Non-clinical psychology PhDs: What are you actually doing with your degree and is it paying off?
For those with a PhD in psychology outside of clinical psychology: What do you do for work, and how are you earning income? I’d love to hear actual job titles, career paths, and how you got there.
I have a PhD in psychology(cognition/instruction,quantitative focus) and run a private practice under my master’s-level therapist license. I also teach as an adjunct, but neither role requires my doctorate. I’m having a hard time finding work where my PhD meaningfully changes the opportunities available to me—or my earning potential.
I enjoy research, analysis, and learning, but honestly, the degree is starting to feel like a colossal waste of money. I want to hear from people who have found a way to make it work.
Are you in industry research, UX, consulting, program evaluation, academia, or something I haven’t considered? Did your PhD open doors, or did you have to build an entirely different skill set to get hired?
If you’re comfortable sharing, what’s your income range, and would you choose this degree again?
Where are the jobs that make you think, “Okay, this is what I earned this PhD for”?