in 2023, which helps explain why services and prevention programs remain a major focus. At the same time, more people are seeking support: 23.0% of adults (59.2 million) received some form of mental health treatment in 2023, including outpatient care, prescription medication, and telehealth.

Career Description

Psychologists practice in a variety of ways, depending on the area they specialize in. Some may spend a majority of time counseling clients while others may conduct research on a chosen topic. In 2025–2026, many roles also include measurement-based care (using brief, standardized check-ins to track progress) and collaboration with physicians, social workers, and school teams—especially in integrated or community settings. Because access can be uneven, psychologists in clinics and schools often work within stepped-care models—starting with low-intensity interventions and “stepping up” to specialized treatment when needed.

To get a better understanding of the daily activities of psychologists, let’s take a look at some of the specialties in the field.

Clinical Psychologists

These professionals specialize in helping individuals who suffer from mental and emotional disorders. Some will niche down and specifically focus on helping those with depression and anxiety, drug addictions, eating disorders and personality disorders. Clinical work often emphasizes evidence-based treatments and careful assessment so care can be tailored—particularly for co-occurring issues like anxiety plus substance use. Many clinicians also coordinate care plans with primary-care providers, especially when sleep, chronic pain, or medication side effects interact with mental health symptoms.

Educational Psychologists

These specific psychologists typically work in schools as counselors or by helping students who suffer from learning disorders. Educational psychologists’ one true mission is to help children gain all of the necessary resources to help them thrive and succeed. Because student needs can change quickly, school-based roles frequently involve coordinating supports with families and educators and building early-intervention plans. In practice, school-based work can include behavior plans, consultation with teachers, and helping implement accommodations—so communication and collaboration are just as important as assessment skills.

Neuropsychologists

Neuropsychologists focus on the field of cognitive, behavioral and emotional rehabilitation for patients with brain damage. They spend much time researching the changes our central nervous system can suffer and how these changes affect a person’s mental life. They are often called in by doctors to help give an early diagnosis of dementia and develop a treatment plan. Neuropsychology also commonly involves detailed testing and reports that translate complex findings into practical recommendations for patients, caregivers, and medical teams.

Social Psychologists

As the name suggests, social psychologists specialize in psychological factors that contribute to human social interactions. Their education focuses on subjects such as culture, social attitudes and prejudices. These professionals spend time creating group therapies to help disadvantaged individuals that often find themselves excluded.

Forensic Psychologists

Forensic psychologists specialize in legal aspects, which is why they are often called to be a witness in a criminal trial. They share their views on what they believe led to a certain individual to commit a crime, and their testimony can often sway a judge. Given the stakes, forensic work typically requires rigorous documentation and clear communication of findings to non-specialists (judges, juries, attorneys).
These are just some of the specialties in this field, but you can learn more here. Many specialties also have distinct licensure and supervised-hours requirements, so it’s smart to match your graduate program to the credential you’ll need in the state where you plan to practice.

These are just some of the specialties in this field, but you can learn more here.

Career Outlook and Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for psychologists was $94,310 in May 2024. Employment for this group is expected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. BLS also projects about 12,900 openings for psychologists each year, on average, over the decade—many from replacement needs as professionals retire or move into other work. Keep in mind, your salary will factor on your specialty area. Because of the growing demand for psychological services in hospitals, schools, and mental health clinics, psychologists can expect to see more employment demand in those areas. Recent CDC reporting also highlights sustained need: the share of adults with anxiety symptoms rose from 15.6% (2019) to 18.2% (2022), and depression symptoms from 18.5% to 21.4%—patterns that often translate into more screening, referrals, and treatment demand. BLS also notes that pay and demand can vary widely by setting—such as healthcare, schools, or private practice—so internship experiences and specialization choices can meaningfully shape both your workday and long-term earnings.

Read more about what a career as a psychologist can offer you.

The Path to Becoming a Psychologist

If you’ve always had a drive to help other people better their lives, then a career as a psychologist may be a perfect fit. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to reach your goal:

Step 1. Obtain Your Degree

Aspiring psychologists will need to earn their bachelor’s degree in psychology or a relevant field. Prerequisite courses include general psychology, experimental and developmental psychology, and statistics.

Regardless of which major you choose, be sure to see how OnlineDegree.com could help you as well.  You can take free courses toward your degree and utilize tuition discounts we’ve organized at universities across the country…we provide all of this for free as part of our mission to make college a reality for everyone.

Step 2. Obtain Your Master’s Degree

Next, you’ll need to do some research to determine what area of psychology you’ll want to specialize in. You’ll then want to learn about various programs to find the higher degree that’s best for your career goals. For example, will you need a master’s degree, PsyD, PhD, EdD or EdS?

Step 3. (optional) Gain Some Real-World Experience

Once you’ve determined the area you want to specialize in, see if you can intern somewhere to gain valuable experience. You may want to help a professor with a research project, or volunteer at a mental health clinic. Hands-on experience gained while obtaining your degree will help you find a job once you graduate school.

Step 4. (optional) Complete a Doctorate in Psychology

Not all, but most fields of psychology require a doctorate. Psychology graduate schools look for a competitive score on the GRE (1200 or more), a GPA of 3.3 or higher, and volunteer or paid experience in the field.

Step 5. Get Licensed

All states require you to fulfill certain requirements before you’ll be granted a license. There is also a national exam you must pass and, in some cases, you’ll need to present a case study to a board of psychologists. You’ll want to check your state’s requirements and do it as early as possible in your career journey so you are fully prepared.

Getting Started on Your Psychology Career

With the first step being obtaining a bachelor’s degree, here are a few additional resources to check out to get started on your path to becoming a Psychologist:

  • Why Online Education Might Be Best-  If you’re like a lot of working adults, you don’t have a lot of free time or extra money to put toward your higher education. An online degree offers flexible scheduling for adult students who have other work/life commitments. This means, even if you’re a parent that also works full-time, an online program can work around your schedule to help you reach your dream career.
  • Salary and Other Data on Psychology-
  • How OnlineDegree.com Can Help- To make college a reality for everyone, we provide free courses that could apply toward your degree, tuition discounts at universities across the country, and much needed guidance.  All free.

If you’re ready to get started toward becoming a psychologist, enroll with us today!

 

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