What Do School Psychologist Do?
Job Description & Duties Investigate processes of learning and teaching and develop psychological principles and techniques applicable to educational problems.
Life As a School Psychologist: What Do They Do?
- Develop individualized educational plans in collaboration with teachers and other staff members.
- Counsel children and families to help solve conflicts and problems in learning and adjustment.
- Conduct research to generate new knowledge that can be used to address learning and behavior issues.
- Provide consultation to parents, teachers, administrators, and others on topics such as learning styles and behavior modification techniques.
- Maintain student records, including special education reports, confidential records, records of services provided, and behavioral data.
- Assess an individual child’s needs, limitations, and potential, using observation, review of school records, and consultation with parents and school personnel.
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What a School Psychologist Should Know
These are the skills School Psychologists say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Other School Psychologist Job Titles
- Child Study Team Director
- Behavioral Analyst
- School Psychologist Assistant
- Associate School Psychologist
- Guidance Counselor
School Psychologist Job Outlook
There were about 147,500 jobs for School Psychologist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 14.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 21,000 new jobs for School Psychologist by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 12,100 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for School Psychologist are Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Maine, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a School Psychologist
School Psychologists make between $44,040 and $129,310 a year.
School Psychologists who work in California, Oregon, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for School Psychologists in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $69,070 |
| Alaska | $91,450 |
| Arizona | $66,040 |
| Arkansas | $69,000 |
| California | $108,350 |
| Colorado | $85,470 |
| Connecticut | $90,870 |
| Delaware | $78,850 |
| District of Columbia | $95,500 |
| Florida | $76,190 |
| Georgia | $89,190 |
| Hawaii | $94,550 |
| Idaho | $64,270 |
| Illinois | $75,180 |
| Indiana | $73,350 |
| Iowa | $85,260 |
| Kansas | $65,320 |
| Kentucky | $64,330 |
| Louisiana | $86,630 |
| Maine | $75,620 |
| Maryland | $79,820 |
| Massachusetts | $86,490 |
| Michigan | $83,210 |
| Minnesota | $85,860 |
| Mississippi | $67,570 |
| Missouri | $76,480 |
| Montana | $63,720 |
| Nebraska | $66,510 |
| Nevada | $83,760 |
| New Hampshire | $84,270 |
| New Jersey | $98,470 |
| New Mexico | $73,600 |
| New York | $94,140 |
| North Carolina | $77,470 |
| North Dakota | $87,090 |
| Ohio | $75,710 |
| Oklahoma | $60,760 |
| Oregon | $103,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,610 |
| Rhode Island | $83,030 |
| South Carolina | $63,050 |
| South Dakota | $73,900 |
| Tennessee | $69,510 |
| Texas | $73,650 |
| Utah | $80,920 |
| Vermont | $77,670 |
| Virginia | $80,380 |
| Washington | $73,840 |
| West Virginia | $59,200 |
| Wisconsin | $83,420 |
| Wyoming | $78,360 |
What Tools & Technology do School Psychologists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many School Psychologists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Presentation software
- Testing software
- Instructional software
How to Become a School Psychologist
What education is needed to be a School Psychologist?
What work experience do I need to become a School Psychologist?
Where School Psychologists Are Employed
The table below shows the approximate number of School Psychologists employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a School Psychologist may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: BruceBlaus via Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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