Master’s In Forensic Psychology Jobs [15 Best-Paying + Entry-Level Jobs You Can Do With A Forensic Psychology Degree] - Zippia (2024)

A master’s degree in forensic psychology opens up a variety of opportunities to enter both exciting, fulfilling, and lucrative careers. Individuals with this educational background can enter fields like criminal justice or the legal system by providing psychological care to individuals in contact with those systems.

Forensic psychology can sometimes be referred to as criminal psychology. These individuals can work for federal government agencies, private companies, universities, as well as research labs. They may also work as independent consultants. Here are some common jobs you can pursue with a master’s in forensic psychology.

• Investigative Journalist

• Sports Psychologist

• Forensic Psychologist

• School Psychologist

• Industrial Organizational Psychologist

• Diversity and Inclusion Manager

• Engineering Psychologist

• Mental Health Counselor

• Correctional Officer

• Marriage and Family Therapist

• Social Worker

• Research Assistant

• Career Counselor

• Detective

• Survey Researcher

Key Takeaways

• Psychology in itself is closely related to law and criminal justice, and those who find an interest in this topic are best suited for a master’s in forensic psychology.

• Forensic psychology programs typically take two years to complete if you can attend full-time or three years if you work a full-time job.

• With a master’s degree in psychology, you can typically qualify for positions within law enforcement agencies, psychiatric hospitals, prison systems, and victim advocacy.

• To work a forensic psychology job, you must have excellent verbal communication, be a critical thinker, and be skilled at writing, interviewing, and presenting a case.

7 Best-Paying Jobs for People With a Master’s in Forensic Psychology

1. Investigative Journalist

   Average Yearly Salary: N/A

   Investigative journalists work for newspapers, websites, magazines, radio stations, or television stations. These individuals are responsible for researching a specific topic an editor or news director assigns them. They are usually topics that are more serious in nature, like political events or social trends.

   Investigative journalists are tasked with interviewing sources and experts on their assigned topic as well as researching and fact-checking. They organize their information and write a story so that readers can better understand the topic. This career has a variety of different specialties to consider as well.

   Despite traditional paper journalism taking a decline in recent years, investigative reporting is still just as, if not more important than ever. Online outlets and journals have plenty of opportunities for reporting. Investigative journalists can also choose to take on freelance work.

   If you find enjoyment in researching, interviewing, and writing, investigative journalism is a great career to explore. You should have a passion for sharing important issues with the public and work to develop your communication skills if you choose to pursue investigative journalism as a career.

2. Sports Psychologist

   Average Yearly Salary: $79,000

   See Also

   Forensic Psychology Salary | Forensic Psychologist SalaryHow To Become A Forensic Psychologist | Psychology.orgForensic Psychologist Salary - Forensic Psychology CareersForensic Psychologist Career (Salary + Duties + Interviews)

   Sports psychologists have the unique challenge and opportunity to help athletes improve their performance. They may work with athletes on things like motivation, managing stress, visualization, teamwork skills, and other psychological factors that may impact their athletic performance.

   These professionals typically use their training to utilize cognition, interpersonal relationships, and behavioral psychology to help athletes excel. Many professional sports teams, athletes, and even organizations like the U.S. Army seeks psychological guidance to help improve their performance.

   It’s important to note that many states require a doctorate in psychology to reach the maximum salary in this field. However, with a master’s in forensic psychology, you can become a counseling sports psychologist, sports administrator, or related occupation while you work towards a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) or doctor of psychology (PsyD).

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3. Forensic Psychologist

   Average Yearly Salary: $83,000

   A forensic psychologist often works as an advisor or expert witness during legal trials. They provide insight into client competency, sentencing, and treatment. They may also analyze crime scene evidence to develop criminal profiles to help identify suspects. They may also consult legal and administrative employers.

   Forensic psychologists typically primarily conduct their research in a scholarly capacity. They contribute to interrogation techniques and criminal rehabilitation and can even provide input on correctional facility design. These professionals need strong forensic skills in order to psychologically assess the individuals they work with.

