To become an I/O psychologist, you'll first need a bachelor's degree.¹ From there, many professionals interested in industrial and organizational psychology go on to pursue a master's degree, such as NLU's M.S. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. While a bachelor's degree may be enough to get your foot in the door (typically in human resources and related areas), a master's degree can lead to greater job opportunities and a higher salary.²

NLU's industrial and organizational psychology graduate program was developed to meet the needs of employers and is aligned with industry best practices, as well as the Guidelines for Education and Training at the Master's Level in I/O Psychology (published by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology). This interdisciplinary program draws on expertise and subject matter from NLU’s School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the School of Business and Management, and also incorporates coursework from NLU's M.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Human Resource Management and Development.

Because I/O psychology focuses on human behavior in work settings, industrial-organizational psychologists can work practically anywhere: business, healthcare, manufacturing, consulting, government, public (including non-profit) and more. Their specific duties depend on where they are employed. Some I/O psychologists work in business, focusing on areas such as employee training, productivity and human resources. Others work in academic settings, teaching and conducting research. Consulting is also a popular career path for industrial-organizational psychologists. The career opportunities are virtually limitless for I/O psychologists.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, I/O psychology is projected to grow 53.4 percent from 2012–2022, much faster than the national average for all occupations.³ Industrial and organizational psychology was also listed among the "top 10 most in-demand Chicago jobs in 2016" in Crain's Chicago Business.⁴ The article explains that corporations recognize that effective employees are valuable assets, and are willing to invest in I/O psychologists to help find and retain top talent.

The industries with the highest concentration of employment for I/O psychologists include:⁵

• Scientific Research and Development Services
• Management, Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
• State Government (OES Designation)
• Offices of Other Health Practitioners
• Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools

In its 2012 income and employment survey, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) lists the starting salary for an I/O specialist with a master's degree at about $65,000 per year, with the median annual salary being around $80,000.⁶ University professors can expect to make approximately $70,000 annually, while those in the private sector could earn up to $100,000.⁷ The highest-paid industrial-organizational psychologists can make more than $250,000 annually.⁸

The top paying industries for I/O psychology include:⁹

• M.S. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology