by our College Data Analytics TeamA 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]. Read on to learn the essential details every developmental and adolescent psychology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering developmental and adolescent psychology programs.
Studies in Developmental and Adolescent Psychology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations developmental and adolescent psychology graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a developmental and adolescent psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a developmental and adolescent psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
People currently working in careers related to developmental and adolescent psychology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in developmental and adolescent psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in developmental and adolescent psychology prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to developmental and adolescent psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to developmental and adolescent psychology.
| 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% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of developmental and adolescent psychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,814 |
| 4 years | $50,900 |
| 5 years | $59,985 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for developmental and adolescent psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers developmental and adolescent psychology grads often go into.
| 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 |
Use our unbiased developmental and adolescent psychology school rankings to find the best fit for you.
Students interested in developmental and adolescent psychology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 13,996 |
| Experimental Psychology | 4,439 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology | 1,820 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience | 1,424 |
| Social Psychology | 458 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics | 380 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology | 203 |
| Psychopharmacology | 67 |
| Personality Psychology | 17 |
| Comparative Psychology | 9 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
