by our College Data Analytics TeamDevelopmental and Adolescent Psychology (CIP 42.2710) is part of the Psychology field of study, alongside 10 related programs, but no U.S. college reported developmental and adolescent psychology graduates to IPEDS in the latest year. Graduates earn a median $34,806 one year after completing, rising to $58,844 after four years.
A degree in Developmental and Adolescent Psychology explores A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Unique Stages Of Psychological Growth And Development Of Individuals From Adolescence To Adulthood. Includes Instruction In Cognitive And Perceptual Development, Emotional Development, Personality Development, The Effects Of Biological Maturation On Behavior, Theories Of Cognitive Growth And Related Research Methods, Testing And Assessment Methods For Different Age Levels, Research On Child And Adolescent Behavior Therapy, And The Psychology Of Aging. Examples: [Adolescent Development].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
O*NET rates Active Listening the most important skill for jobs related to developmental and adolescent psychology, at 4.1 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are English Language, Education and Training and Administration and Management. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to developmental and adolescent psychology, at 44.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 44.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.7% |
| Master’s degree | 12.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 9.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Developmental and Adolescent Psychology, with an average median salary of $109,821; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Child Development Professor, Psychology Adjunct Instructor, School Psychology Professor and Human Relations Teacher.
The occupation related to developmental and adolescent psychology with the most projected jobs is Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary, at 513,614.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 206,409 | 1.0% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
Developmental and Adolescent Psychology graduates earn a median $34,806 one year after completing their program, $58,844 after four years and $59,483 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,806 |
| 4 years | $58,844 |
| 5 years | $59,483 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to developmental and adolescent psychology is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
Developmental and Adolescent Psychology has 10 similar majors in the Psychology field, which together award 24,503 degrees a year; the largest are Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (14,964), Experimental Psychology (5,021) and Developmental and Child Psychology (1,864). Browse all Psychology majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 14,964 |
| Experimental Psychology | 5,021 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology | 1,864 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience | 1,447 |
| Social Psychology | 458 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics | 425 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology | 211 |
| Psychopharmacology | 74 |
| Personality Psychology | 23 |
| Comparative Psychology | 16 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.