Eight Reasons to Earn an Industrial Psychology Degree Online

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With businesses nationwide looking for ways to increase their efficiency, decrease their overhead costs and comply with government requirements, job prospects for industrial-organizational psychologists are unmistakably on the rise.

If you have an interest in the application of psychological principles to the workplace, then an industrial psychology degree online will enable you to positively affect the productivity of businesses, the effectiveness of management—and the quality of people’s working lives.

The Benefits of Doing an Industrial Psychology Degree Online

1. Distance learning programs are expanding as never before: You will find a wealth of accredited programs online that offer the same opportunities for education as in-person programs. Degrees in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Applied Workplace Psychology, and specialized subfields like Evaluation, Research & Measurement are available at bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctoral levels.

2. Earning an industrial psychology degree online means flexibility: You will be able to take advantage of the flexible hours, cutting-edge technological solutions, and innovative curriculum of today’s online degree programs.

3. Effective learning: Recent research from the U.S. Department of Education recognizes the effectiveness of online and hybrid education formats. Earning an industrial psychology degree online means you will be able to take advantage of the flexible hours, cutting-edge technological solutions, and innovative curriculum of today’s online degree programs.

Industrial Psychology Career Benefits

4. Jobs are out there: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) current Occupational Outlook Handbook, jobs in the field of organizational psychology are expected to increase 5.9% through 2032, which is right at the average for all careers. Doctoral degree holders will have the best job prospects, but there are also many opportunities for those with a master’s-level industrial psychology degree, including industry and government jobs in consulting, marketing research, organizational development, data analysis and personnel management. 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.

5. Great salaries: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics, the median national annual salary for industrial-organizational psychologists is $147,420, with the top 10% earning $219,810. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors.

6. Improve the workplace: One of the many vital job functions of a professional who has earned an industrial psychology degree online is to work with management to improve the efficient and productive operation of businesses. Industrial-organizational psychologists help improve recruiting, hiring and retention practices; they design and analyze performance evaluation systems; and they consult on a variety of issues related to employee training.

7. Improve workers’ lives: Industrial psychology degree holders also perform and implement research that has a direct effect on employees. When employees have satisfying and fulfilling working lives, their performance and motivation improve, and the entire business benefits, as well as the individuals. Industrial-organizational psychologists help identify factors that motivate employees, as well as factors that minimize stress, discrimination and behavioral problems.

8. Work in a variety of industries: An industrial psychology degree online can also qualify you to work in industries that emphasize research and data analysis, such as scientific development or management consulting. Industrial-organizational psychologists may have particular expertise in research design, data analysis, statistical methods, testing and test interpretation, making them valuable assets in workplaces that rely on data collection and research.