by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Industrial & Organizational Psychology involves the study of Industrial And Organizational Psychology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Individual And Group Behavior In Institutional Settings, Applications To Related Problems Of Organization And Industry, And That May Prepare Individuals To Apply Such Principles In Industrial And Organizational Settings. Includes Instruction In Group Behavior Theory, Organizational Theory, Reward/punishment Structures, Human-Machine And Human-Computer Interactions, Motivation Dynamics, Human Stress Studies, Environmental And Organizational Influences On Behavior, Alienation And Satisfaction, And Job Testing And Assessment. Continue reading for the essential details every industrial & organizational psychology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering industrial & organizational psychology programs.
Across the country, industrial & organizational psychology draws strong interest, with 2,898 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 126 schools to determine the best overall colleges for industrial & organizational psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of industrial & organizational psychology programs later in this article.
Coursework for Industrial & Organizational Psychology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations industrial & organizational psychology graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a industrial & organizational psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a industrial & organizational psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several industrial & organizational 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 | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 526 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,121 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 250 |
People currently working in careers related to industrial & organizational psychology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 56.0% |
| Master’s degree | 12.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 8.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.8% |
| Some college courses | 3.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in industrial & organizational psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in industrial & organizational psychology can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to industrial & organizational psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to industrial & organizational psychology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 405,890 | 11.8% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Training and Development Managers | 394,938 | -0.4% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of industrial & organizational psychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,756 |
| 4 years | $59,892 |
| 5 years | $67,036 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for industrial & organizational psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers industrial & organizational psychology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Human Resources Managers | $95,702 |
With 126 different industrial & organizational psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased industrial & organizational psychology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in industrial & organizational psychology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Counseling Psychology | 11,691 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 6,914 |
| Clinical Psychology | 6,059 |
| School Psychology | 3,685 |
| Applied Psychology | 2,998 |
| Forensic Psychology | 2,667 |
| Educational Psychology | 1,979 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other | 577 |
| Community Psychology | 520 |
| Health/Medical Psychology | 447 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
