“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
Undoubtedly, success in your life is determined by the hard work and efforts put in by you to achieve it. There is just no other way around it! Like every other thriving field today, psychology has taken a tremendous leap toward becoming one of the leading career paths leading to success. As opposed to the notional sense of the subject that existed before, today we are able to look at psychology with widened eyes and a changed mindset.
We have all at least once thought about why we feel certain things or how to get over an emotionally crippling feeling. Psychology is that subject that deals with explaining the ‘every days’ and the ups and downs of our life. The fondness of the subject is also due to its investigative and scientific tendencies that attempt to solve the mysteries of the human mind.
Naturally with its progress, the opportunities in psychology have also upswinging. If psychology is your calling or you are a psychology student looking to earn big bucks, then keep reading to unlock the ultimate list of highest paying careers in psychology!
This compelling field has a lot to offer and we are here to look at some of the highest paying jobs in psychology and how much they pay. The figures given below are based on professional reports and secondary research, therefore, an approximate and the actual figures may vary.
1. Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a medical physician who specialises in the diagnosis, treatment, study and prevention of mental, emotional and addictive disorders. With the medical and psychological background they possess, psychiatrists can diagnose patients, prescribe medicines and conduct suitable treatments for serious mental illness such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse.
You go to a psychiatrist after going through other structures of support until the situation can only be handled by a medical professional, someone who can prescribe medicines that other types of psychologists cannot do. They can assess both mental and psychical aspects of psychological problems. It is one of the highest-paying jobs in psychology.
Educational Requirements: 10+2, MMBS and preferably MD (Psychiatry) or Diploma (Psychiatry medicine)
Average salary per annum: 9-15 lakh subject to experience.
2. Neuropsychologist
This field of psychology studies the relationship between the physical brain and the behaviours of human beings. Neuropsychologists mainly focus on how the dysfunctions in the brain can affect behaviour and cognitive functions. Using these neurological findings, doctors and scientists can help treat and prevent disorders. Being a specialised field, it has great demand, so fruitful in terms of money as well.
As neuropsychologists you can work with pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, research centres and government organisations.
Educational Requirements: 10+2, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, M.Phil. (Neuropsychology) and preferably PHD (Neuropsychology).
Average salary per annum: 4-6 lakh subject to experience and practice.
3. Organisational Psychologist
Have you sometimes felt the need to vent out about stress related to work or the pressure you are going through? Have you ever been in difficult situations at work but unable to do anything about it?
An organisational psychologist is the person who is called to handle such situations. They ensure the emotional well-being of the workforce, effective communication between co-workers and aim to strike a balance between the potentials of the workers and the company. Organisational Psychologists are hired to observe growth barriers, conduct training programs, improve the quality of work-life and research consumer behaviour and market trends. It is a booming field with endless opportunities and if you get hired by a big company, your salary will also have a visible upward trajectory.
Educational Requirements: 10+2, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree (organisational psychologist)
Average salary per annum: 4-7 lakhs subject to experience and employer.
4. Psychology Teacher
Psychology teachers are educators and act as mentors for many aspiring psychologists. This is an academic-oriented field, however, also one of the noblest jobs of all. They deal with making students understand behaviour, emotions and other general aspects of psychology.
If you love to teach and water the seeds of young minds, this is a very rewarding profession, even financially. However, with more specialisation and a Ph. D., you can also become a professor at colleges that can provide handsome pay.
Educational Requirements: 10+2, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree + bachelor of education, Ph. D. for professors.
Average salary per annum: 6-10 lakhs subject to school and experience.
5. School Counselors
School is a very dynamic environment for a kid and there is a serious dearth of attention given to school counselors. Not until a few years, school counselors were very few and grossly underpaid. The importance is now released among the masses that a counselor can bridge the gap between the school and the student.
They work with parents, educators and the school administrations to offer an enriching, safe and supporting environment to the students. While some schools invest a lot others do not give much weight to school counselors. Thus, choosing the right opportunity that suits your area of interest is essential.
Educational Requirements: 10+2, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree preferably specialisation in school psychology and a PG Diploma in guidance and counseling.
Average salary per annum: 3-4 lakhs.
