Cognitive Psychology Jobs to Consider

Scientist looking at brain scans

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Cognitive psychologists study the internal mental processes that influence human behavior. Professionals in cognitive psychology jobs strive to understand how people form, store, and use memories, how people perceive information in the world around them, how information is processed, and how language develops.

At a Glance

Cognitive psychology jobs can involve research or applied careers that focus on understanding how people think. If these sorts of things sound interesting to you, it can be helpful to learn more about the sort of things that professionals who work in this field do.

Overview of Jobs in Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology is concerned with how people acquire, process, and store information. Major areas of interest in cognitive psychology include language, attention, memory, decision-making, and problem-solving.

Cognitive psychology has many practical applications. People who work in this field may use their knowledge and skills in areas such as education, healthcare, business, and research.

For example, cognitive principles are often used to create educational materials and software design. Some cognitive psychology jobs focus on applying these principles directly to help people who are experiencing problems with thinking, memory, language, or perception.

Where Do Cognitive Psychologists Work?

If you are interested in cognitive psychology jobs, it's also essential to think about your future work environment. Cognitive psychologists work in various areas.

Many cognitive psychologists conduct applied research or basic research on the human thought process. Cognitive psychologists often work at colleges and universities, government agencies, corporate businesses, and private consulting.

Common career titles include university instructor, human factors consultant, industrial-organizational manager, and usability specialist.

Cognitive Psychology Jobs: A Few Options

Some cognitive psychologists may work in clinical areas while others choose to work in other settings such as education, business, government, and research. Some of the career opportunities that a cognitive psychologist might pursue include:

Healthcare Jobs

There are many cognitive psychology jobs that involve working in healthcare and mental health treatment settings. Cognitive psychologists might work in hospitals and mental health clinics to help people with cognitive issues. 

They might treat people who:

  • Have memory loss, dementia, or Alzheimer's disease
  • Have experienced a traumatic brain injury
  • Have a condition that may benefit from cognitive therapy
  • Have sensory or perceptual issues
  • Have a language or speech disorder

Research Jobs

Cognitive psychologists also work in research settings to learn more about mental processes. Many of those who conduct research also teach in university settings. They conduct studies and publish research that furthers our collective understanding of different subjects in the field of cognitive psychology.

Business Jobs

Other cognitive psychologists are employed by private businesses to conduct research, develop products, and create marketing strategies. Others may work in the growing field of artificial intelligence. Some psychologists may be employed directly by companies, while others may be hired as consultants.

Salaries for Jobs in Cognitive Psychology

Wages and salaries for cognitive psychologists vary widely depending on degree, position, and experience.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average salary for those working as industrial-organizational psychologists in 2022 was $139,280. The median annual salary for psychologists in general was $85,330.

Most cognitive psychologists are employed in teaching and research positions by colleges and universities. In a 2018 salary survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), the median salary for university faculty positions was $88,977.

The demand for cognitive psychologists also varies. There has been significant growth in other areas, such as human-computer interaction, software development, and organizational psychology.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for organizational psychologists specifically is projected to grow by 6% between 2022 and 2032. They also state that organizations will continue to hire professionals in this field to help with employee selection, retention, training, and productivity.

Education Requirements for Cognitive Psychology Jobs

While there are some entry-level opportunities available to graduates with a bachelor's degree, most careers in cognitive psychology require a master's or doctorate degree. Those working in applied areas can often find employment with a master's degree.

These applied areas include human factors and industrial-organizational psychology, which is expected to grow in the future.

Pros and Cons of Jobs in Psychology Psychology

As with any career, there are a number of potential benefits and possible downsides that you should carefully consider before choosing to pursue a job in cognitive psychology. Spend some time researching your options before you make a decision about whether it is the right job for your personality, goals, and needs.

Benefits

  • Cognitive psychologists are able to help find solutions to real-world problems
  • Opportunities for self-employment through consulting work
  • Diverse career paths (i.e. private sector, consulting, government, education)

Downsides

  • Most teaching and research positions require a doctorate degree in cognitive psychology
  • Research can be tedious and may lead to burnout

What This Means For You

If you are interested in cognitive psychology, it is a good idea to start planning your educational and career plan early on. Think about the type of work you would like to do and where you would like to work. There is a great deal of diversity when it comes to jobs in cognitive psychology, so you will want to carefully tailor your educational path to achieve your career goals.

4 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Sternberg RJ, Sternberg K. Cognitive Psychology. Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. 

  2. Schmidt HG, Mamede S. How cognitive psychology changed the face of medical education researchAdv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. 2020;25(5):1025-1043. doi:10.1007/s10459-020-10011-0

  3. U.S. Department of Labor. Psychologists.

  4. American Psychological Association. Academic careers: What do psychology faculty earn?

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd
Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."