Childhood is a critical period of development, where foundations for future thought processes, behaviors, and emotional patterns are established. Working with children offers a unique opportunity to witness and understand the evolution of human cognition, emotion, and behavior from its nascent stages. While children often express themselves in endearing and unpredictable ways, their words and actions provide profound insights into the broader facets of human development.
What Does a Child Psychologist Do?Job RequirementsSalarySchools for Child Psychology DegreesCompanies That Hire Child PsychologistsBehavior Tech and Behavioral Analysis in Child and Developmental PsychologyInterviews with a Child PsychologistFamous Child PsychologistsWhat Can Child Psychologists Do On A Day to Day Basis?
What Does a Child Psychologist Do?
Job Requirements
Salary
Schools for Child Psychology Degrees
Companies That Hire Child Psychologists
Behavior Tech and Behavioral Analysis in Child and Developmental Psychology
Interviews with a Child Psychologist
Famous Child Psychologists
What Can Child Psychologists Do On A Day to Day Basis?
Child psychologists use their understanding of psychology to work with children and their families. Whether diagnosing a child with ADHD, helping a child work through trauma, or assessing a child’s behavior and capabilities, a child psychologist can help a child live a successful life.
No two child psychologists have the same job and complete the same tasks on the same day. While some psychologists may be completing assessment after assessment to ensure every child in a school district gets the care they need, another child psychologist may be conducting therapy sessions with children in a hospital who have been through trauma. Child psychologists hold similar roles to adult psychologists, but they specialize in children and their thoughts.
If you aspire to be a child psychologist, prepare for an extensive educational journey. Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in child psychology provide foundational knowledge, and many professionals in the field opt to deepen their expertise with advanced degrees. A Ph.D. in Psychology tends to be research-focused, preparing individuals for careers in academia, research, or clinical practice. On the other hand, a PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) is more practice-oriented, emphasizing clinical work and applying psychological principles.
It is important to note that working as a child psychologist with an MA in counseling is a viable option, especially for those looking to enter the field more quickly. Regardless of the chosen educational path, obtaining a license and board certification to practice in your state is necessary. This process involves completing an internship, gaining supervised professional experience, and passing the American Board of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (ABCCAP) exam—a comprehensive test that requires thorough preparation.
Each state has specific licensure requirements, so it’s crucial to research and understand the guidelines in your area. These steps ensure you are well-prepared and qualified to make a meaningful impact in child psychology.
It’s rare to get into child psychology for the salary - while you can make a decent living in child psychology, only a handful will make six figures. Salaries will depend on the company or organization that hires you, your experience, and your job type.
Here is an idea of what you can expect your salary to look like, compiled from a few different sources:
Child Psychologist Reported SalaryLowAverageHighPayscale.com$41,000$68,000$96,000ZipRecruiter$42,000$81,331$119,000Salary.com$64,877$76,165$91,584Glassdoor$35,000$73,000$150,000
Child Psychologist Reported Salary
Low
Average
High
Payscale.com
$41,000
$68,000
$96,000
ZipRecruiter
$42,000
$81,331
$119,000
Salary.com
$64,877
$76,165
$91,584
Glassdoor
$35,000
$73,000
$150,000
Among the numerous institutions in the United States, 35 notable schools offer a bachelor’s degree in child psychology and 48 of these institutions provide more advanced degrees. It’s common for these programs to grant a degree in clinical psychology with a specialization or concentration in child psychology. As you delve into this field and explore potential career paths, consider these prominent schools:
Many different types of companies and organizations are looking for child psychologists, including:
The job requirements and daily responsibilities will vary depending on the organization hiring the child psychologist and why they need to fill this position.
Child psychologists may also open up their practice and serve their clients.
In child and developmental psychology, the roles of Behavior Technicians (Behavior Techs) and those specializing in Behavioral Analysis have been gaining prominence. These roles often intersect with the traditional duties of child psychologists but offer unique approaches and specializations. Here’s a closer look at what these professions entail:
Want to hear what being a child psychologist is like, straight from the source? Read this interview withDr. Rachelle Robinson,a child psychologist specializing in child and family therapy.
You can also find multiple interviews on YouTube, like with Dr. Rebecca Berry.
Want to see a day in the life of a child psychologist? Dr. Ann-Louise T. Lockhart takes you through hers!
This video from the Emory School of Law gives a peek into what you might be learning at school to become a child psychologist. Interviewing children requires a different approach than interviewing adults!
Child psychologists don’t all do the same thing every day. A child psychologist conducting research might have a very different day than someone working with children in a juvenile detention center.
If you become a child psychologist, you might end up with any of these tasks on any given day!
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Reference this article:Practical Psychology. (2021, June).Child Psychologist Career (Salary + Duties + Interviews).Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/child-psychologist/.Practical Psychology. (2021, June). Child Psychologist Career (Salary + Duties + Interviews). Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/child-psychologist/.Copy
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Practical Psychology. (2021, June).Child Psychologist Career (Salary + Duties + Interviews).Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/child-psychologist/.Practical Psychology. (2021, June). Child Psychologist Career (Salary + Duties + Interviews). Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/child-psychologist/.Copy
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