Key takeaways
- The ZipRecruiter report suggests that the average salary for full-time employees in the USA is $79,176 a year.
- OECD data tells us that in 2024, the average national salary was $82,933 per year.
- According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a psychology bachelor’s degree is $92,378.
- PayScale reports the average salary for psychology majors to be $94,310, with the highest being $157,330.
- Various psychology majors’ jobs are:
- Market Research Analysts
- Psychologist
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- UX Researcher
- Postsecondary Teachers
- School and Career Counselors and Advisors
- Social Workers
- Sociologists
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Survey Researchers
- Training and Development Specialists
Is a psychology major the right choice for you? This article dives deep into the national average salary, compared to the average salary rate for psychology majors in the USA. This article will help you decide how worthy a psychology degree is. Let’s start!
What is the national average salary in the USA?
Numerous reports suggest varying average salaries and wages across the nation. The national averages vary due to the difference in time, such as the year or month accounted for, as well as different tools used for research and surveys. However, the figures are roughly overlapping, with some trends making nominal changes.
According to ZipRecruiter’s most recent data, the average salary in the USA is $79,176 a year. This figure is related to a variety of different professions and specialities. Therefore, these may include doctors, as well, as unskilled labor and professions. According to the same report, the highest average salary in the US is $107,000, with the lowest being $35,500 a year. ZipRecruiter has also listed the top cities that have the highest average pay, including:
| City | Annual Salary |
| Sitka, AK | $95,381 |
| San Francisco, CA | $93,283 |
| Livermore, CA | $92,872.00 |
| San Jose, CA | $92,793.00 |
| Giesboro, DC | $90,782 |
| Anacostia, DC | $90,486 |
| Arlington, VA | $90,477 |
| Milton, VT | $90,116 |
| Seattle, WA | $90,102 |
| Southeast, DC | $90,099 |
Note: Data is as of February 2026.
BLS data
On the other hand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also has some national averages, but only up to 2025. We can still consider these averages as they help us get a good picture of the average earnings of an American. Here are some stats you may be interested in:
- Median weekly earnings of 121.5 million full-time and salaried workers were $1,204
- Women have median weekly earnings of f $1,089
- Men had median weekly earnings of $1,326
The data also creates further segmentation, based on factors such as age. For example:
- Women aged 25 and over earned $1,143 weekly
- Men aged 25 and over earned ($1,395 weekly
- Full-time workers age 25 and over without a high school diploma had median weekly earnings of $770
- People with high school diplomas but no college degree had weekly earnings of $966
- Those with professional bachelor’s degrees had higher earnings of $1,740
You can find the full report here.
Alternatively, the OECD data tells us that in 2024, the average national salary was $82,933 per year.
However, since Ziprecruiter has the most recent data, we will consider $79,176 a year as the standard measure to compare the psychology major and degree salary outlook with.
How is the national average salary calculated?
Before we move ahead to do a thorough comparison of psychology majors and degree salary outlook with the national average wages and salaries, let’s first understand how national averages are calculated. Firstly, different types of averages exist, such as means, medians, and modes. Therefore, the estimates given by different sources tend to vary. Secondly, averages are calculated based on surveys and researched data.
The most important data for calculating average salaries and wages is the number of full-time employed people and their annual pays. Moreover, the different people that are surveyed and counted for come from all and any type of full-time employment. Keep in mind that the average median salary is typically lower than the mean, due to simple mathematical factors.
What is the average salary for psychology majors?
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a psychology bachelor’s degree is $92,378. This rounds up to $44.41 per hour. On the other hand, PayScale reports the average salary for psychology majors to be $94,310, with the highest being $157,330.
Therefore, it is clear to us that psychology majors’ salaries are well over $90,000 per year. However, this is only for bachelor’s degree holders, and not higher education degree holders. Typically, in the psychology field of work, a master’s degree and a doctorate is necessary for most counseling or clinical psychology jobs. More importantly, you also need years of field work experience and supervision hours to aim for higher pays.
This means that the aforementioned averages are only for psychology degrees at the undergraduate or bachelor’s level, and not for higher levels. Given that, it is definitely a rewarding job that pays handsomely as well.
Average salary for different types of psychology jobs
Another thing to keep in mind is that the average psychology major’s salary depends on several factors. You can explore various different factors that contribute to a higher or lower pay. Some of the most important factors are:
- State, city, or location of your job
- Type of employer such as nonprofits and private corporations
- Industry and type of job such as counseling, clinical, and education/academia
- Job title and responsibilities, such as business-related or clinic-specific
In the following table, we have listed some of the most common psychology majors jobs that you become eligible for with a degree in hand. This will help you understand the career prospects as well as get an overview of the pay scale in various industries.
|
Job title |
Average annual pay |
| Market Research Analysts | $76,950 |
| Psychologist | $94,310 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $63,780.00 |
| UX Researcher | $113,102 |
| Postsecondary Teachers | $83,980.00 |
| School and Career Counselors and Advisors | $65,140.00 |
| Social Workers | $61,330 |
| Sociologists | $101,690 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $59,190 |
| Survey Researchers | $63,380 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $65,850 |
Note: Data is as of February, 2026.
