19 Series · SOC 19-3032

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$193,950
Median / year
$247,220
Top 10% earn
+6.3%
Growth '23–'33
790
US workers

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists earn a median of $193,950 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $193,950, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $79,010 (10th percentile) to $247,220 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 790 US workers. Oregon pays the most ($174,980), since pay varies by state and metro area.

19 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists earn a median of $193,950, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 97% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #1 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 6.3% by 2033.

$193,950
Median annual wage
Top 3%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#1 of 48
in Life, Physical, and Social Science
3.1×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Oregon at $174,980. Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists (SOC 19-3032) pays a national median of $193,950 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $79,010 at the 10th percentile to $247,220 at the 90th, with a mean of $170,230 indicating a compressed distribution clustered near the median. An estimated 790 Americans work in this occupation across 2 reporting states and 0 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +6.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 400 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Master's degree and internship/residency of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Oregon pays the highest state median at $174,980, which is 10% below the national figure. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 790 jobs Median $193,950/yr

Median Salary

$193,950

per year

Median Hourly

$93.24/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$170,230

average

Employment

790

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Industrial-Organizational Psychologists pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$193,950 Top 3% higher than 97% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Below this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Below this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Below this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). This entry sits in this band. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Industrial-Organizational Psychologists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Industrial-Organizational Psychologists sits on the faster-growing side at +6.3% growth and $193,950 median pay.

Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Industrial-Organizational Psychologists sits on the faster-growing side at +6.3% growth and $193,950 median pay. Scatter plot of 25 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000$250000 -5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Industrial-Organizational Psychologists sits on the faster-growing side at +6.3% growth and $193,950 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+6.3%

Faster than average

Annual Openings

400

per year (projected)

Typical Education

Master's degree

On-the-Job Training

Internship/residency

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

1.5/100K

Injury Rate

0.7/100

Danger Index

3.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Industrial-Organizational Psychologists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.4
Active Listening 4.4
Writing 4.3
Speaking 4.1
Critical Thinking 4.1
Judgment and Decision Making 4.1
Complex Problem Solving 4.0
Systems Evaluation 4.0
Active Learning 3.9
Monitoring 3.9

Knowledge Areas

Personnel and Human Resources 4.9
Psychology 4.8
Education and Training 4.5
Administration and Management 4.0
Mathematics 4.0
English Language 3.8
Customer and Personal Service 3.6
Law and Government 3.4
Sociology and Anthropology 3.4
Computers and Electronics 3.2

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Provide advice on best practices and implementation for selection.
  • ▸ Develop and implement employee selection or placement programs.
  • ▸ Analyze data, using statistical methods and applications, to evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of workplace programs.
  • ▸ Develop interview techniques, rating scales, and psychological tests used to assess skills, abilities, and interests for the purpose of employee selection, placement, or promotion.
  • ▸ Observe and interview workers to obtain information about the physical, mental, and educational requirements of jobs, as well as information about aspects such as job satisfaction.
  • ▸ Facilitate organizational development and change.
  • ▸ Analyze job requirements and content to establish criteria for classification, selection, training, and other related personnel functions.
  • ▸ Advise management concerning personnel, managerial, and marketing policies and practices and their potential effects on organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
  • ▸ Conduct presentations on research findings for clients or at research meetings.
  • ▸ Coach senior executives and managers on leadership and performance.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$79,010$107,310$193,950$222,280$247,220
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$37.99$51.59$93.24$106.86$118.86
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$79,010

25th Percentile

$107,310

Median

$193,950

75th Percentile

$222,280

90th Percentile

$247,220

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. Oregon $174,980 2. Texas $139,520

Lowest Paying States

-2. Texas $139,520 -1. Oregon $174,980
View all 2 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Oregon $174,980 10% below national
2 Texas $139,520 28% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.

Agricultural Technicians

SOC 19-4012

Animal Scientists

SOC 19-1011

Anthropologists and Archeologists

SOC 19-3091

Astronomers

SOC 19-2011

Atmospheric and Space Scientists

SOC 19-2021
Compare Industrial-Organizational Psychologists side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Industrial-Organizational Psychologists make? ▼
The median annual salary for Industrial-Organizational Psychologists is $193,950 ($93.24/hour). The salary range spans from $79,010 at the 10th percentile to $247,220 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Industrial-Organizational Psychologists the most? ▼
Oregon pays the highest median salary for Industrial-Organizational Psychologists at $174,980/year, which is 10% below the national median.
What education do you need to become a Industrial-Organizational Psychologists? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Industrial-Organizational Psychologists is Master's degree. On-the-job training: Internship/residency.
How dangerous is being a Industrial-Organizational Psychologists? ▼
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 1.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.7 per 100 workers.
Is Industrial-Organizational Psychologists a good career? ▼
Employment for Industrial-Organizational Psychologists is projected to grow 6.3% from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than average. About 400 openings are projected each year.
How does Industrial-Organizational Psychologists pay vary by state? ▼
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Oregon at $174,980/year, while Oregon pays the least at $174,980/year. BLS data covers 2 states and territories.

What to do with this data

How to use Industrial-Organizational Psychologists pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $222,280/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Oregon leads at $174,980/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.