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Career In Psychology: Top 10 Career Options In Psychology 2025

Manisa Das Nov 11, 2025 1.8K Reads

UGC Notice

According to the American Psychological Association, Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Psychology includes many sub-fields like human development, sports, health, clinical, social behavior, and cognitive processes.

Psychology is a field that has emerged as one of the front-running disciplines in India in recent years. This marked growth is a result of normalizing and mainstreaming the importance of human psychological processes in all avenues of life and has consequently bred grounds for a number of new jobs and professional domains. 

If you are a student pursuing an educational course in the field of psychology or an aspirant looking for a successful career option in this field, then continue reading this blog to start exploring the most well-paid and valued careers in psychology in India. 

Discontinuation of Open and Distance learning (ODL) Psychology degree in India

As per the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Open & Distance Learning (ODL) has been discontinued from the 2025-2026 session. All the psychology degrees earned through the ODL form will be invalid. 

The UGC’s decision follows the implementation of the NCAHP Act, 2021, which placed allied health sciences under centralized regulation. Previously unregulated in many states, the field suffered from inconsistent standards and fake institutions. With the NCAHP now overseeing ten allied health professions, including psychology, the UGC’s Distance Education Bureau (DEB) withdrew approval for online and distance programs in these fields. The move was formalized at the 592nd UGC meeting on July 23, 2025.

As per the recent guidelines issued by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) dated 05 March 2025, programs BA Psychology and MA Psychology cannot be offered in any online or distance mode. Click here to check the official notice.

 

Benefits of Choosing a Career in Psychology: What Does the Field Offer?

Psychology is a discipline that pertains to the scientific study of the mind, behavior, and social processes. Psychology as a field has prospered in recent years in India, although its development can be traced back to the 1920s. 

Psychology has become quite a popular choice of education and career among students in India. Students from a variety of past educational backgrounds are now seeking to develop successful careers in India in various domains, including child psychology, marketing research, academia and research, psychotherapy, organizational behavior, defense psychology, and so on. 

There are diverse job domains available in the field of psychology, and hence, it can be quite a lucrative domain to develop a career in, especially considering the long-term development and imminent boom expected in the field. Here, we have delved into a few of the top benefits of pursuing a career in psychology in India.  

  • A Diverse Number of Career Options 

While it is a very common misconception that disciplines in the social sciences and humanities have limited and specific career options, this is far from the truth about the modern career landscape in India. In the field of psychology, there are a number of diverse career options and practices, ranging from research and development, product research, therapy practice, academia, to corporate jobs related to organizational development, HR, and training, and so on. Hence, an aspirant of psychology can benefit a lot from the diversity of career choices they have at their disposal if they venture into this field. 

  • Available Jobs Across Industries

One of the striking aspects of psychology is its demand and importance in virtually all industries in the professional realm. While many disciplinary studies entail jobs in specific industries, education in psychology entails not only a diversity of jobs, but the practice of those jobs cutting across industries. This means that a psychologist, whether a therapist, a counselor, or an organizational psychologist, can gain experience in various industries as these job roles are required across professional sectors. Even government measures and the rising importance being given to mental health services and the psychological well-being of employees have opened up career options and job roles for psychology professionals in various organizations. 

  • Fair Compensation 

The field of psychology, although starting off with a moderate potential for compensation, is ripe with opportunities to explore that can provide highly lucrative packages and salaries. With a few years of experience, professionals can advance in their career ladder and secure jobs with appealing pay. The earning potential in psychology in India and abroad is one of the main reasons that students are widely attracted to the field.

  • Growing Field with a Bright Future

Psychology has flourished as an academic discipline as well as a professional domain over the past few decades in India and promises a bright future ahead as well. The cognizance of the impact of mental health on human performance, well-being, and growth has significantly impacted its mainstreaming into the highly valued professional fields in India. Studying psychology and developing a career in it can be highly rewarding, more so in the future than in the present, as psychology’s growth potential opens up the door for newer and innovative psychologist job roles to open up in the industrial domains.

