Logo

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists


Overview

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Introduction

Industrial-organizational psychology is the “scientific study of working and the application of that science to workplace issues facing individuals, teams, and organizations,” according to the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), which has approximately 8,000 members. Industrial-organizational psychologists use psychological principles and research methods to study businesses and other organizations to improve the performance and well-being of individuals and work teams. Areas of specialization include traini...

Quick Facts


More

Median Salary

$92,880

More

Employment Prospects

Good

More

Minimum Education Level

Master's Degree


More

Experience

Internship or co-op


More

Skills

Interpersonal
img


More

Personality Traits

Hands On
img

Earnings

In May 2018, industrial-organizational psychologists earned salaries that ranged from less than $51,080 to $197,700 or more, with an average salary of $92,880, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The American Psychological Association reports that some I-O psychologists earn $250,000 or more a year. Benefits for full-time workers include vacation and sick time, health (and s...

Work Environment

Work settings for I-O psychologists range from the noisy, busy floor of a factory; to a typical office environment; to a lecture hall on the campus of a large university. Industrial-organizational psychologists work a standard 40-hour workweek, but may occasionally need to be present at work sites at night and on weekends to conduct research and make observations. Some travel may be required—es...

Outlook

Job opportunities for industrial-organizational psychologists are expected to grow much faster than the average for all careers through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The DOL predicts that “organizations will continue to use I-O psychologists to help select and retain employees, increase organizational productivity and efficiency, and improve office morale.” It’s importa...