What jobs can you get with a cognitive psychology degree

If you would like to pursue a career in psychology dealing with the nature of human thought, you may be interested in learning about the types of jobs available in cognitive psychology. Professionals who work in cognitive psychology will specialize in different topics like memory, reasoning, visual perception and problem solving. Their primary goal is to gain a deeper understanding for the nature of human thought and how the human mind works so that psychologists can start to find treatment options for patients who suffer from learning disabilities or some type of storage or retrieval memory issue, according to the American Psychological Association.

Table of Contents Show

Careers in Academic and Research Settings
Research Careers for Private Companies
Working as a Curriculum Development Professional or Consultant
Learn About Careers in Cognitive Psychology
What Do Cognitive Psychologists Do?
Education & Training
Work Environment
What can you do with a BA in cognitive psychology?
How much money do cognitive psychologists make?
What field of psychology makes the most money?
Is cognitive psychology hard?

Some psychologists in this branch will choose to work with patients and others will work independently or outside of a clinical area. It is up to you to decide which type of work environment is best for you when you are mapping out a plan to earn your undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate degrees. Once you have a general idea of the types of settings that you can work in, you will be able to make a better career plan. Read this guide to career opportunities in cognitive psychology to learn more:

Careers in Academic and Research Settings

Research is critical in all branches of psychology, but especially in the study of mental processes. This is why it can be beneficial to work in an academic and research setting. As a professor who teaches in a university and who also guides students and entry-level psychologists in their research projects, you will play an important role in the publishing of future journals and in expressing findings that can change what scientists know about the cognitive abilities of humans. To work as a professor in a university, you will need a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology much like a clinical psychologist must earn.

Research Careers for Private Companies

Not only can you work in an academic setting where you will instruct college students and help them with their dissertation, you can also work as a cognitive psychologist and conduct research for private companies to help them improve their products and services. Product development is part of the marketing mix and companies spend a fortune to develop and improve products so that they can increase sales and decrease costs. If you work in this type of setting, you may assess how user-friendly a product is and write recommendations on why customers might choose the competition.

Working as a Curriculum Development Professional or Consultant

A major part of cognitive psychologist is focused on how humans learn and process the information that is delivered. If a person has a learning disability, new methods of instruction are important. You can land positions in curriculum development or in the evaluation of public school teaching methods. Working in consulting will give you the freedom to travel from school to school while you make a difference for the better.

Related Resource: Behavioral Psychology Jobs

As you can see, you can do much more than work with patients by providing psychological services. Now that you know some of the many ways that you can use your specialized education, it is time to start planning. Now that you are equipped with knowledge that you need to pursue a career in brain science, and you are familiar with the types of jobs available in cognitive psychology, you can decide which formal degree program to enroll in.

Home » Clinical Psychology » Cognitive Psychology

Learn About Careers in Cognitive Psychology

Learn how to become a cognitive psychologist.

Cognitive psychologists examine internal mental processes such as memory, perception, learning and language, and they are concerned with how people understand, diagnose, and solve problems and make decisions. These psychologists focus upon how people attain, process and recall information.

Cognitive psychology generally favors the gathering of empirical data from scientific research methods instead of through clinically based observation (such as in the field of psychoanalysis) to reach conclusions and state a case. However, because cognitive psychology is a vast and diverse field, clinical observation can be useful in generating hypotheses for further research.

What Do Cognitive Psychologists Do?

These psychologists perform the following duties:

Conduct research on the human thought process
Teach at colleges and universities
Work at government agencies
Work as human factors consultants or industrial-organizational managers
Study the human brain and memory in relation to computers
Work with Alzheimer’s or memory-loss patients
Work with children to understand memory formation
Teach language skills and problem solving
Work in the legal system and study the mental processes of criminals, witnesses, juries and judges

Education & Training

In order to practice, you’ll need to have your doctorate. A cognitive psychology PhD is an intense program and generally takes at least four to five years to complete. You will also be required to work in an internship with a qualified cognitive psychologist prior to beginning work on your own.

Courses that will pertain specifically to your degree will include cognitive learning, neuroscience, advanced social psychology and life-span development, as well as advanced research methods training that will include statistics, psychometrics and structural equations.

Work Environment

Cognitive psychologists work in many different settings, from classroom to laboratory, government office to neuroscience facility. Your day will be spent working in a collaborative capacity with other psychologists of all persuasions, neuroscientists, linguists, computer scientists and other professionals who are intent upon understanding how our brains function and why we learn and behave as we do.

Everything from brain imaging to psychometrics—the interpretation of quantitative tests for the measurement of intelligence, aptitude, and personality traits—will be incorporated into your daily work environment.

Salaries

Cognitive psychologists are part of the larger field of psychologists. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ current OES, the median national annual salary for psychologists is $81,040. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors. National long-term projections of employment growth may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.

What can you do with a BA in cognitive psychology?

Cognitive psychologists often work at colleges and universities, government agencies, corporate businesses and in private consulting. Common career titles include university instructor, human factors consultant, industrial-organizational manager, and usability specialist.

How much money do cognitive psychologists make?

As of Oct 11, 2022, the average annual pay for a Cognitive Psychologist in the United States is $83,402 a year.

What field of psychology makes the most money?

Psychiatrists prescribe medications for patients with mental illnesses. Psychiatrist positions are by far the highest-paying jobs for psychology majors. The average salary is $217,798, according to PayScale.

Is cognitive psychology hard?

cognitive psychology is a difficult subject to study, not because it is intellectually challenging, but the subject of study is invisible to human eyes.