  • Opportunity to Expand One’s Social Network 

Establishing a career in psychology can be fruitful and most meaningful to individuals who desire social interaction with others. Most careers in psychology require professionals to actively reach out to and interact with others, and thus, can be highly fulfilling and meaningful to individuals with a knack and ambition to develop a social network, both in professional and personal domains. Moreover, this field is very beneficial for networking, especially for those who can comfortably interact with others to grow their circle. 

  • Meaningful Experiences in Helping Others

Our professional space is the environment wherein we spend more than 3/4th of our waking hours. In such a case, working in a domain that is personally meaningful to us is of utmost importance. Many students and aspirants are drawn to a career in psychology since it provides the opportunity to have meaningful experiences of reaching out to those in need and helping them navigate through their crises. In addition to the services offered by psychologists in case of crises, there is also a scope of active build-up upon existing skills and potentials of humans, both of which mean psychologists make meaningful contributions to the lives of others. Thus, a career in psychology can surely be appealing to those individuals who strive to make a difference in society by helping others. 

  • Honing One’s Interpersonal Skills 

Another major aspect that a career in psychology helps a person with is honing their interpersonal skills. As already discussed, working in this field requires substantial interaction and reaching out to others, and this can provide an opportunity for a professional to develop their interpersonal skills manifold. Interpersonal skills are one of the most valued competencies in the current professional landscape and can be advantageous in career development in subsequent years. 

  • Developing a Holistic World View

Lastly, one of the many benefits of a career in psychology is the impact it can create in the personal transformation of a professional. One of the biggest of these advantages is the ability to develop a holistic worldview and outlook. A number of careers in psychology require observing, understanding, and addressing critical issues, problems, interpersonal differences, etc., all of which can mold the worldview a professional has towards life in a much more holistic fashion. 

Thus, as can be seen, there are a number of advantages of venturing into a career in psychology, some of which are appealing to all, while some, to individuals with specific needs and ambitions. Further on, we have discussed the current top 10 careers in the field of psychology that are highly regarded within the discipline and can be rewarding for a professional in this field to take up.  

Top 10 Career Options in Psychology in India

When considering a career in psychology, there are a number of pertinent domains like counseling, psychotherapy, and other mental health services, teaching and professorship, industrial and organizational services, forensic psychology, etc., that one can consider. Even within this broad field, there are a number of careers and job roles that are highly demanded by professionals and freshers alike. 

Here are the top 10 career options in psychology:

Career options

Expected salary 

Psychiatrist

INR 9.67 LPA

Clinical Psychologist

INR 4.08 LPA - INR 5 LPA

Counselor

INR 3.62 LPA

Industrial/Organizational Psychologist (I/O Psychologist)

INR 4.14 LPA

Psychology Professor

INR 9.94 LPA

Forensic Psychologist 

INR 5.93 LPA.

Military/Defense Psychologist

INR 6 LPA - INR 6.8 LPA

Educational Psychologist

INR 4.85 LPA

Neuropsychologist 

INR 4 LPA - INR 4.86 LPA

Child Psychologist 

INR 3.9 LPA

Here, we have elaborated upon the top 10 most demanded and appealing career options to go for if you have an educational background in psychology.

Psychiatrist

Psychiatry is a field in psychology that brings together medical knowledge with psychological knowledge. Psychiatrists are doctors who specialize in the medical treatment of psychopathologies through a number of medicinal techniques and treatments. The field of psychiatry requires a minimum qualification of MBBS followed by specialized education in psychiatry, after which psychiatrists can practice in hospitals, healthcare centers, mental healthcare institutions, NGOs, or even start their own clinic of psychiatry.

Key details related to the profession of psychiatry have been provided below:

  • Key Skills Required: Some of the prime skills needed to practice professionally as a psychiatrist include aptitude for case observation, applied diagnostic knowledge, active listening and communication skills, diagnosis and treatment, prescription of drugs, etc. 

  • Average Salary Package: The average salary that a psychiatrist can earn with 3-4 years of professional experience is around INR 9.67 LPA. The compensation can hike up to INR 20 LPA with further years of professional experience. 
  • Top Hiring Institutions: While most hospitals and nursing homes hire qualified and experienced psychiatrists, some of the most prestigious institutions hiring them include  IHBAS, NIMHANS, Fortis Mental Healthcare Institute, Apollo Hospitals, Max Hospitals, etc.