   To become a forensic psychologist, you’ll want to be comfortable with a varied workday and be prepared for all different types of clients. You should be comfortable with research and academics and familiar with a courtroom. You should be highly attuned to the world around you and a master communicator to be successful in this field.

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4. School Psychologist

   Average Yearly Salary: $78,000

   School psychologists are individuals that work in school settings to support students and their ability to learn and teachers and their ability to teach those students. They utilize their expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to help families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals.

   As mentioned previously, these professionals work in school settings but these can be anything from private schools to preschools to universities or juvenile justice programs. They can also work in community-based treatment centers or clinics, in independent private practice, or in school district administrative offices.

   School psychologists are an important part of any school setting. If you are looking for a career where you can make a difference in someone’s life, school psychology may be right for you. You can utilize your unique skills to help understand and resolve long-term, chronic, and short-term issues for students.

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5. Industrial Organizational Psychologist

   Average Yearly Salary: $92,000

   Industrial and organizational (I/O) psychologists are professionals that focus on the behavior of employees in a workplace. They work to apply certain psychological principles and research strategies to improve work cultures which can include employee communication, performance, satisfaction, and safety.

   Many organizations struggle with operating at high performance while maintaining employee satisfaction. There are so many different variables that can impact a company’s success, including communication, conflict resolution, processes, professional competence, and effective management.

   I/O psychologists use research and evaluation to teach employees how to work better. They may observe team members and document how employees behave or distribute a survey to gather more information. Once their research is completed, they can work with individuals or teams on how to improve their performance.

   It’s important to note that although a master’s in forensic psychology can get you in the door for this career, those with a doctoral degree will see more employment opportunities in this field and be able to earn higher salaries. The largest industry for I/O psychologists is management in scientific and technical consulting services.

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6. Diversity and Inclusion Manager

   Average Yearly Salary: N/A

   Many companies struggle to ensure they are adequately diversifying their staff. Diversity and inclusion managers are responsible for overseeing business diversity efforts and initiatives and typically play a large role in evaluating company culture and practices and advising strategies on how to improve diversity.

   Diversity and inclusion managers typically work closely with managers and other staff in the organization to promote and foster diversity while establishing an inclusive work environment. They may also be tasked with training programs to educate others about diversity issues or investigate concerns related to discrimination or harassment.

   This is a highly lucrative field, especially for someone with a master’s degree. You should enjoy working with all types of people and personalities and have a passion for improving diversity and inclusiveness in workplaces. You should have excellent communication skills and feel comfortable recruiting candidates to your company.

7. Engineering Psychologist

   Average Yearly Salary: N/A

   If you’re looking for a job that is both interesting and technical, engineering psychology is an interesting career to explore. Engineering psychologists study how people interact with machines and technology. They typically use psychology to guide the design of the systems and devices we use every day to optimize performance.

   Engineering psychologists strive to make our interactions with technology easier, more comfortable, less frustrating, and safer. They are tasked with applying psychology to improve important life-saving products such as medical devices or things like airline computer systems. This improves the overall design of these technologies.

   These professionals can work in a variety of different industries, including academia, government, and business. Additionally, the technology and devices they interact with may vary from common things like cars or can openers to more technologically advanced things like transportation technology.

8 Entry-Level Jobs for People With a Master’s in Forensic Psychology

1. Mental Health Counselor

   Average Yearly Salary: $49,000

   Mental health counselors are trained professionals who can assess and treat mental and emotional health disorders, relationship problems, and general life challenges. They may use various methods but typically help their clients to develop meaningful behavior changes by arming them with coping strategies.

   Mental health counselors can specialize in areas of study, including substance abuse, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, or personality disorders. These professionals typically must also become licensed to practice in their state and a master’s degree is required as well as supervised fieldwork.

