What Are the Benefits of Being a Psychologist?
Psychologists attempt to understand the meaning behind human thought processes and behaviors. If you're interested in using therapeutic techniques to work with people dealing with mental and emotional problems or using research methods to study various theories and ideas, becoming a psychologist may be an option to consider. In this article, you will find some of the benefits of being a psychologist. Schools offering Psychology degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
Brief Background on Becoming a Psychologist
Work in private practice or in other settings usually require some type of graduate-level degree and supervised fieldwork experience. To work as a psychologist with your own practice, you usually need a doctoral degree and a state license. Federal government jobs only require a bachelor's degree and may allow a combination of education and work experience to qualify for positions.
Benefits of Being a Psychologist
High Earnings
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), psychologists working in clinical, school and counseling positions earned an average of $72,540 in May 2010 (www.bls.gov). In May 2010, the BLS reported industrial-organizational psychologists earned an average of $77,010. These figures do not include self-employed wages.
The BLS reports that approximately 34% of psychologists were self-employed with the majority of these having private practices as of 2008, but no earnings were reported for this group. PayScale.com reported the 10th-90th percentile range's earnings for self-employed psychologists were $40,975-$157,158, as of August 2011.
The national average salary for all occupations in the U.S. as of May 2010, according to the BLS, was $44,410. Comparing wages for all psychologists, this field provides you with above average earning potential.
Flexible Hours
In most positions, especially if you work in own private practice, you can set your own work times because you can schedule patients' appointments according to your own desired work hours. Some evening or weekend hours may be needed, depending on your patients' needs. However, in government or industrial settings, you may have to follow a strict schedule with little or no flexibility.
Rewarding Work
Psychologists use their expertise to help individuals or groups improve relations with others and understand themselves better. They give people insight and training, which can benefit the individual and promote harmonious relationships with others. A benefit of being a psychologist may be the reward that comes from the ability to help others improve their lives.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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