Clinical Psychologist 

Clinical psychologists are primary mental healthcare professionals who work with individuals going through psychopathologies or mental disorders by providing treatment through psychotherapy. As of current guidelines, to become a clinical psychologist in India, an individual needs to have a PG degree in psychology, followed by an M.Phil degree and training from an RCI-licensed institution of India. Clinical psychologists also need to obtain a license from the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) to practice professionally. Clinical psychology is one of the most prominent career fields in psychology, as clinical psychologists can practice in public and private sector organizations, work for social organizations, as well as practice in their own private chambers and clinics. 

Further details about the job domain of clinical psychology have been provided below:

  • Key Skills Required: Case observation, diagnostic skills, counseling and therapeutic expertise, empathy, active listening and communication skills, interpersonal skills, etc., are a few of the skills for clinical psychologists to possess to succeed in their career.
  • Average Salary Package: Average starting salaries can range anywhere between INR 4.08 LPA to INR 5 LPA, while the years of field experience can hike the salary up to INR 15 LPA as well. 
  • Top Hiring Institutions: Apollo Hospitals, NIMHANS, IHBAS, Chegg India, Psychith, VeryWell Mind, etc. There are a few institutions and centers hiring clinical psychologists for job roles. 

Counselor

Counselors are mental health professionals who work in diverse arenas ranging from school and educational settings, clinics, child therapy centers, social and non-profit organizations, hospitals, to organizational settings. Counselors work with clients to help them navigate problems and issues faced in day-to-day life, as well as provide counseling for specific areas of problems like interpersonal relationships, marriages, social adjustment, speech therapy, etc. The career scope of counseling is vast, making it one of the most popular options for a career in psychology. 

Find more key details about the field of counselling given below:

  • Key Skills Required: Empathetic attitude, communication skills, interpersonal skills, case management, knowledge of counseling techniques, and group management are essential skills needed to thrive in a career of counseling. 

  • Average Salary Package: This is a moderately paid field for freshers and professionals in their initial career days can earn about INR 3.62 LPA. However, with professional experience spanning over years, counselors can massively grow their salaries. Since they can also begin their own practice, the scope of earning increases for counselors. 
  • Top Hiring Companies: Counsel India, Fortis Mental Healthcare Institute, HCL Healthcare, Schools and Colleges across the country, etc., are a few of the institutions that hire counselors. 

Industrial/Organizational Psychologist (I/O Psychologist)

Industrial-organizational psychologists can explore jobs in the organizational and industrial sectors, as the name suggests. Hence, this field is suitable for those working professionals seeking a career in the corporate or organizational sector.  I/O psychologists can choose to develop a career in various subfields in this domain, such as training and development, research, consultancy firms, leadership development, strategic guidance, etc. Since this field permits jobs in the corporate sector as well, it is a fairly compensated domain that allows for significant career growth opportunities. Professionals who complete a PG degree or diploma course with a specialization in I/O psychology can take this course. 

Further details about I/O psychology as a career option have been given below for reference: 

  • Key Skills Required: Considering that I/O psychology is a vast field with many subdomains, professionals venturing into this field need a host of diverse skills and competencies like organizational development, training and personnel management, career counseling, data analysis, human resource management, team management skills, communication skills, grievance redressal, negotiation, strategizing skills, etc.
  • Average Salary Package: While starting off with an average salary of INR 4.14 LPA, I/O psychologists can experience vast salary growth with increasing years of experience. 
  • Top Hiring Companies: Top MNCs, including Big4 and other companies like Deloitte, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Mindler, Mercer Mettl, HCL, Ernst & Young, etc., hire I/O psychologists. 

Psychology Professor

Academia and professorship are other popular career options in psychology. After completing further education in psychology, preferably at least till the doctoral level, professionals can seek jobs in the academic and research sector. To apply for professorship jobs in psychology in India, one needs to be UGC-NET qualified in addition to having at least a PG degree in psychology. Professorship and academia are a lucrative job sector in this field–they allow the professional to receive fair compensation as well as research and stay connected to the field itself. 

