Life As an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
Occupation Description 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.
List of Industrial-Organizational Psychologist Job Duties
- Coach senior executives and managers on leadership and performance.
- Analyze data, using statistical methods and applications, to evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of workplace programs.
- Provide advice on best practices and implementation for selection.
- Provide expert testimony in employment lawsuits.
- Conduct presentations on research findings for clients or at research meetings.
- Identify training and development needs.
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What Every Industrial-Organizational Psychologist Should Know
When polled, Industrial-Organizational Psychologists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles
- Corporate Director, Talent Assessment
- Vice President, Talent Management
- Consulting Hr Professional
- Assistant Vice President, Assessment Solutions
- Policy Officer
Is There Going to be Demand for Industrial-Organizational Psychologists?
In the United States, there were 1,700 jobs for Industrial-Organizational Psychologist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 100 new jobs for Industrial-Organizational Psychologist by 2026. The BLS estimates 100 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Industrial-Organizational Psychologist are Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Watch out if you plan on working in Tennessee, Nebraska, or Idaho. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Industrial-Organizational Psychologists Make A Lot Of Money?
The average yearly salary of an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist ranges between $51,350 and $192,150.

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists who work in California, Virginia, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Industrial-Organizational Psychologists in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
California | $149,820 |
Massachusetts | $75,660 |
Minnesota | $114,990 |
New Jersey | $119,700 |
Oklahoma | $58,920 |
Pennsylvania | $96,730 |
Virginia | $126,220 |
What Tools & Technology do Industrial-Organizational Psychologists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Industrial-Organizational Psychologists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Project
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Visio
- SAS
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- Human resource information system HRIS
- Google Sheets
- Muthen & Muthen MPlus
- Scientific Software International HLM
- Scientific Software International LISREL
Becoming an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
What education is needed to be an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist?

What work experience do I need to become an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist?

Where do Industrial-Organizational Psychologists Work?

The table below shows the approximate number of Industrial-Organizational Psychologists employed by various industries.

References:
Image Credit: BruceBlaus via Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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