by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Developmental & Child Psychology explores Developmental And Child Psychology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Unique Stages Of Psychological Growth And Development Of Individuals From Infancy Through Childhood. Includes Instruction In Cognitive And Perceptual Development, Emotional Development, Personality Development, The Effects Of Biological Maturation On Behavior, Theories Of Cognitive Growth And Related Research Methods, Testing And Assessment Methods For Different Age Levels, Research On Child And Adolescent Behavior Therapy, And The Psychology Of Aging. Examples: [Child Psychology], [Lifespan Development]. Read on to learn the essential details every developmental & child psychology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering developmental & child psychology programs.
Across the country, developmental & child psychology is a widely-pursued major, with 1,820 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Developmental & Child Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 59 schools to determine the best overall colleges for developmental & child psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of developmental & child psychology programs later in this article.
Programs in Developmental & Child Psychology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations developmental & child psychology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a developmental & child psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a developmental & child psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several developmental & child psychology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 5 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 586 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,112 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 117 |
People currently working in careers related to developmental & child psychology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 42.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in developmental & child psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in developmental & child psychology opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to developmental & child psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to developmental & child psychology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 206,409 | 1.0% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of developmental & child psychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,814 |
| 4 years | $50,900 |
| 5 years | $59,985 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for developmental & child psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers developmental & child psychology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
With 59 different developmental & child psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased developmental & child psychology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in developmental & child psychology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 13,996 |
| Experimental Psychology | 4,439 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience | 1,424 |
| Social Psychology | 458 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics | 380 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology | 203 |
| Psychopharmacology | 67 |
| Personality Psychology | 17 |
| Comparative Psychology | 9 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
