Organizational Psychologists Salary

Psychologists are professionals who study human behavior and mental processes using scientific principles and theories. An organizational psychologist, sometimes referred to as an industrial psychologist, is a professional who studies human behavior in work environments to assist in improving business processes, motivate employees and generally improve the overall quality of work life. The PayScale website reported average salaries for this field in January 2011, based on its online salary survey.

Qualifications

Organizational psychologists are often required to have a doctoral degree, although some employers accept a master's degree in psychology. In many organizations, these professionals are part of the human resources team and work closely with top executives and human resources staff. Some of these professionals obtain credentials related to human resources such as the senior professional in human resources, or SPHR, certification, which is obtained through the Human Resources Institute.

Salary

Average salaries for organizational psychologists can very greatly depending on the employer type and size of the organization. Overall, average salaries range from $45,565 to $85,932 per year. Some employers also offer additional compensation such as bonuses and profit sharing, averaging $1,825 to $15,070 per year. The total average salary for this occupation ranges from $46,357 to $88,770 per year.

Company Size

Organizational psychologists who work in small organizations, such as those with fewer than 600 employees, earn average salaries ranging from $40,000 to $108,000 per year. In some cases, organizational psychologists who work for small organizations take on additional human resources responsibilities. Those working for large organizations with 5,000 to over 50,000 employees earn average salaries ranging from $43,000 to $132,148 per year.

Professional Experience

As with many occupations, organizational psychologists can increase their salary as they gain professional experience. Popular industries include manufacturing and distribution, education and management or human resources consulting firms. Some of these professionals move into consulting roles to increase their salaries. The highest wages were reported in management consulting firms where organizational psychologists earn $47,929 to $84,797 per year. Organizational phychologists with over 10 years of experience earn average salaries ranging from $69,448 to $132,140 per year.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Psychologists
• PayScale: Salary Snapshot for Industrial-Organizational Psychologist Jobs
• PayScale: PayScale: Salary Snapshot for Industrial-Organizational Psychologist Jobs by Company Size
• PayScale: PayScale: Salary Snapshot for Industrial-Organizational Psychologist Jobs by Expeirence