Key details about the job domain of being a psychology professor are listed below:

  • Key Skills Required: Practicing as a professor of psychology includes requisite skills like teaching aptitude, thorough knowledge of psychological concepts, research skills, communication skills, administrative skills, curricular planning, etc. 
  • Average Salary Package: Professorship in psychology is a lucrative field to venture into; on average, the salary that can be earned in this field is around INR 9.94 LPA.  
  • Top Hiring Institutions: Practicing as a professor opens up job opportunities for professionals in public as well as private universities like University of Delhi (DU), Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Christ University, St. Xavier’s College, University of Calcutta, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), etc.  

Forensic Psychologist 

Forensic psychology as a field is concerned with the application and use of psychological concepts and principles to understand and facilitate criminal investigations, whether at the civil, criminal, or family levels. Forensic psychology is a field with rising prominence in India and offers quite a bright and appealing career scope to students and professionals alike. The field is already decently compensated in current job sectors, but with the integration of technological advances and expected transformation of the field of forensics, forensic psychologists can expect a significant boost to their careers in the near future. Forensic psychologists get to interact with suspects, study cases and convicts, conduct psychological tests and detailed examinations, as well as provide guidance and support to crime departments about the progression of particular cases (as needed).

More details about the job role of a forensic psychologist have been provided below:

  • Key Skills Required: Forensic psychologists must possess a thorough knowledge of psychology, an understanding of psychological disorders, psychopathologies, and mental illnesses, knowledge of psychotherapeutic techniques, communication skills, critical thinking skills, analytical aptitude, stress management, patience, etc., to practice in the professional realm.   
  • Average Salary Package: The average salary that can be earned as a forensic psychologist is around INR 5.93 LPA. 
  • Top Hiring Institutions: Defense Forces, Indian Police Forces, Armed Forces, Central Reserve Police Force, etc., are some of the prominent public sector units that hire forensic psychologists. 

Military/Defense Psychologist 

Defense or military psychologists are professionals who serve in the armed forces at the level of support in practices like recruitment, training, orientation, job effectiveness analysis, performance analysis, stress management, as well as peacemaking activities in some cases. Defense psychologists can thus perform various roles related to army personnel selection, their selection, psychological testing, strategic support, counseling, and others. This field is decently compensated for freshers and professionals in the initial phases of career development. However, the scope of job escalation in this field is lucrative. 

Find further key details about practicing as a defense/military psychologist in India below:

  • Key Skills Required: Technical skills like case observation and analysis, data analysis, research skills, and soft skills such as critical skills, analytical aptitude, attention to detail, etc., are some of the important skills needed for a profession in military and defense psychology. 
  • Average Salary Package: Average salary packages in defense psychology and military psychology are within the range of INR 6 LPA to INR 6.8 LPA.  
  • Top Hiring Institutions: Institutions and Organisations in the public sector like Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), National Defence Academy (NDA), Indian Military Academy (IMA) etc. have various job positions to which defence psychologists can apply in India.   

Educational Psychologist

Educational psychology is an up-and-coming field in the disciplines of both educational studies and psychology, and can be a meaningful career option for working professionals seeking to contribute to the field of education. Educational psychologists can work with schools, higher educational institutions, educational policy makers, as well as educational centers for research and development to provide their valuable insights and consultancy in policy-framing, curriculum planning, student and parental counseling, and more. The field is well-compensated for beginners and offers scope for career escalation in India and beyond. 

Further key details about the job role of an educational psychologist have been provided below:

  • Key Skills Required: Educational psychologists require skills like teaching aptitude, research skills, communication skills, counseling skills, data analysis, observational skills, public speaking, interpersonal skills, empathy, psychological assessment, and testing, etc., to practice effectively.  
  • Average Salary Package: Salary packages in this field are within the range of INR 4.85 LPA for professionals with 1-2 years of professional experience. The compensation is likely to grow up to INR 9 LPA with further professional experience. 
  • Top Hiring Institutions: Schools and higher educational centers like the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) have job roles for educational psychologists.  

Neuropsychologist 

Neuropsychologists are professionals who work specifically in areas concerning neurology, psychology, and human cognition to explore and understand the relation between the human brain and behavior. Neuropsychologists need a sound knowledge and understanding of medicine, although the field is primarily related to the practice of psychology and is non-medical in nature. Neuropsychology is a well-paid job domain for professionals as they gain work experience, and can provide job opportunities in both private and public research centers, healthcare institutions, or hospitals. 

