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Job outlook for research psychologists in the United States
Are research psychologist jobs in demand?
Research psychologist job and salary trends over time
Research psychologist jobs over time
Research psychologist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 775 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,001 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,019 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 994 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 972 | 0.00% |
Average research psychologist salary over time
Research psychologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $90,440 | $43.48 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $88,605 | $42.60 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $87,234 | $41.94 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $85,081 | $40.90 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $83,019 | $39.91 | +3.8% |
Research psychologist jobs by state
Most common states for research psychologists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 847 | 14% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 130 | 14% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 89 | 14% |
| 4 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 717 | 13% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 547 | 13% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 157 | 12% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 129 | 12% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 741 | 11% |
| 9 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 77 | 11% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 569 | 10% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 189 | 10% |
| 12 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 88 | 10% |
| 13 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 59 | 10% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,131 | 9% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,125 | 9% |
| 16 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 795 | 9% |
| 17 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 771 | 9% |
| 18 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 280 | 9% |
| 19 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 180 | 9% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 102 | 8% |
Most common cities for research psychologists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $103,531 |
| 2 | Miami | 1 | 0% | $84,109 |
Research Psychologist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of research psychologist experts
Ohio State University
Vanderbilt University
Fairfield University
University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Seattle University
University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
Denison University
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Franklin and Marshall College
The University of Iowa
Eastern Washington University
University of Pittsburgh
State University of New York at Oswego
The University of New Mexico
Kansas State University
Swarthmore College
Dr. Judson Jeffries
ProfessorOhio State University
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What general advice would you give to a Research Psychologist?
Dr. Judson Jeffries: Introduce yourself to some of the more noteworthy people in the field at conferences. Establish a relationship with those folks. I am not saying that your circle should include only the most celebrated academics in your field, but you want to get to know maybe 3 to 4 such persons for the following reasons: 1) to position oneself to get sage, counsel and advice from seasoned academics 2) to learn about various opportunities that may not be publicly advertised and 3) at some point the person 's department will need people to evaluate that person for tenure and promotion. Some departments will ask the junior professor for a list of names. At that point the junior professor will be equipped to provide that list. Finally, go into those fields understanding that you have a responsibility to advocate on behalf of those historically marginalized groups that you're studying. What's more, that person needs to understand that what comes with that is doing research that addresses some of the challenges those groups face.
What Research Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Judson Jeffries: Easy, have a vita that clearly shows strong credentials such as publications and the like, which will help said person get multiple interviews, which may lead to multiple offers. Once that person gets multiple offers, that person cannot be shy about negotiating. Everything is negotiable.
What will help Research Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Judson Jeffries: Grant writing ability. Scholars will become increasingly reliant on securing grants as universities and colleges continue to tighten their belts. This is especially true for state schools where some state legislatures are not as generous with funding as they once were. The state supported The Ohio State University is one such example. There are many more.
Dr. A. Wright Ph.D., ABAP, ABPP
Clinical Associate ProfessorWhat will help Research Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Dr. A. Wright Ph.D., ABAP, ABPP: Graduates in counseling psychology have a great number of different skills, and they shouldn't limit themselves to traditional clinical practice settings only. The doctoral degree in counseling psychology--and the license as a psychologist--allows these professionals to practice in many different areas. The most obvious ones, such as private practice clinical work, doing clinical work in clinics and hospitals, or going into academia as researchers and faculty, are a great fit for many graduates. However, all the skills gained in a doctoral program in counseling psychology transfer seamlessly to many other areas and industries, as understanding human behaviors, emotional development, and wellness are applicable widely.
What Research Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Autumn Mathias Ph.D., LCSW: My general advice for undergraduate students majoring in sociology would be to begin thinking
(as early as possible) about how studying sociology might prepare you for different careers.
Explore resources online, including the websites of professional organizations such as the
American Sociological Association and the Society for the Study of Social Problems, and
occupational outlook data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, I would advise
students to speak with their academic advisors, professors, and their college/university career
services personnel about their specific interests, strengths, and opportunities to further develop
various transferable skills throughout (and beyond) their college career. For some students, this
may mean taking certain electives (such as those geared towards maximizing research skills),
and/or adding a minor or a second major. This can also include internships and other experiential
learning opportunities. In addition, students should think about which subfields of sociology
interest them most, and how they see themselves applying their knowledge in a specific field.
