How to become an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist

Official title: Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Also called: Consulting Psychologist, I-O Practitioner (Industrial-Organizational Practitioner), I-O Psychologist (Industrial-Organizational Psychologist), Industrial Psychologist, Management Consultant, Organizational Consultant, Organizational Development Specialist (OD Specialist), Organizational Psychologist, Personnel Research Psychologist, Research Scientist

Apply principles of psychology to human resources, administration, management, sales, and marketing problems. Activities may include policy planning; employee testing and selection, training, and development; and organizational development and analysis. May work with management to organize the work setting to improve worker productivity.

Main tasks

• Provide advice on best practices and implementation for selection.
• Develop and implement employee selection or placement programs.
• Analyze data, using statistical methods and applications, to evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of workplace programs.
• Develop interview techniques, rating scales, and psychological tests used to assess skills, abilities, and interests for the purpose of employee selection, placement, or promotion.
• Observe and interview workers to obtain information about the physical, mental, and educational requirements of jobs, as well as information about aspects such as job satisfaction.
• Facilitate organizational development and change.
• Analyze job requirements and content to establish criteria for classification, selection, training, and other related personnel functions.
• Advise management concerning personnel, managerial, and marketing policies and practices and their potential effects on organizational effectiveness and efficiency.

How to become one

Psychologists typically need an advanced degree, such as a master's or doctoral degree, in psychology. Licensing requirements vary by state and position.

Typical education to start: Master's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• College: Psychology degrees, Offered by 33 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 43 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $193,950 a year The middle half earn $107,310 to $222,280.
• About 4,000 people work in this job now, and about 4,300 are projected by 2035. (+6.5%)
• People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Related jobs

• Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
• School Psychologists
• Neuropsychologists
• Clinical Neuropsychologists

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist?

Psychologists typically need an advanced degree, such as a master's or doctoral degree, in psychology. Licensing requirements vary by state and position.

How much does an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $193,950 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $107,310 to $222,280.

Is an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 7% by 2035, from about 4,000 to about 4,300 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist?

Usually. 100% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.