by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Psychopharmacology covers Psychopharmacology. A Program That Focuses On The Study Of The Behavioral Effects Of Medications, Drugs, Nutrients, And Chemicals (Including Natural And Artificial Toxins) In Laboratory And Clinical Settings. Includes Instruction In Pharmacology, Behavioral Toxicology And Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Physiology, Clinical Psychopharmacology, Substance Abuse Treatments And Antidotes, Neurochemical Mechanisms, Epidemiology Of Chemicals And Substances, Biochemical Interactions, And Psychoactive Drugs. Read on to learn the essential details every psychopharmacology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering psychopharmacology programs.
Nationwide, psychopharmacology is a widely-pursued major, with 67 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Psychopharmacology Schools ranking analyzes these 5 schools to determine the best overall colleges for psychopharmacology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of psychopharmacology programs later in this article.
Programs in Psychopharmacology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations psychopharmacology graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a psychopharmacology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a psychopharmacology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several psychopharmacology 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 67 |
People currently working in careers related to psychopharmacology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 21.4% |
| Master’s degree | 19.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.8% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in psychopharmacology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in psychopharmacology can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to psychopharmacology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to psychopharmacology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 216,013 | 8.9% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Neuropsychologists | 186,493 | 6.5% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of psychopharmacology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 psychopharmacology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers psychopharmacology 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 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Neuropsychologists | $83,690 |
With 5 different psychopharmacology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased psychopharmacology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in psychopharmacology, 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 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology | 1,820 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience | 1,424 |
| Social Psychology | 458 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics | 380 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology | 203 |
| Personality Psychology | 17 |
| Comparative Psychology | 9 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
