An industrial psychologist’s job is to ensure favorable working conditions that stimulate productivity in the company that employs them. Typically, they’d perform this by analyzing the company’s structure and figuring out any links in the chain which might be harming the overall progress, then suggesting restructuring when necessary, and implementing ways to improve the morale and ambition among employees – typically through various extra incentives and bonuses. An industrial psychologist may sometimes work very closely with the company’s employees, conducting more personal interviews in order to see the current situation from a more objective point of view.
A Bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field may be enough to get hired in some companies, but it’s not uncommon for companies to require higher qualifications from their candidates, in some cases not just a Master’s degree but all the way up to a Doctorate. Some universities offer specialized courses in industrial psychology (as opposed to general psychology) and earning a degree in that field may be particularly beneficial to a candidate.
As an industrial psychologist, one can expect a salary of between $45,000 – $89,000, depending mainly on two factors – the company of employment, and the qualifications of the psychologist. The latter can be very important in some cases, as many companies are willing to make large adjustments to their psychologists’ salaries based on their prior experience and educational qualifications, so it can be a crucial factor in one’s professional development to attain high qualifications.