More details about the job domain of neuropsychology have been provided below:

  • Key Skills Required: Knowledge and skills in domains like medicine, cognitive assessment, psychological testing and analysis, analytical skills, critical aptitude, knowledge of psychopathology, psychotherapeutic knowledge, etc., are quite essential to thrive in this career. 
  • Average Salary Package: The initial salary that can be earned in this field is within the range of INR 4 LPA to INR 4.86 LPA, which is likely to escalate manifold with years of experience. 
  • Top Hiring Institutes:  Mental health institutions and hospitals in the public and private sectors, like IHBAS, NIMHANS, Fortis Mental Healthcare Institute, Apollo Hospitals, Max Hospitals, etc. Hire neuropsychologists for lucrative job positions.  

Child Psychologist 

Child psychologists are mental health professionals, like clinical psychologists or counselors, who work with infants, toddlers, and children to understand their experiences, behaviors, and cognitive processes at the basic level and address and resolve the concerns faced by them at the applied level. Child psychology is a key field of psychology and can be taken up by professionals who have at least completed their education at the postgraduate level in psychology, preferably with a specialization in child psychology, developmental psychology, or counseling/clinical psychology. Child psychology opens up job roles in the social work sector and public sectors, although professional opportunities in private and public educational centers can also be explored. 

Find further important details about child psychology as a job domain listed below:

  • Key Skills Required: There are a host of skills and abilities needed for child psychologists, such as empathetic skills, research skills, communication skills, listening skills, interpersonal skills, psychological testing and assessment, counseling skills, knowledge of psychopathology, developmental psychology, etc. 
  • Average Salary Package: The average salary package that a child psychologist can earn in the initial days is around INR 3.9 LPA. The compensation in this field is likely to increase with growing years of experience. 
  • Top Hiring Institutions: Some of the institutions where child psychologists and counselors can seek jobs include mental health institutions, childcare centers, non-profit organizations, social institutions, etc.

Disciplines in Psychology to Venture Into

When considering a career in psychology, there are a number of domains that can allow you to explore diverse options. The career opportunities that you can venture into depend to a great extent on the subdomain of psychology that you have focused upon through your higher education. Considering the importance and stakes of handling jobs in psychology that cater to direct human experiences, having a robust education and training before venturing into a career in this field is essential. 

Find the major domains of psychology that are not only well-regarded professionally but also provide thorough foundations of education and training to you before you venture into the field for professional practice. 

The field of psychology is ripe with a number of subdomains that offer a wide and diverse exposure to students and professionals, in addition to offering an appealing scope of career development. A number of public sector jobs are also opening up for qualified professionals in the field of psychology, with the field getting increasing recognition. 

Clinical Psychology 

This is the branch of psychology that concerns itself with the study of psychopathologies and mental disorders as well as their treatment through psychotherapeutic interventions. In this branch of psychology, students learn about the various psychopathologies, their classification, their epidemiology, etiology, incidence, etc., so as to be able to observe cases and diagnose them. Further, students learn about the treatment and therapeutic practices to treat these various mental disorders as psychologists. Students specializing in this domain can work as clinical psychologists in organizations, public and private hospitals, private clinics, etc.  

Organisational Psychology (or Organisational Behaviour)

Organizational psychology, or organizational-industrial psychology (I/O Psychology) is the subdomain in this discipline that opens up career opportunities in the corporate world for you. Students of organizational psychology learn about the psychological aspects of various functions and social processes in the organizational context, such as employee interactions, management of employees, leadership, personnel management, HRM, organizational development, and management. OB students can explore careers in the corporate sector in various areas like marketing research, leadership development, training and quality assurance, HR roles, consultancy roles, etc. 

Social Psychology

Social psychology is one of the most vast, appealing, and fascinating sections in the study of psychology that studies the processes of social phenomena at the individual, group, or community levels among humans. It is an arena of psychology with a humongous scope both academically and professionally. Professionals or aspirants seeking a career in social psychology can venture across industries as well as academic settings. Research and development is a pertinent area that social psychologists can consider exploring.

