How to hire a developmental psychologist

How to hire a developmental psychologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step developmental psychologist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a developmental psychologist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new developmental psychologist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a developmental psychologist job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The developmental psychologist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A developmental psychologist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, developmental psychologists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of developmental psychologists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Developmental Psychologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Developmental Psychologist	Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and their environments.	$28-64
   Psychotherapist	A Psychotherapist's responsibility is to help clients who suffer from symptoms like depression, anxiety, and other behavioral problems. They work with individuals, couples, and families.	$20-53
   Psychologist	Sales managers are responsible for leading the organization's sales team. They oversee the progress and performance of the whole team, set area assignments to team members, and set weekly or monthly quotas... Show more	$32-66

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Developmental Disabilities
   • Psychological Services

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop cognitive behaviorally-base educational module for post-surgery patients.
   • Develop cognitive behaviorally-base educational module for post-surgery patients.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your developmental psychologist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A developmental psychologist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, developmental psychologists' average salary in hawaii is 58% less than in delaware.
   • Seniority. Entry-level developmental psychologists 55% less than senior-level developmental psychologists.
   • Certifications. A developmental psychologist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a developmental psychologist's salary.

   Average developmental psychologist salary

   $90,512yearly

   $43.52 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level developmental psychologist salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

4. Writing a developmental psychologist job description

   A developmental psychologist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a developmental psychologist job description:

   Developmental psychologist job description example

   Make an impact serving Indiana children and families as an IUHP Pediatric Psychologist! We seek a doctorally-trained psychologist to join the Development Medicine team as a clinician/IUSM faculty member who will care for patients and produce scholarly work. This interdisciplinary team, comprised of 17 physicians and 11 psychologists, values varied perspectives. The successful candidate will be innovative and skilled in psychological assessment and diagnosis of developmental and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents.
   All OP work at the Pediatrics Care Center in Indianapolis, IN
   M-F, 8a to 5P (no weekends)
   Conduct interviews & assessments
   Provide clinical education and supervision
   Position not available for remote
   
   Qualifications:
   
   Doctorate Psychology degree
   IN Licensure or BE (HSPP)
   
   See how you can thrive, right here at Indiana University Health
   
   Community Description
   
   Indianapolis, Indiana, the 17th largest U.S. city, is a sophisticated city blending charm and culture with a wonderful balance of business and leisure. Residents of this dynamic city enjoy:
   
   Leading educational system and top-ranked universities, paired with a diverse population
   Vibrant downtown offering arts, theaters, world-class museums, zoo, concerts and memorials
   Named to U.S. News & World Report's 2022-2023 list of the best places to live in the United States
   Top ranked international airport: "Best Airport in North America" ten consecutive years
   Ranked by Niche in 2022 as one of the most diverse counties in America, as well as one of the best counties to live in Indiana & the best county for young professionals
   Lively nightlife, local wineries, retail, and cuisine with local flavors
   Historic neighborhoods with surrounding cultural districts and low cost of living
   Eagle Creek and the suburbs of Westfield and Fishers have been named to Money Magazine's list of the Best Places to Live in America
   Collegiate and professional sports, golfing, boating and unique parks
   Home of the Colts (NFL), Fever (WNBA), Pacers (NBA), Indians (MiLB), Indianapolis 500 (IndyCar), Indy Eleven (NASL), NCAA and USTA Midwest
   Nation's largest half marathon (OneAmerica Mini-Marathon) and national biking awards
   Close proximity to Chicago, St. Louis, Louisville, and Cincinnati
   Healthcare System/Hospital Description
   
   For more than 95 years, Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health has been one of the nation's leading children's hospitals. Each year, Riley at IU Health provides compassionate care, support and comfort to more than 300,000 inpatients and outpatients from across Indiana, the nation and the world. Physicians at Riley at IU Health provide comprehensive care, from the routine to the most complex, in every field of pediatric medicine and surgery.
   
   Riley at IU Health is nationally ranked as a top children's hospital by U.S. News & World Report, with national rankings in all ten pediatric specialties (including three specialties in the top ten), and is the only nationally ranked children's hospital in Indiana. Part of Indiana University Health, Riley at IU Health enjoys a unique partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine, giving our highly skilled physicians access to innovative treatments using the latest research and technology.
   
   In addition, Riley Hospital for Children is ranked sixth in the nation for NIH Research funding, totaling more than $32 million in 2020. The Children's Clinical Research Center, located at Riley Hospital for Children, is one of the largest pediatric research facilities in the country.
   
   The newest addition to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, the Maternity Tower, opened in fall 2021. The Tower is home to Indiana's largest NICU, as well as the state's only OB ICU and emergency room.
   
   Riley at IU Health is also the 6th largest children's hospital in the United States, and offers one of the nation's largest outpatient care facilities for children.
   
   The Riley Children's Foundation is committed to improving the health and well-being of children through philanthropic leadership in support of Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health and its research programs.
   
   At Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, we are committed to advancing a culture where all people can come together while we work to equitably improve the health of all Hoosiers. Working together, our health system fosters an environment in which differences are respected and valued. With a bold approach to diversity and inclusion, we are the place where many voices and perspectives come together to improve the health of our communities today and in the future.
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at IU Health. IU Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
   
   Indiana University Health, Indiana University Health Physicians and Indiana University School of Medicine are EOE/AA Employers, M/F/D.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right developmental psychologist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your developmental psychologist job on Zippia to find and recruit developmental psychologist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit developmental psychologists, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new developmental psychologist

   Once you've found the developmental psychologist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new developmental psychologist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a developmental psychologist?