By: All Psychology Schools Staff
Updated: October 13, 2026
Clinical Psychology Guide
- The Cost of Clinical Psychology School
- Clinical Psychology Salaries
- Clinical Psychologist Job Description
- Clinical Psychology Degree Programs
- How to Become a Psychologist
Other Careers in Clinical Psychology
Learn how to become a cognitive psychologist (Cognitive psychology career overview)
Learn about the education you need to start a career in cognitive psychology.
Cognitive psychologists study how people think, learn, remember, perceive information and make decisions. They use research and scientific methods to understand mental processes and apply their findings in settings such as universities, research laboratories, government agencies and technology companies. If you’re interested in a career in cognitive psychology, understanding the education requirements, job opportunities and salary potential can help you plan your next steps.
Key takeaways
- Cognitive psychologists study mental processes such as memory, attention, perception and decision-making.
- Career opportunities include academic research, teaching, applied research and work in industries such as technology and human factors.
- Education requirements depend on the role, with many independent research and psychologist positions requiring a doctoral degree.
What is cognitive psychology?
Cognitive psychology generally favors the gathering of empirical data from scientific research methods instead of through clinically based observation (such as in the field of psychoanalysis) to reach conclusions and state a case. However, because cognitive psychology is a vast and diverse field, clinical observation can be useful in generating hypotheses for further research.
What do cognitive psychologists do?
These psychologists perform the following duties:
- Conduct research on the human thought process
- Teach at colleges and universities
- Work at government agencies
- Work as human factors consultants or industrial-organizational managers
- Study the human brain and memory in relation to computers
- Work with Alzheimer’s or memory-loss patients
- Work with children to understand memory formation
- Teach language skills and problem-solving
- Work in the legal system and study the mental processes of criminals, witnesses, juries and judges
Problems they can address
Behavioral and cognitive psychology has been recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) as a psychology specialty since 2000. According to the APA, these are just some of the problems that behavioral and cognitive psychology can help address.
What education do you need to work as a cognitive psychologist?
You need at least a doctorate (such as a PhD in psychology, which usually takes four to five years to complete after earning an undergraduate degree) to work as a licensed psychologist, but there are opportunities in the field for those with different educational backgrounds.
“For psychologists with a master’s degree, career options exist in human performance research, such as testing how well a person who has not slept for many hours can remember a short story. They may also work in industrial and organizational psychology, and some with master’s degrees may be hired for certain teaching positions,” says the APA. “Most of the work of master’s level professionals will be supervised by a doctoral level psychologist.”
Courses that you can expect to take in a cognitive psychology program include cognitive learning, neuroscience, behavioral therapy, developmental psychology, advanced social psychology and life-span development, as well as advanced research methods training that will include statistics, psychometrics and structural equations.
Where do cognitive psychologists work?
Cognitive psychologists work in many different settings, from classrooms to laboratories, government offices to neuroscience facilities. Your day may be spent working in a collaborative capacity with other psychologists of all persuasions, neuroscientists, linguists, computer scientists and other professionals who are intent on understanding how our brains function and why we learn and behave as we do.
Everything from brain imaging to psychometrics—the interpretation of quantitative tests for the measurement of intelligence, aptitude and personality traits—may be incorporated into your daily work environment.
How much do cognitive psychologists make?
Cognitive psychologists are part of the larger field of psychologists. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median national annual salary for psychologists is $99,110. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors.
In addition, they anticipate employment will grow 5.6% through 2035. National long-term projections of employment growth may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How do you become a cognitive psychologist?
To become a cognitive psychologist, you generally need to start with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, then pursue graduate education suited to your career goals. A PhD is generally important for independent academic research and university faculty positions, while some entry-level research and applied roles may accept candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
What does a cognitive psychologist do?
Cognitive psychologists study mental processes such as memory, attention, perception, language, learning and decision-making. They may conduct experiments, analyze research data, teach at universities or apply their findings to problems involving human behavior and information processing.
What is the difference between cognitive and clinical psychology?
Cognitive psychology focuses on mental processes such as thinking, learning, memory and attention, often through scientific research. Clinical psychology focuses on assessing people and treating mental, emotional and behavioral difficulties. The fields can overlap, particularly in research on cognition and mental health, but they have different primary goals.
Is cognitive psychology the same as neuropsychology?
No. Cognitive psychology broadly investigates mental processes, while clinical neuropsychology focuses on the relationships between brain function and behavior, including assessing cognitive changes associated with neurological conditions. Some researchers work across both areas.