Developmental Psychology 

Are you someone who is interested in developing a career that can explore human processes across age groups? Then, developmental psychology is the perfect specialization area in this field for you. Developmental psychologists learn about the human psyche and the development of humans as they progress through various age groups and developmental stages. Further, this discipline provides the opportunity to explore developmental processes across industries and institutions like schools, colleges, organizations, hospitals, old-age homes, etc. Career scope in this field is not only vast but also quite diverse and lucrative.

Counseling Psychology 

Counseling psychology is a domain of psychology closely related to clinical psychology, wherein the student learns to use various therapeutic techniques to enable individuals to navigate problems and concerns encountered in their daily lives. Unlike clinical psychology, counseling practice does not involve the diagnosis of psychopathologies, and in most cases, counselors deal with clients facing problems and stressors in their everyday lives rather than critical mental illnesses. As a result, counseling as a professional domain allows practice in a variety of settings beyond clinics, like schools, universities, organizations and MNCs, hospitals, NGO, and so on. The career options offered in this field are quite popular among psychologists. 

Educational Psychology 

Educational psychology is the specialization domain in the field that is concerned with the psychological processes involved in education and educational settings. It can be quite an interesting and rewarding field to develop a career in for those interested in educational studies or academia, professorship, or research in the educational sector. Educational psychologists can conduct research in educational settings, contribute to policy formation for the sector, provide consultancy and strategic guidance to educational institutions, or work with social organizations to support the educational needs of the needy. Educational psychology is currently in its budding phases in India and shall completely flourish as a distinct professional field in the upcoming years, making it a lucrative domain to start a career in.

Indian Psychology 

An off-stream and unconventional specialization area, Indian Psychology (IP) is a domain that is concerned with the psychological thought of Indian and Eastern origin. This domain can be of interest to those psychologists and professionals interested in integrating the Indian psychological principles in their practice, whether in their clinical or counseling practice, organizational practices, their educational setting, etc. 

Top Skills Needed to Pursue a Career in Psychology 

Essentially concerned with the study of humans at individual, dyadic, and group levels and facilitating the resolution of their problems and concerns, practicing as a professional psychologist requires certain critical skills that the professionals must master to thrive in the career as well as protect the well-being of the client/personnel they are working with. 

While certain key technical skills and hard skills are needed to efficiently develop a career in psychology, the majority of critical skills needed to prosper in this field are related to the effective practice of soft skills. 

A few of the most essential skills and competencies needed to thrive in a career in psychology include: 

  • Therapeutic Skills: This is an essential domain of skills for psychologists who wish to venture into professions related to clinical psychology, counseling, child therapy, mental health care services, etc. 
  • Diagnostic Aptitude:  Another essential skill for those aspiring for a career in psychotherapy and mental healthcare services, having thorough knowledge of diagnostic criteria and principles of psychopathology, and being able to identify them in clients and cases and decide the best course of treatment. This is a very crucial skill for psychologists because the stakes of accurate diagnosis are high. 
  • Test Administration: Whether in the organizational setting, the clinical setting, or an educational setting, professionally trained psychologists are expected to have the skills to administer psychological tests effectively to people. Test administration is not only concerned with the effective carrying out of the test on a person/group, but includes a number of other considerations, such as choice of the right test itself, its administration, scoring, ethical considerations of administration, debriefing, etc. 
  • Emotional Intelligence: While not so much a skill as an inherent ability, having emotional intelligence can facilitate one's career journey in psychology manifold. Being able to understand, identify, and regulate one's emotions and those of others significantly boosts the competence of psychological professionals, who are expected to be able to deftly handle such concerns as expressed by clients. 
  • Listening and Communication Skills: Communication skills and active listening are two of the most prominent soft skills needed across all professional domains of psychology. Considering a majority of job roles in this field are concerned with effectively dealing with the problems and concerns of others, having the ability to listen and communicate effectively with them is essential. 
  • Problem-Solving Aptitude: This is another skill important for psychologists to possess. In many cases, psychologists might be faced with problems that require quick and effective action and have high stakes. So, the ability to function under pressure, come up with accurate solutions, and resolve problems and conflicts are important skill domains for psychologists. 
  • Analytical Skills: Analytical skills are an essential aspect of most job roles, and psychology is no exception. Having the ability to analyze and understand cases and concerns expressed by clients, identify the root cause of the problem, come up with solutions, and evaluate the effectiveness of those solutions can set a thriving professional apart from others. 
  • Research Skills: Research is a crucial part of the discipline of psychology as professionals in the field are continuously striving to discover unexplored psychological phenomena, develop effective solutions and applied solutions to psychological problems faced by humans, and discover newer applications of psychological functions in various fields. Thus, research skills are very important for psychologists to possess, which include the ability to administer psychological tests, collect both quantitative and qualitative data, analyze and interpret data, and develop applied solutions for the real world. Research skills are important for candidates seeking jobs in fields like marketing research, product research, research and development, consultancy, academia, etc.   

