What are some of the reasons why a lot of people choose psychology over other fields? This is a question any student who wants to enter into psychology should ask. This post will look into the main reasons why so many people are drawn to psychology nowadays.
Psychology Majors Want to Help People
Many students major in psychology to help others, not to earn a lot of money. They want to help people deal with daily psychological problems and make them better and happier members of the society. These problems include drug abuse, alcohol addiction, stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorders, adult attention deficit and many others. Seeing that a person is able to overcome any of these problems and live a happier life is more rewarding to most psychologists than just a paycheck.
Huge Earning Potential
Those who major in psychology benefit from some of the most lucrative salaries in the US. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, psychologists earn an average salary of $75,230 per year. This is far much higher than the national median wage for all workers. Those who have a lot of experience and advanced academic qualifications earn as high as $130,446 while those who are just starting out earn $43,345.
Flexible Work Schedules
About 30 percent of psychologists have private practices. This impressive proportion is as a result of the simple nature of psychology. Someone who is self-employed can basically set their own operating hours, meaning they can have a successful career and still have time for family and friends. Psychologists who work in hospital settings or mental health institutions may not have flexible work schedules like those who are in private practice. However, they still have plenty of opportunities to strike a balance between work and family.
Ability to Invest
Unlike other professions, it is very simple for psychologists to start their own private practice. This is extremely perfect for those who have entrepreneurial skills and enjoy working for themselves. Establishing a private practice will create more opportunities for psychologists to have full control over their career. Those working in specialized areas such as educational psychology and forensic psychology may also find greater opportunities as self-employed private consultants.
New Challenges
Most people love new challenges in their career. Challenges keep them on their toes and alleviate boredom associated with doing the same things repeatedly. The field of psychology offers many challenges that expose psychologists to new things and expand their skills set. Specialty areas such as forensic psychology and sports psychology might have extra unique demands that push psychologists to their limits. This is advantageous since it encourages them to move out of their comfort zone and improve themselves.
Related resource: Top 20 Most Innovative Psychology Degree Programs at Small Colleges
Wider Networking
Psychologists meet people from all walks of life in the course of duty. This provides them with a lot of exposure to different cultures, religion and beliefs. Not to mention, seeing their clients make huge progress and achieve their goals gives them a sense of self-accomplishment.
Psychology is one of the most popular careers in the United States. This is because it gives people the opportunity to network widely, earn good salaries, exercise their entrepreneurship skills and create a positive impact on the lives of others.
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