Not all psychologists are created equal. If you think pursuing a psychology degree means you’ll be destined to counsel patients lying on a couch in therapy, think again. Psychology is a broad field of study with a vast array of specializations and career opportunities.
One distinct field is industrial and organizational psychology, otherwise referred to as I/O psychology. I/O psychology applies theory to real-world workplace situations, such as:
- Employee retention
- Employee engagement
- Company culture
- Team building
But what does a career in this field actually look like? Well, we’ve listed 13 I/O psychology careers for you to explore below.
Explore certificate and masters programs in I/O Psychology online or at one of our campuses
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology Generalist Certificate
- M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Human Resources Manager
If you prefer the human side of I/O psychology, you may consider a career in human resources management. People working in human resources (HR) interact with people throughout an organization on a day-to-day basis.
Their responsibilities can range from recruiting new job candidates to working through internal office issues between personnel. An HR representative can be involved in the interviewing and hiring process, employee training procedures, mediating workplace conflicts, and serving as an overall representative for individuals in the company.
Overall, a career in HR will allow you to use your knowledge of I/O psychology and business psychology in working to improve the overall organizational culture of the company you may work for.
How much does a human resources manager make?
The median annual salary for an HR manager is $126,230 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data was collected in May 2021 for human resources managers.
Workforce Insights Analyst
While a career in HR typically positions you in a people-facing role, a workforce insights analyst’s role is more data-driven. It involves using your knowledge of quantitative research and evaluation methods, like surveys and reviews, to analyze employee performance, management processes, and workflows.
A workforce insights analyst’s goal is to use data gathered from employees to improve productivity, training, and overall company satisfaction.
In this position, an analyst may provide a leadership team with recommendations on work assignments, compensation, organizational styles, and more.
How much does a workforce insights analyst make?
The national average salary for a workforce insights analyst is $52,122 according to Zip Recruiter. This data was collected at the time of the updating of this article.
Professional Business Development Consultant
A professional development consultant provides leadership training for those seeking to hone useful workplace skills that can help advance their careers in a variety of fields. Additionally, a professional development consultant may lead professional development workshops that can be performed one-on-one or in a team.
This role can exist within a company to help current employees realize their full potential or can be outsourced to an outside “consultant” role for people personally seeking new positions within their company or looking to make a career transition.
How much does a professional business development consultant make?
The national average salary for a professional business development consultant is $55,884 according to Zip Recruiter. This data was collected at the time of the updating of this article.
Organizational Effectiveness Manager
An organizational effectiveness manager typically works with senior leadership and management teams to set organizational goals, refine management processes, and create a clear roadmap for achieving a company’s vision.
These managers can work full-time within a company or work as outside consultants for a variety of clients. An organizational effectiveness manager can use knowledge of effective evaluation and survey methods to gain insight from employees and get a feel for a company’s internal culture and structure; then use the data collected in conjunction with I/O and business psychology principles to work on a top-down strategy in an effort to improve things like employee satisfaction and efficiency.
How much does an organizational effectiveness manager make?
The national average salary for an organizational effectiveness manager is $116,206 according to Zip Recruiter. This data was collected at the time of the updating of this article.
Executive Coach
Executive coaches help individuals and teams improve their workplace performance, usually at the C-Suite level. They may be hired to work directly with an individual, or with the entire company. Despite the name of this position, executive coaches do occasionally work with more than just executives. These professionals consult with clients to improve management and organizational skills as well.
In this position, coaches must continuously assess and assign strategies to help clients improve their professional development and performance. The principles of I/O psychology are particularly present in this position, as executive coaches must analyze the conditions of a specific workplace to effectively coach clients’ performance.
How much does an executive coach make?
The national average salary for an executive coach is $119,271 according to Zip Recruiter. This data was collected at the time of the updating of this article.
Internal & External Management Consultant
Management consultants work to provide businesses with outside perspectives and strategies for improvement. With higher-than-average job growth, management consulting is becoming a more common career path for those in the field of I/O psychology.
Management consultants advise managers on how to make organizations more profitable through reduced costs and increased revenues. They use concepts and principles from I/O psychology and business psychology to determine how and why businesses are behaving inefficiently and then propose solutions to enhance business outcomes.
How much does an internal and external consultant make?
The national average salary differs slightly depending on if you choose an internal or external consultant path. For an internal management consultant, the national average salary is $91,544 according to Zip Recruiter. For an external management consultant, the national average salary is $83,983 according to Zip Recruiter. This data was collected at the time of the updating of this article.
Team Development Manager
These professionals apply the principles of I/O psychology to analyze team productivity and create training materials that can drive positive development. They also help design, implement, and conduct performance evaluations and in addition to designing orientation programs for new hires.
