Human Factors / Engineering Psychologist: Designs cockpits, cars, and medical devices around how people actually see, think, and make mistakes. Typical pay $120k.
UX Researcher: Studies how people use apps and products so companies can make them easier and better. Typical pay $125k.
Behavioral Scientist: Uses psychology experiments to nudge better choices—like saving money or getting vaccinated. Typical pay $120k.
Psychometrician: Designs and tests exams—like the SAT or professional licensing tests—so they're fair and accurate. Typical pay $110k.
Cognitive Scientist: Studies the mind by combining psychology, linguistics, computer science, and philosophy. Typical pay $110k.
Social Psychologist: Studies how people think about, influence, and relate to each other, from peer pressure to prejudice. Typical pay $111k.
Special Operations Selection Psychologist: Helps decide who makes it into elite military units like the Green Berets by studying how candidates think and cope under extreme stress. Typical pay $130k.
Aviation Psychologist: Screens airline and military pilots, evaluates pilots returning after illness or addiction, and studies fatigue and stress in the cockpit. Typical pay $140k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Clinical Psychologist: Diagnoses and treats mental health conditions through therapy and testing. Typical pay $96k.
Forensic Psychologist: Applies psychology to the legal system—evaluating defendants, advising courts, and studying criminal behavior. Typical pay $105k.
Psychology Professor: Teaches college psychology and leads research on topics from memory to child development. Typical pay $85k.
School Psychologist: Helps students with learning, behavior, and emotional challenges in schools. Typical pay $86k.
Sport & Performance Psychologist: Helps athletes, musicians, and performers handle pressure and perform their best. Typical pay $90k.
Jury / Trial Consultant: Uses psychology to help lawyers pick juries and present cases persuasively. Typical pay $100k.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst: Designs plans to help kids with autism and others build skills and reduce harmful behaviors. Typical pay $78k.
Counseling Psychologist: Helps people cope with stress, relationships, career choices, and mental health challenges through therapy and assessment. Typical pay $101k.
Environmental Psychologist: Studies how buildings, cities, and nature affect how people feel and behave. Typical pay $80k.
Consumer Psychologist: Studies why people buy what they buy, and helps companies design products and ads people actually want. Typical pay $90k.
Psychology Lab Manager: Keeps a university psychology lab running: recruiting participants, training assistants, and managing studies. Typical pay $62k.
Starter: fastest way in
Psychometrist: Gives psychological and memory tests to patients under a psychologist's supervision. Typical pay $52k.
Psychology Research Assistant: Helps run psychology studies—recruiting people, running sessions, and managing data. Typical pay $44k.
Registered Behavior Technician: Works one-on-one with children with autism, carrying out behavior plans. Typical pay $42k.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.