What Do Psychologists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for psychologists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what psychologists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Psychologists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about psychologists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.
Popular Job Titles For Psychologists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Psychologists
- Clinical Psychologists
- Psychotherapists
- Licensed Psychologists
- Licensed Clinical Psychologists
- Assistant Psychologists
- Health Psychologists
- Pediatric Psychologists
- Child Psychologists
- Clinical Health Psychologists
- Forensic Psychologists
- Chief Psychologists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for psychologists can be found.
Best Industries for Psychologists
Psychologists Jobs By Industry
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 39.8%
- Outpatient Care Centers: 10.4%
- Offices of Physicians: 9.5%
- Individual and Family Services: 9.3%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 5%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 4.8%
- Other: 21.2%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of psychologists can be found working in the Offices of Other Health Practitioners sector. In 2023, about 39.8% of all jobs for psychologists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Outpatient Care Centers (10.4%), Offices of Physicians (9.5%), Individual and Family Services (9.3%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (5%) and Education and Hospitals (State Government) (4.8%).
What Do Psychologists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what psychologists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work psychologists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that psychologists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for psychologists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Psychologists
Based on 29,656 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Psychologists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 23,182 | 78% |
| Clinical Psychology | 10,414 | 35% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 7,409 | 25% |
| Psychotherapy | 7,330 | 25% |
| Mental Health | 7,072 | 24% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Psychologists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | 4,042 | 14% |
| Communication | 3,406 | 11% |
| Report Writing | 3,345 | 11% |
| Leadership | 2,530 | 9% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 2,510 | 8% |
Based on 29,656 job postings related to psychologists, psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 78% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for clinical psychology, psychological evaluations, psychotherapy, mental health and treatment planning were also highly sought.
As for common skills, planning was the most desired skill found in job postings for psychologists, followed by communication, report writing, leadership, ethical standards and conduct and research.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 23,182 | 78% |
| Clinical Psychology | 10,414 | 35% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 7,409 | 25% |
| Psychotherapy | 7,330 | 25% |
| Mental Health | 7,072 | 24% |
| Treatment Planning | 5,691 | 19% |
| Administrative Support | 5,685 | 19% |
| Digital Technology | 4,875 | 16% |
| Behavioral Health | 4,128 | 14% |
| Psychiatry | 3,336 | 11% |
| Telehealth | 3,333 | 11% |
| Billing | 2,884 | 10% |
| Crisis Intervention | 2,361 | 8% |
| Family Therapy | 2,319 | 8% |
| Group Therapy | 2,153 | 7% |
| Trauma Care | 1,949 | 7% |
| Mental Diseases | 1,853 | 6% |
| Social Work | 1,763 | 6% |
| Clinical Supervision | 1,717 | 6% |
| Case Management | 1,486 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | 4,042 | 14% |
| Communication | 3,406 | 11% |
| Report Writing | 3,345 | 11% |
| Leadership | 2,530 | 9% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 2,510 | 8% |
| Research | 2,247 | 8% |
| Management | 2,168 | 7% |
| Scheduling | 1,846 | 6% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,498 | 5% |
| Writing | 1,446 | 5% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,180 | 4% |
| Presentations | 1,089 | 4% |
| Administrative Functions | 1,026 | 3% |
| Coordinating | 1,026 | 3% |
| Rapport Building | 988 | 3% |
| Teaching | 910 | 3% |
| Problem Solving | 894 | 3% |
| Teamwork | 843 | 3% |
| Computer Literacy | 835 | 3% |
| Customer Service | 745 | 3% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Psychologists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychologists | 37,380 | 32.1% |
| Clinical Psychologists | 29,770 | 25.6% |
| Psychotherapists | 12,857 | 11% |
| Licensed Psychologists | 13,529 | 11.6% |
| Licensed Clinical Psychologists | 6,084 | 5.2% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was psychologists, with 8,855 unique job postings. Clinical psychologists were second, with 2,685 postings, followed by psychotherapists, licensed psychologists and licensed clinical psychologists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to psychologists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychologists | 37,380 | 32.1% |
| Clinical Psychologists | 29,770 | 25.6% |
| Psychotherapists | 12,857 | 11% |
| Licensed Psychologists | 13,529 | 11.6% |
| Licensed Clinical Psychologists | 6,084 | 5.2% |
| Assistant Psychologists | 3,222 | 2.8% |
| Health Psychologists | 959 | 0.8% |
| Pediatric Psychologists | 1,084 | 0.9% |
| Child Psychologists | 1,354 | 1.2% |
| Clinical Health Psychologists | 936 | 0.8% |
| Forensic Psychologists | 1,083 | 0.9% |
| Chief Psychologists | 958 | 0.8% |
| Outpatient Psychotherapists | 1,261 | 1.1% |
| Counseling Psychologists | 396 | 0.3% |
| Clinical Child Psychologists | 529 | 0.5% |
| Operational Psychologists | 616 | 0.5% |
| Lead Psychologists | 969 | 0.8% |
| Licensed Clinical Social Workers/Psychologists | 1,178 | 1% |
| Licensed Psychotherapists | 1,495 | 1.3% |
| Art Psychotherapists | 699 | 0.6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for psychologists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for psychologists.
How much do psychologists make?
Psychologists: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.