With the skills mentioned above, one can quite successfully navigate their career journey in psychology and achieve a successful career for themselves. 

Career options in psychology after 12th

Psychology courses in 12th provide a basic understanding of the subject and topics related to covering topics like memory, intelligence, emotion, and social interaction. Individuals have to study further to enhance their knowledge about psychology, which may open doors to various career paths. 

Psychology is a vast, growing field across several industries like criminal justice, medicine, sports, business, education, and many more. After 12th, the students can choose from various psychology courses based on their interest in human behaviour, mental health, or emotional wellness.  To become a licensed psychologist, individuals have to pursue advanced studies and certifications. 

Courses for Developing a Career in Psychology 

In the table below, we have summarised the key features of some of the most prominent degrees and courses in psychology that one can consider pursuing for developing a career in psychology. 

Course 

Duration 

Average Fee 

Course Level and Type 

Entrance Mandatory or Not

Whether Available Online/ODL or Not

B.A Hons Psychology 

3 Years

INR 5000-INR 2,00,000

UG Degree

Mandatory

Yes

B.Sc Hons Psychology 

3 Years

INR 5000-INR 4,00,000 

UG Degree

Mandatory

Yes 

M.A. Psychology 

2 Years

INR 10,000-INR 3,00,000

PG Degree

Not Mandatory

Yes 

M.Sc Psychology

2 Years

INR  2000-INR 4,00,000

PG Degree

Not Mandatory

Ph.D in Psychology 

3 Years (Minimum)

INR 1,00,000-INR 5,00,000 

Doctoral Degree

Mandatory

No

M.Phil in Psychology 

2 Years

INR 1,00,000-INR 2,00,000

PG Research Degree

Mandatory

No

Conclusion 

As can be seen, there are a number of career pathways that one can explore if they are interested in going for jobs related to the domain of psychology. These fields are well-compensated and allow the candidate to escalate their career with experience.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

A few of the best careers in psychology include those like becoming a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, defense psychologist, I/O psychologist, etc.

Careers that can be established quite quickly, i.e., after education at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, include I/O psychology, HRM-related jobs, counseling job positions, etc. 

As of 2023, the minimum qualifications required to become a clinical psychologist in India are a PG degree course in psychology and an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology from an RCI-recognized institution. 

Psychology branches like Clinical psychology, psychiatry, and industrial organization psychology offer the highest earning potential in this field. However, the earning also depends on factors like location or experience.

A career in psychology can be worth it and quite rewarding to a professional interested in social sciences, academia and research, psychotherapy, or counseling. The scope of corporate jobs is also sufficiently vast in psychology. The job roles are initially in a moderate salary range and can escalate manifold with experience. 

Available job options in the public sector for qualified psychologists and professionals include those in the defense sector, armed forces, professorship and academia, in government hospitals and healthcare centers, rehabilitation centers, and so on. Clinical psychologists, counselors, trained mental health professionals, defense psychologists, child therapists, psychiatrists, researchers, etc., can seek jobs in the government sector after completing formal education in psychology.
 

The best colleges and universities for psychology in India include the University of Delhi, Christ University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi, St. Xavier’s College, Fergusson College, Chandigarh University, Amity University, etc. 

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By Manisa Das

3 Years of experience/ academic writer/ freelance writer

Academic writing expert and freelancer with 3 years of experience, specializing in law, business, and social sciences. I deliver clear, well-researched, and high-quality content with a strong foundation in social science and business studies.

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