Some subfields include urban sociology, medical sociology, political sociology, global and
transnational sociology, law and crime, social inequality, collective behavior, economic
sociology, environmental sociology, and the sociology of education. Sociology students develop
knowledge and skills that are valuable to several fields, including education, legal assistance,
business, public relations, human services/social work, government, public health, urban
planning, criminal justice, market and/or user experience research, and administration. Sociology
students learn to apply a historically and theoretically grounded lens to understanding human
behavior, social institutions, and the interactions between various actors in society across
national and cultural contexts. In addition, they develop both qualitative and quantitative
research skills and are uniquely positioned to apply these skills in a variety of roles to find
solutions to social problems. Accordingly, they are encouraged to develop both cultural humility
and cultural competence, which is critical for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in any
professional setting. As a result, sociology graduates may pursue jobs including (but not limited
to) the following: research assistant at a non-profit organization, probation officer, community
health worker, residential counselor, case manager, legislative aide, policy analyst, and user
experience researcher for a corporation.
In terms of job searching, I would recommend consulting with professors, advisors, and your
college/university's career services office on the best strategies for highlighting your transferable
skills and tailoring your resume and cover letter to specific job postings. Many organizations
utilize AI to review and narrow down job application materials before they are even reviewed by
human eyes. Also, I would encourage graduates to keep an open mind as they search job postings
as their knowledge and skills can be applied in a variety of settings. Additionally, students may
think about whether or not their long-term career goals require a graduate degree. Some
employers offer tuition reimbursement for graduate education.
What will help Research Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Autumn Mathias Ph.D., LCSW: I think it is important for graduates to look at projections on the Bureau of Labor Statistics
website and to conduct general research on the state of certain industries at the time of
graduation. For instance, the tech industry is currently very saturated; some people who started
positions as user experience researchers just a few years ago were laid off. Individuals who have
years of experience in these positions will then have an advantage in securing new positions.
That being said, I believe that quantitative research skills in particular are advantageous for many
positions. This includes attaining coding skills and learning coding languages such as Python, R,
and Java.
In addition to the tech industry, the higher education market for individuals with a Master's
degree or PhD in sociology for tenure-track, full-time assistant professor positions in sociology
proves to remain highly competitive, as there are far more graduates than full-time positions.
That being said, some Master's programs emphasize an applied focus that prepares students for a
variety of research and evaluation positions.
In relation to research skills focused on data collection and analysis, sociology majors develop
writing and presentation skills that are crucial to success in any field. Also, the major's emphasis
on a critical global perspective along with cultural humility, cultural competence, empathy, and
overall interpersonal skills are sought-after skills in many fields. For instance, the U.S. is
experiencing a serious shortage of mental health professionals. Although some mental health
positions require a bachelor's or Master's degree in social work, others are also open to
individuals with a bachelor's degree in sociology or psychology.
What will help Research Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Madeline Stenersen: I think one of the biggest pieces of advice I would give to a graduate beginning their career in the field of counseling psychology is to explore and think broadly about all of the possibilities that this degree can bring. With a PhD in this field you can be a full time clinician, a teacher at a university, a director of a clinical center, a full time researcher, or any of the combination of the above! Because all of these opportunities can be exciting and scary at the same time I would recommend that they look to the people in the field that are doing the things that they would love to do and reach out! Don't be afraid to apply for jobs that may seem out of reach. Sometimes Counseling Psychology is compared to Clinical Psychology and students are told that Clinical Psychology positions are out of reach. This is simply not true. I have worked alongside Clinical Psychologists and other wonderful mental health providers throughout my career and currently am a faculty member in a Clinical Psychology program. The sky's the limit and it really is an opportune time for this degree as the field of psychology broadly recognizes the increasing need to focus on cultural humility, DEI, and cross-cultural work - practices that Counseling Psychology has focused on throughout the history of the field.
Phillis Sheppard Ph.D.
E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Chair Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture and Womanist ThoughtVanderbilt University
Theological And Ministerial Studies
What will help Research Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Phillis Sheppard Ph.D.: I tell recent graduates read the contract and the faculty manual. Make sure you understand the long term implications of your early salary. Second, plan for retirement now; do not wait until you are making the salary of your fantasies. Take advantage of opportunities to learn about financial health and management. Third, position yourself. Write and publish directly and clearly in your field of study and adjacent areas. Fourth, create a plan with vision for the career you think you want. Finally, one way or the other, you will carve out a career or job, but a vocation is nurtured by paying attention to where and you experience passion and a deep sense of belonging. A vocation is where your heart and intellect find a meaningful place in responding to the world's needs. Your salary best positions you when it supports you whole life and commitments.
Alessandra Bryant PhD, LMFT
Assistant Professor, Marriage and Family Therapy Fairfield UniversityFairfield University
Human Development, Family Studies, And Related Services
What will help Research Psychologists increase their earning potential?
Alessandra Bryant PhD, LMFT: -Pursue a master's degree in a more specific human development related field. Do your research-look for reputable programs in areas with earning potential post-grad.
Debra Frame Ph.D.
Professor of PsychologyUniversity of Cincinnati Blue Ash College
Behavioral Science Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Research Psychologists?