Estimating the ROI of getting a psychology degree
Let’s calculate the ROI for a psychology degree given that:
- The 4-year cost of a psychology degree at bachelor’s level is $127,268 for in-state, and $163,978 for out-of-state.
- Lifetime earnings for psychologists earning for up to 30 years are $2,829,300
This estimate is based on assumptions, such as:
- No inflation adjustment, promotion, or other types of career growth are accounted for
- It assumes that employment is for full-time for the entire 30-year employment period
- No career breaks, layoffs, or extended unemployment
- Taxes, retirement contributions, and benefits are not deducted
So, the ROI for a psychology degree over a period of 30 years of employment is:
| Degree Type | 4-Year Cost | Lifetime Earnings | ROI |
| In-State | $127,268 | $2,829,300 | 2123% |
| Out-of-State | $163,978 | $2,829,300 | 1625% |
Learn more: Psychology Degree Cost and Return on Investment — All You Need to Know
Enroll in a psychology majors program
Now that you know that the average salary for psychology majors is pleasing and rewarding, you may be interested in starting your journey as a psychologist. So, here is a list of the top schools for a psychology degree:
|
College and Program Name |
Tuition Cost |
| Stanford University – Psychology (BA) | $22,577 per quarter (source) |
| Harvard University – Undergraduate psychology program | $65,536 (source) |
| Princeton University – Psychology major | $68,140 (source) |
| Purdue Global — Bachelor’s in Psychology in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) | $13,356 per academic year (Source) |
| Arizona State University – Psychology, BS | $17,434 per year (source)
$35,167 per year (source) |
| Capella University — Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis | $19,460 for 24 months (Source) |
| University of California, Irvine – Psychology BS | $13,602.00 per academic year (source) |
| Arcadia University — Bachelor of Arts in Psychology | In-state: $49,980 annually (source)
Out-of-state: $49,980 annually (source) |
| University of Nevada, Reno — B.S. in Psychology (Behavior Analysis) | $8,655 per academic year (source) |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor — Undergrad Psychology | In-state: $18,346 (source) Out-of-state: $63,962
(source) |
| University of California, Berkeley — Psychology Department at Berkeley | In-state: $17,478 (source) Out-of-state: $55,080 (source) |
Note: Data is as of February, 2026.
Bottom line
In summary, the average psychology majors salary is much higher than the national average, with the difference roughly being over $20,000 per year. This means that a psychology major is a worth-it degree, where you can confidently spend your time and money if you are truly looking for a rewarding and well-paying career path. However, the average salary depends on numerous factors such as type of job, type of employer, job location, and your level of education.
Frequently asked questions
What are the major fields of psychology?
Psychology is a broad discipline with multiple specialties. However, each speciality is focused on improving human lives by assessing, evaluating, and managing human behaviors and mental behaviors. Some of the most popular fields of psychology are:
- Clinical Psychology
- Counseling Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology
- Educational & School Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Neuropsychology
You can learn more: What are the top-paying industries for psychology degree holders?
What is the most common job for psychology majors?
Clinical psychologists are the most common and popular career paths chosen by psychology degree holders. These are highly specialized and trained individuals who work in complex settings such as mental health clinics, hospitals, rehab centers, and other such environments. Moreover, the core responsibilities of a clinical psychologist include:
- Assessing and evaluating mental disorders
- Understanding behavioral disorders
- Drafting treatment plans
- Helping patients self-manage their mental health
- Work closely with people from broad age groups such as children, adults, and elderly people
However, clinical psychologists are different from psychiatrists, who are medical practitioners and are focused on treating mental illnesses with medications.
In addition to this, there are also many common psychology majors jobs in the business track, especially in human resource management, marketing, and industrial-organizational psychology.
Is it hard to major in psychology?
Psychology is moderately challenging, but very manageable for motivated students. There are some reasons why a psychology majors may be easier, such as:
- Less math than STEM majors (basic statistics is required)
- Clear real-world relevance
- Strong reading and writing focus
On the flipside, there are factors that make it challenging for some people, such as:
- Heavy research and academic writing
- Statistics and research methods courses
- Conceptual theories that require critical thinking
Therefore, psychology majors should be chosen by students who not only enjoy understanding human behaviors, but are also keen to learn data analysis, research, and behavior analysis.
Which field of psychology is the highest paid?
The highest-paying psychology fields typically require doctoral-level education. These include:
- Psychiatry, but required a medical degree
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology
- Neuropsychology
- Clinical psychology, especially private practice
- Forensic psychology
Industrial-organizational psychologists often stand out because they can earn six-figure salaries with only a master’s degree, especially in corporate and consulting environments. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for I-O psychologists is $92,813.
What does a school psychologist do?
A school psychologist works at the intersection of education, mental health, and child development. Therefore, a clinical or counseling psychologist working in an educational setting typically works closely on students, aiming to improve and manage developmental or learning disorders. They provide day-to-day support to students and parents, as well as develop intervention plans that contribute towards the overall mental well-being of the students. A school psychologist’s responsibilities include:
- Assessing learning disabilities and behavioral challenges
- Supporting students’ emotional and social well-being
- Collaborating with teachers, parents, and administrators
- Developing intervention and behavior plans
- Providing crisis support and counseling
However, different types of school psychologists and counselors have different requirements. Working in special ed schools or K-12 schools requires a doctoral degree.