← All careers

Science

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Apply principles of psychology to human resources, administration, management, sales, and marketing problems. Activities may include policy planning; employee testing and selection, training, and development; and organizational development and analysis. May work with management to organize the work setting to improve worker productivity.

Median salary (BLS)

$193,950

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$79k – $247k

Job outlook

+6% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $119,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Master's degree

Plan my path to this →

Typical progression

  1. Industrial-Organizational Psychologists Intern

    Internship

    $39,505

    ~4 mos to advance

  2. Junior Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

    Entry / Junior

    $79,010

    ~2 yrs to advance

  3. Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

    Established

    $193,950

    ~3 yrs to advance

  4. Senior Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

    Senior

    $220,585

Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Provide advice on best practices and implementation for selection.
  • •Develop and implement employee selection or placement programs.
  • •Analyze data, using statistical methods and applications, to evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of workplace programs.
  • •Develop interview techniques, rating scales, and psychological tests used to assess skills, abilities, and interests for the purpose of employee selection, placement, or promotion.
  • •Observe and interview workers to obtain information about the physical, mental, and educational requirements of jobs, as well as information about aspects such as job satisfaction.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Science

Explore all

Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.