Debra Frame Ph.D.: The ability to work with analytical software, scheduling software and medical software (including mental health apps) is most critical. Graduates should also be able to use word processing software to write and maintain clinical reports, and completing paperwork to work with 3rd party providers is essential. Staff psychologists need to demonstrate skills in clinical assessment and diagnosis and should also be able to plan treatments utilizing evidence-based therapeutic interventions on a scheduled or emergency basis. Some positions will ask for the ability to conduct scientific studies of mental health; therefore, graduates who are well versed in research methods and statistics tend to be more attractive. Finally, fluency in a second language, especially Spanish, makes graduates more marketable. Spanish-speaking psychologists are in high demand due to a growing Hispanic population, a limited number of Hispanic psychologists, and an even smaller number of psychologists who can provide services in Spanish.
Dr. Sharon Locke Ph.D.
Director, Center for STEM Research, Education, and Outreach, Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, ISSP Sustainability Excellence AssociateSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Department of Environmental Sciences
What soft skills should all Research Psychologists possess?
Dr. Sharon Locke Ph.D.: -Strong written and oral communication are most important. If you cannot write well, you cannot be a successful scientist. Period.
-Evidence of skills in working as part of a team of diverse people and ability to understand the culture and language across scientific/technical disciplines--for example, an environmental chemist who understands something about policy or an environmental health specialist that would be able to collect and interpret data collected from community members.
-Willingness to be a lifelong learner.
-Something that helps an applicant stand out, such as experience with project management software or a foreign language.
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSeattle University
Department of Anthropology and Sociology
What soft skills should all Research Psychologists possess?
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.: Understanding human diversity, effective communication (speaking and writing: the ability to convey complex ideas respectfully to a diverse audience) across differences, adept at working in groups, yet also independent thinkers.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Research Psychologists?
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.: Empirical data collection: Research skills for collecting original data, analyzing the data, writing up the information collected, and presenting it in a professional manner.
What skills will help Research Psychologists earn the most?
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.: Anthropologists are analysts and researchers with sharp thinking skills who have the ability to collect, manage, evaluate, and interpret large volumes of data on human behavior.
What's a day at work look like for a Research Psychologist?
Shelly Lesher: I don't see this changing much. Since most of our students are involved in hands-on work, they will be required to work in a laboratory of some sort. It will probably be masked and distanced but the same as pre-pandemic. I am concerned graduates will receive less training for this reason making their positions more frustrating at first.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Research Psychologists?
Shiri Noy Ph.D.: This is of course field dependent. Denison University and we focus on teaching our students how to carefully and critically engage with ideas and information in context: whether that's theoretical, conceptual, or substantive. In my experience when I talk to potential employers of my students as a recommender they are interested in students' interpersonal skills, independent thinking, and research skills. Knowing how to collect, systematize, and analyze data, whether that be archival documents, statistical datasets, or interview data, for example, is something that is very appealing to employers. We are bombarded by information and have trained our brains to value novelty (think constant notifications and scrolling!) but having employees that can distinguish patterns and highlight key issues is highly prized. Equally important are interpersonal skills, and knowing how to learn. New jobs always come with new challenges and opportunities, having students that are open to learning, and that know themselves and can utilize the resources around them, primarily their community, peers, and supervisors, to deepen their learning is equally important in my experience. Central to this is communication and awareness: you need to know how to communicate your questions, insights, and needs--this facilitates the best processes and outcomes!
Sara Church
Lecturer of PsychologySaint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
What type of skills will young Research Psychologists need?
Sara Church: Young graduates should be thinking about trauma competency that includes somatic approaches. Somatic approaches include a person's mind AND body, which is so important when treating stress of any kind. Young graduates also need self-awareness. Young graduates need to know how to interview! They should set up mock interviews to practice. Interviews are important in our field, because the interviewer is getting a feel for what the person would be like in a helping relationship. They need to be well versed in professionalism and be able to set healthy boundaries within their work. Finally, they need to be culturally responsive and open to learning. This field is broad and can act as one, big difficult conversation. Conversations about differences-about behaviors, about people, about groups and institutions. They need to be ready to have these. SMWC has been very intentional about setting their students up for success in this way.
Fronefield Crawford
ProfessorFranklin and Marshall College
Department of Physics and Astronomy
What's a good job out of college for Research Psychologists?
Fronefield Crawford: In my view it depends on your interests. One thing to keep in mind with a degree such as astrophysics is that you are prepared with this degree to take on a range of challenging professional opportunities, so one's first job out of college may not be as important as the job one eventually will have after applying the various skills and knowledge learned in a challenging academic major.
What skills stand out on Research Psychologist resumes?