Team development managers typically work within a company. There is some creative liberty in this position, as these managers apply I/O psychology to their business to create personalized plans for development.
How much does a team development manager make?
The median annual salary for a team development manager is $120,130 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data was collected in May 2021 for training and development managers.
Request infoChange Management Professional
Change management professionals specialize in streamlining company transitions. They strategize to optimize business resources, improve communication, and act as organizational leaders.
To complete these tasks, change management professionals use I/O psychology to identify transition needs and strategies. They must be prepared to take on short-term leadership roles and create personalized transition plans.
How much does a change management professional make?
The national average salary for a change management professional is $107,913 according to Zip Recruiter. This data was collected at the time of the updating of this article.
Strategy Development Professional
Many businesses hire strategy development professionals to drive long-term growth through implementing innovative strategy specific to their industry. In this role, professionals create and execute strategies to expand and/or stabilize a business.
Strategy development professionals must be attuned to their specific industry trends and business prospects.
How much does a strategy development professional make?
The national average salary for a strategy development professional is $102,804 according to Zip Recruiter. This data was collected at the time of the updating of this article.
Staffing & Recruiting Manager
Successfully recruiting and training new employees is paramount to any business. Staffing and recruiting managers are in charge of all hiring and training processes, thus making them instrumental to company success.
Staffing and recruiting managers can apply I/O and business psychology methods to ensure the right applicants are selected and that employee retention remains high. Paying close attention to performance, these professionals are also generally in charge of any employee firings.
How much does a staffing and recruiting manager make?
The national average salary for a staffing and recruiting manager is $79,999 according to Zip Recruiter. This data was collected at the time of the updating of this article.
Behavioral Analyst
A behavioral analyst evaluates the behavioral and social issues of employees, pays attention to actions that can be observed and quantified, and applies strategies to remove undesirable behavioral patterns from the workplace. The analyst considers factors such as environmental and biological influences and uses them to understand, describe, and predict changing behaviors in the workplace to achieve the company’s vision.
In this position, behavioral analysts typically work in a research capacity, often full-time. Otherwise, they analyze data derived from previous psychological research and use it to present technical reports built to increase workplace efficiency at a variety of businesses.
Behavioral analysts will also analyze trends in customer behavior to understand what drives certain clients’ decisions.
How much does a behavioral analyst make?
The national average salary for a behavioral analyst is $93,846 according to Zip Recruiter. This data was collected at the time of the updating of this article.
Policy Officer
These professionals apply their knowledge of the principles and theories of I/O psychology to give accurate, persuasive, and prompt advice to policymakers in a variety of sectors. Policy officers’ work is based on sufficient analysis, contextual awareness, and consultation with stakeholders. From there, they identify and develop policy that aligns with strategic priorities and procedures.
In this position, an I/O psychologist assesses the effects of policies on the performance and productivity of the organization or community. Policy officers must respond to requests for change in local, organizational, or company policies and keep accurate records of these changes. As a policy officer, you may work in government campaigns, media, and even lobby for businesses or nonprofits.
How much does a policy officer make?
The national average salary for a policy officer is $75,668 according to Zip Recruiter. This data was collected at the time of the updating of this article.
Engineering Psychologist
An engineering psychologist applies I/O theories and principles of human behavior to analyze how people interact with new technology and innovations. In doing so, these professionals provide organizations with recommendations for making designs user-friendly for the staff and clients.
How much does an engineering psychologist make?
The national average salary for an engineering psychologist is $109,731 according to Zip Recruiter. This data was collected at the time of the updating of this article.
Interested in pursuing an I/O psychology degree?
No matter which of these career paths interests you, a degree in I/O psychology can help get you there.
The Chicago School offers certificate and M.A. programs in I/O psychology. Fill out the form below to request more information, or you can apply today through our application portal.
FAQs About I/O Psychology
Q: What can you do with a master’s degree in I/O Psychology?
A: There are many types of career paths in industrial and organizational psychology to choose from. Among them are the 13 careers for counseling psychologists highlighted in this article, HR manager, workforce insights analyst, professional business development consultant, organizational effectiveness manager, executive coach, management consultant, team development manager, change management professional, strategy development professional, recruiting manager, behavioral analyst, policy officer, and engineering psychologist.
Q: What do you do as an industrial and organizational psychologist?
A: Depending on the specific field you decide to go into within I/O psychology, you can use your degree to help businesses bring in new talent, put policies in place, use your psychology expertise to work on new technology, or more!
Q: Where can you work as an I/O psychologist?
A: You can become an industrial and organizational psychologist in most major cities and even some more rural areas in the world. Depending on the career path you choose, remote work might even be an option for you.