What Do School Psychologists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for school psychologists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what school 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.
School Psychologists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about school psychologists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
School Psychologists diagnose and implement individual or schoolwide interventions or strategies to address educational, behavioral, or developmental issues that adversely impact educational functioning in a school. May address student learning and behavioral problems and counsel students or families. May design and implement performance plans, and evaluate performance. May consult with other school-based personnel.
Popular Job Titles For School Psychologists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- School Psychologists
- Contract School Psychologists
- Teletherapy School Psychologists
- Licensed Specialists in School Psychology
- Elementary School Psychologists
- Certified School Psychologists
- Technology Paraprofessionals
- Child Psychologists
- Bilingual School Psychologists
- Area School Psychologists
- Clinical Child Psychologists
- K-12 School Psychologists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for school psychologists can be found.
Best Industries for School Psychologists
School Psychologists Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 82.4%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 5.2%
- Educational Support Services: 3%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 1.8%
- Employment Services: 1.8%
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools: 1.3%
- Other: 4.5%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of school psychologists can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2023, about 82.4% of all jobs for school psychologists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (5.2%), Educational Support Services (3%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (1.8%), Employment Services (1.8%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (1.3%).
What Do School Psychologists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what school 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 school 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 school psychologists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for school psychologists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's School Psychologists
Based on 29,276 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for School Psychologists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychology | 27,605 | 94% |
| Psychology | 16,981 | 58% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 12,966 | 44% |
| Special Education | 6,205 | 21% |
| Student Services | 5,086 | 17% |
Top 5 Common Skills for School Psychologists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 5,455 | 19% |
| Positivity | 3,687 | 13% |
| Research | 2,632 | 9% |
| Planning | 1,872 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 1,778 | 6% |
Based on 29,276 job postings related to school psychologists, school psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 94% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for psychology, individualized education programs (iep), special education, student services and intervention plans were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for school psychologists, followed by positivity, research, planning, ethical standards and conduct and interpersonal communications.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychology | 27,605 | 94% |
| Psychology | 16,981 | 58% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 12,966 | 44% |
| Special Education | 6,205 | 21% |
| Student Services | 5,086 | 17% |
| Intervention Plans | 4,327 | 15% |
| Child Advocacy | 3,622 | 12% |
| Mental Health | 3,520 | 12% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 2,779 | 9% |
| Crisis Intervention | 1,983 | 7% |
| Zoom (Video Conferencing Tool) | 1,619 | 6% |
| Educational Evaluation | 1,591 | 5% |
| Disabilities | 1,559 | 5% |
| Pediatrics | 1,490 | 5% |
| Microsoft Teams | 1,353 | 5% |
| Google Classroom | 1,350 | 5% |
| Educational Psychology | 1,347 | 5% |
| Preschool Education | 1,157 | 4% |
| Behavior Management | 959 | 3% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 936 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 5,455 | 19% |
| Positivity | 3,687 | 13% |
| Research | 2,632 | 9% |
| Planning | 1,872 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 1,778 | 6% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,763 | 6% |
| Presentations | 1,637 | 6% |
| Problem Solving | 1,637 | 6% |
| Teaching | 1,370 | 5% |
| Scheduling | 1,236 | 4% |
| Report Writing | 1,224 | 4% |
| Writing | 1,222 | 4% |
| Management | 1,148 | 4% |
| Consulting | 1,120 | 4% |
| English Language | 1,066 | 4% |
| Advocacy | 1,051 | 4% |
| Multilingualism | 884 | 3% |
| Leadership | 802 | 3% |
| Coordinating | 662 | 2% |
| Progress Reporting | 643 | 2% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for School Psychologists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychologists | 59,964 | 85.7% |
| Contract School Psychologists | 1,369 | 2% |
| Teletherapy School Psychologists | 1,502 | 2.1% |
| Licensed Specialists in School Psychology | 871 | 1.2% |
| Elementary School Psychologists | 583 | 0.8% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was school psychologists, with 23,795 unique job postings. Contract school psychologists were second, with 436 postings, followed by teletherapy school psychologists, licensed specialists in school psychology and elementary school psychologists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to school psychologists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychologists | 59,964 | 85.7% |
| Contract School Psychologists | 1,369 | 2% |
| Teletherapy School Psychologists | 1,502 | 2.1% |
| Licensed Specialists in School Psychology | 871 | 1.2% |
| Elementary School Psychologists | 583 | 0.8% |
| Certified School Psychologists | 753 | 1.1% |
| Technology Paraprofessionals | 642 | 0.9% |
| Child Psychologists | 1,535 | 2.2% |
| Bilingual School Psychologists | 342 | 0.5% |
| Area School Psychologists | 220 | 0.3% |
| Clinical Child Psychologists | 322 | 0.5% |
| K-12 School Psychologists | 236 | 0.3% |
| Travel School Psychologists | 281 | 0.4% |
| High School Psychologists | 236 | 0.3% |
| School Psychology Specialists | 184 | 0.3% |
| Substitute School Psychologists | 225 | 0.3% |
| Licensed School Psychology Specialists | 119 | 0.2% |
| Middle School Psychologists | 164 | 0.2% |
| Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists | 286 | 0.4% |
| Child Psychiatrists | 121 | 0.2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for school psychologists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for school psychologists.
How much do school psychologists make?
School Psychologists: How do you become one?
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