Katina Lillios: While the precise skills that are desired depend on the job, there are some that all graduates from an Anthropology program should work on developing. These include experience contributing to group projects, collaborating with diverse communities, strong communication and writing skills, versatility, and mastery of a specialized skill, such as GIS, a foreign language, statistics, and other digital technologies.
What general advice would you give to a Research Psychologist?
Terrance MacMullan Ph.D.: On the practical level, don't incur meaningless debt! If you start a degree, commit to finishing it no matter what! Even if you don't get a job in that field, studies consistently show that degrees offer a good ROI over time, but only if the debt results in a degree!
On a personal level, realize that not every generation (or person, or race, or gender) has the same opportunities, and Millennials and Gen-Zs pretty much drew the short straw in terms of generations. In the 1950's and 1960's a year's worth of tuition could be covered by flipping burgers for a summer. If you tried that now, you'd have to flip burgers for a decade to save up enough for college! When Boomers were young, they benefited from public spending on services at the highest rate in human history. Wages were so high they could often buy a house after high school! As you know, the world is radically different now. So don't get down on yourself. Don't measure yourself according to older generations. And don't think that your purpose in life is to work for the sake of working for someone else. Money is important, but only as a means to some other end. If you don't know what that end is, you will never be happy. We are meant to work, but in ways and towards purposes that are meaningful. So you aren't starting your career: you are continuing your life. You will be able to work harder and with greater rewards if you find (or make) work that pulls you in, rather than work you need to push yourself to do.
Dr. Christopher Nygren Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Pittsburgh
History of Art and Architecture Department
What skills stand out on Research Psychologist resumes?
Dr. Christopher Nygren Ph.D.: I think that languages stand out. Foreign languages (and let me be clear that I include computer coding languages here) teach people to think in new ways. Mastering another language requires one not only to contort their tongue to produce different sounds, but also to bend their mind to understand a different mode of thinking, a different grammatical structure. Human thought is produced according to a stunning variety of grammatical structures and being able to think beyond the one you grew up with is, I believe, one of the keys to creativity.
Ryan Barker
Visiting InstructorState University of New York at Oswego
Departments of Biological Sciences and Health Promotion and Wellness
What Research Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ryan Barker: Gap years are great for experience, do your best to find a job on the ground in your local area but keep mastering things like Zoom or Webex and other telecommunication services. Take the time to set up a designated site in your apartment or home and be prepared to use it because foriegn firms want American talent to strength their presence in the American and global market.
What skills stand out on Research Psychologist resumes?
Emma Trentman Ph.D.: Communication (especially in multilingual settings), innovation, and flexibility--these are often hard to commodify as skills, so it is important for employers and prospective employees to understand the many ways in which they can be demonstrated.
What Research Psychologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michael Krysko: I'm not sure how well I can answer this question with regard to history graduates with an interest in International relations. If we are talking about a gap year between undergraduate and graduate education, entrance into the history program would still be highly contingent on the undergraduate record reflected on the transcripts, writing samples, and letters of recommendations included in an application.One of the most important skills needed to complete a Masters thesis or doctoral is clear writing underpinned by strong analytical thinking. I can't think of many "gap year" type jobs that would showcase that type of skill development to enhance one's application to graduate school. I suppose a stint in the Peace Corps (or Americorps) would certainly look good on an application (and maybe it would help make a difference pushing an applicant over the top if their application was on the "bubble"). But this would be the case regardless of the pandemic (and regardless of whether the student was interested in international relations or anything other area of history).
What general advice would you give to a Research Psychologist?
Michael Krysko: A History degree gives you options and flexibility. This is not specific to those with an interest in International relations, but certainly does apply to that group as well as others. I'd again reference the 2017 piece "History is not a useless major" to note the wide range of career choices a historian can take advantage of. While the pre-pandemic data indicated that a history major is not likely going to have you earning six figures before age 30, over the course of a lifetime the earning potential compares favorably with many other majors. I don't expect that will change moving forward, even though employment options might be depressed presently. For undergraduates earning a history degree, it's a great stepping stone degree to earn admission into graduate school in other related fields that will continue to hire (for example, law and journalism). Perhaps most importantly, as documented by the aforementioned article, a history major prepares one for careers in public service (i.e., such as the government jobs noted above), and such a career would seemingly be very appealing to those with the interest in international relations that started our email exchange.
What general advice would you give to a Research Psychologist?
Hansjakob Werlen Ph.D.: If your degree is not in a particular high-demand field, such as computer science or organic chemistry, consider positions that, while not exactly matching the field of your degree (e.g. in management, health care), provide job opportunities where strong language and writing skills are in demand while the specifics of the position can be learned. Make full use of the advantage your fluency in a foreign language gives you. Even a cursory look at job advertisements by German international companies shows that verbal and written knowledge of German is a prerequisite for being hired.