Life, Physical & Social Science
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
Also called: Consulting Psychologist, I-O Practitioner (Industrial-Organizational Practitioner), I-O Psychologist (Industrial-Organizational Psychologist), Industrial Psychologist
US median pay
$193,950
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+6.5%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
300
4,000 employed
Typical entry education
Master's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- Provide advice on best practices and implementation for selection.
- Develop and implement employee selection or placement programs.
- Analyze data, using statistical methods and applications, to evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of workplace programs.
- Develop interview techniques, rating scales, and psychological tests used to assess skills, abilities, and interests for the purpose of employee selection, placement, or promotion.
- Observe and interview workers to obtain information about the physical, mental, and educational requirements of jobs, as well as information about aspects such as job satisfaction.
- Facilitate organizational development and change.
- Analyze job requirements and content to establish criteria for classification, selection, training, and other related personnel functions.
- Advise management concerning personnel, managerial, and marketing policies and practices and their potential effects on organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
- Conduct presentations on research findings for clients or at research meetings.
- Coach senior executives and managers on leadership and performance.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making4.1/5
- Systems Evaluation4.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0/5
- Systems Analysis3.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Persuasion3.8/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Time Management3.6/5
Knowledge
- Personnel and Human Resources4.9/5
- Psychology4.8/5
- Education and Training4.5/5
- Administration and Management4.0/5
- Mathematics4.0/5
- English Language3.8/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Master's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Master's degree58%
- Doctoral degree31%
Who this job suits
Mostly Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.