After finishing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, some may decide to take their education to the next level, and move on to a master’s degree in career counseling. This is just one of the many specialties that psychology courses offer. Career counselors help people to identify their professional goals and recognize their talents when they’re trying to choose the right career. Importantly, they can work with all kinds of people, from students in a school or university, to employees working in a field related to psychology.
The primary goal of career counselors is to help clients find a career that’s suitable for their needs. There are various things that these professionals will consider, from the aptitude and skills of the people they are counseling, to their education, and even their personality. In some cases, they will also help to outline educational plans and arrange for licensing or tests that might be necessary for people to achieve their occupational goals. They can also help their clients figure out how to balance work and family life.
Importantly, although career counselors most commonly work in colleges and schools to help students get ready for one of their chosen professions, they can work well in other environments too. Some might prefer to use their skills and knowledge for a different profession. Since career counseling students learn how to use both business and professional skills, alongside psychological skills, career counselors can find alternative careers in a range of environments. Here are just a few of the jobs that you could get with a master’s degree in career counseling.
#1 Vocational Analyst/Counselor
The most obvious job for any individual with a career counseling master’s degree, is a position as a vocational analyst or counselor. This requires between four to eight years of education within an accredited school, and most of these professionals will work within a school environment. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the job market, vocational analysts or counselors are more in demand today than ever before.
Many students and professionals seek the assistance of a career or vocational counselor when they’re looking for a way to establish the best career path for their specific skills and strengths. Most career counselors will employ a range of assessments and personality tests to help them determine the best possible career for each person. Although the salary for this job is not as impressive as some of the salaries for other psychology positions, this career does require less schooling than other options.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, vocational analysts and career counselors had a median salary of $54,560 per year as of May 2016. The predicted job growth for this career is about 8% from 2014 to 2024.
#2 Industrial or Organizational Psychologist
One of the highest paying job opportunities for a psychologist or counselor, is that of the industrial-organizational psychologist. This is a great path for someone with a master’s in career counseling. These professionals are experts in human efficiency. They work alongside corporations and government companies to help ensure that employees are engaged in practices that keep them healthy and motivated to do their jobs.
While most industrial-organizational psychologists will begin their careers with a masters in industrial/organizational psychology, there is an opportunity to supplement their knowledge when they get a career counseling master’s degree. Additionally, they could use your masters degree in career counseling as a stepping stone to obtain a doctorate degree in industrial psychology, where salaries are substantially bigger.
The industry for this career is one of the fastest-expanding and most stable in the world today. Companies across the globe are consistently devoting more time and money to making sure that their employees are as productive and happy as possible. Hiring these psychologists with a background in career counseling could be a great way for any business to enhance their internal performance.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the median salary of an industrial-organizational psychologist was $104,570 per year as of May 2016. The number of job opportunities in this area is increasing rapidly too.
#3 Clinical Psychologists
Some people who begin their education with a master’s degree in career counseling decide to expand their knowledge and improve their career opportunities by obtaining a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. Currently, clinical psychology is the largest employment area for any graduate of psychology. And while it is very popular, there are still a lot of opportunities for those want to follow this career path.
The high-paying jobs in the realm of clinical psychology require a doctorate degree and at least one year of internship. A clinical psychologist is someone who focuses on treating and diagnosing behavioral disorders, mental illnesses, and emotional problems. Some of the most common disorders that these professionals address include substance abuse, anxiety, and depression.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of clinical psychologists was $78,690 per year as of May 2016. The job growth rate for this career is about the same as the average for other jobs in the sector.
#4 Corporate Manager
While those looking for a career option resulting from a career counseling master’s degree will usually not think about the potential of getting into “big business”, the truth is that many experts believe that a background in psychology can be particularly useful for corporate work. Often, corporate managers who have psychology degrees are more able to direct their employees efficiently and productively.
With a master’s degree in career counseling, you should be able to recognize the strengths and weaknesses in your employees, which could mean that you have an easier time delegating work throughout your company. Additionally, you may be able to assist people who are struggling with certain tasks in your organization.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, teaching psychologists had a median salary of $75,230 per year as of May 2016. The job growth is estimated to be around 19% from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than average.
#5 Teaching Psychologists
Finally, some psychologists choose to use the skills and education they got during their master’s degree to teach the upcoming generation of psychologists. If you feel as though you want to do something different with your master’s degree in career counseling, then you may benefit from seeking out a teaching position within a university, where the mean salary is often higher.
University teaching positions will require extensive experience in your industry and a minimum of a master’s degree. Most universities will ask for a doctorate degree, however. If you want to earn the best salary, try to look for a position where you can get tenure opportunities.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, teaching psychologists had a median salary of $75,230 per year as of May 2016. The job growth is estimated to be around 19% from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than average.
References
- School and Career Counselors. (2015, Dec. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists. (2017, Mar. 31). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes193032.htm
- Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists. (2017, Mar. 31). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes193031.htm
- Management Occupations. (2015, Dec. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/
- Psychologists. (2015, Dec. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm
