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
- Educational Diagnosticians
- Teletherapy School Psychologists
- Contract School Psychologists
- Counseling Psychologists
- Licensed Specialists in School Psychology
- Certified School Psychologists
- Elementary School Psychologists
- Bilingual School Psychologists
- Travel School Psychologists
- K-12 School Psychologists
- School Psychology Specialists
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): 83.6%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 5.6%
- Educational Support Services: 2.6%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 2%
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools: 1.3%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 1%
- Other: 3.9%
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 2022, about 83.6% of all jobs for school psychologists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (5.6%), Educational Support Services (2.6%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (2%), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (1.3%) and Offices of Other Health Practitioners (1%).
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 26,579 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for School Psychologists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychology | 22,421 | 84% |
| Psychology | 14,569 | 55% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 8,915 | 34% |
| Special Education | 5,367 | 20% |
| Student Services | 3,913 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for School Psychologists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 3,790 | 14% |
| Positivity | 2,661 | 10% |
| Research | 2,166 | 8% |
| Planning | 1,892 | 7% |
| Teaching | 1,826 | 7% |
Based on 26,579 job postings related to school psychologists, school psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 84% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for psychology, individualized education programs (iep), special education, student services and child advocacy were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for school psychologists, followed by positivity, research, planning, teaching and ethical standards and conduct.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychology | 22,421 | 84% |
| Psychology | 14,569 | 55% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 8,915 | 34% |
| Special Education | 5,367 | 20% |
| Student Services | 3,913 | 15% |
| Child Advocacy | 2,626 | 10% |
| Mental Health | 2,428 | 9% |
| Pediatrics | 1,888 | 7% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 1,875 | 7% |
| Intervention Plans | 1,637 | 6% |
| Disabilities | 1,441 | 5% |
| Social Work | 1,215 | 5% |
| Crisis Intervention | 1,114 | 4% |
| Psychotherapy | 983 | 4% |
| Case Management | 963 | 4% |
| Functional Behavior Assessment | 919 | 3% |
| Educational Psychology | 910 | 3% |
| Preschool Education | 842 | 3% |
| Educational Assessment | 736 | 3% |
| Loans | 719 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 3,790 | 14% |
| Positivity | 2,661 | 10% |
| Research | 2,166 | 8% |
| Planning | 1,892 | 7% |
| Teaching | 1,826 | 7% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 1,672 | 6% |
| Problem Solving | 1,362 | 5% |
| Writing | 1,210 | 5% |
| Management | 1,168 | 4% |
| Leadership | 1,127 | 4% |
| Report Writing | 1,118 | 4% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,013 | 4% |
| Advocacy | 978 | 4% |
| Multilingualism | 976 | 4% |
| Consulting | 945 | 4% |
| English Language | 867 | 3% |
| Mentorship | 805 | 3% |
| Coordinating | 792 | 3% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 673 | 3% |
| Spanish Language | 613 | 2% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for School Psychologists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychologists | 43,261 | 79.8% |
| Educational Diagnosticians | 1,698 | 3.1% |
| Teletherapy School Psychologists | 993 | 1.8% |
| Contract School Psychologists | 1,012 | 1.9% |
| Counseling Psychologists | 2,547 | 4.7% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was school psychologists, with 19,036 unique job postings. Educational diagnosticians were second, with 785 postings, followed by teletherapy school psychologists, contract school psychologists and counseling 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 | 43,261 | 79.8% |
| Educational Diagnosticians | 1,698 | 3.1% |
| Teletherapy School Psychologists | 993 | 1.8% |
| Contract School Psychologists | 1,012 | 1.9% |
| Counseling Psychologists | 2,547 | 4.7% |
| Licensed Specialists in School Psychology | 572 | 1.1% |
| Certified School Psychologists | 795 | 1.5% |
| Elementary School Psychologists | 451 | 0.8% |
| Bilingual School Psychologists | 377 | 0.7% |
| Travel School Psychologists | 352 | 0.6% |
| K-12 School Psychologists | 237 | 0.4% |
| School Psychology Specialists | 230 | 0.4% |
| Substitute School Psychologists | 293 | 0.5% |
| Team Directors | 309 | 0.6% |
| High School Psychologists | 211 | 0.4% |
| Psychologists | 330 | 0.6% |
| Area School Psychologists | 118 | 0.2% |
| Middle School Psychologists | 142 | 0.3% |
| Psychological Examiners | 124 | 0.2% |
| Directors of Psychology | 130 | 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?
All Occupations
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