   Mental health counseling is not for everyone. You should ensure you enjoy working with all types of people and practice patience and flexibility. Academics are only one piece of the puzzle. Consider working in a mental health setting to gain a better understanding of this type of career before you enter the field.

   See Also

   What Can You Do With a Psychology Degree? Jobs and More

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2. Correctional Officer

   Average Yearly Salary: $39,000

   Correctional officers work in prison or jail settings where they are responsible for enforcing rules and regulations to keep prisoners safe. They oversee individuals who have been arrested, are awaiting trial, or have been sentenced to serve time in a jail, prison, or reformatory.

   Correctional officers must perform physically, often tasked with restraining inmates with handcuffs and leg irons to escort them safely. They are typically responsible for escorting prisoners between the institution they work in and medical facilities, courtrooms, or other destinations as necessary.

   To be a correctional officer, you must have a distinct personality. Most are independent, stable, persistent, assertive, practical, and confident. These professionals typically work for the government but can also be employed by private companies that provide correctional services.

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3. Marriage and Family Therapist

   Average Yearly Salary: $57,000

   Marriage and family therapists also referred to as MFTs, are professionals trained in psychotherapy and family systems who become licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional issues within the context of family systems, marriage, and couples. They are highly experienced and typically have existing clinical experience.

   In recent years, the Federal government worked to designate marriage and family therapy as a core mental health profession that stands with psychiatry, psychology, social work, and psychiatric nursing. The licensing requirements will vary depending on where you live.

   If you have an interest in psychology and human development or the effects of divorce or other factors in family dynamics, this career may appeal to you. It’s important to note that this area of work can be challenging and bring emotional effects that are difficult to leave behind when you clock out of work.

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4. Social Worker

   Average Yearly Salary: $50,000

   Social workers are individuals who devote their time to helping vulnerable people and communities to work through issues they experience every day. They may practice in a variety of settings to promote social welfare and help people from all backgrounds overcome challenges.

   Social workers can work in schools, hospitals, government agencies, community development and outreach agencies, country, state, and federal legal agencies, as well as clinics or counseling agencies. Some may even be self-employed in private practices as licensed clinical social workers.

   Most careers in this field also require social work licenses, but these can vary from state to state. There is a great outlook for this career as it is projected to grow 9% from 2021 to 2031, faster than average for most occupations. This means just under 75,000 job openings for social work are projected each year on average.

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5. Research Assistant

   Average Yearly Salary: $42,000

   Research assistants are individuals who are employed by research institutes or senior researchers to assist with academic or private research. They provide support to research fellows or a broader research team by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data from their projects.

   Becoming a research assistant allows individuals to explore all types of different areas in a project. They can do anything from preparing materials, reviewing literature, collecting data, analyzing data, creating graphs or taking notes, attending meetings, supervising undergraduate researchers, and more.

   When looking for opportunities with a forensic psychology master’s degree, you may be more interested in looking at research assistant jobs in related fields like psychology. It’s important to be analytical, organized, and scientific and have great critical thinking skills to be successful in this career.

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6. Career Counselor

   Average Yearly Salary: $44,000

   There are many individuals who are unhappy in their careers or simply don’t know how to begin. Career counselors work to help clients find jobs they find meaningful, satisfying, and lucrative by helping them identify strengths, weaknesses, and interests. They use that information to research possible careers and job openings.

   Career counselors are more than just individuals who help people find jobs. They typically work with a wide variety of people and administer personality or career tests to assess aptitudes and interests. They can also assist in creating resumes and cover letters, as well as helping clients with effective interviewing techniques.

   Career counselors must bring excellent interpersonal skills, communication skills, and analytical reasoning to any job they take on. Typically, these individuals work in school environments, with the largest sector being elementary and secondary schools, both public and private.

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7. Detective

   Average Yearly Salary: $57,000

   Detectives are curious by nature and can work as both public and private professionals. Private detectives may be former police officers, spies, military professionals, or security guards. They are limited to citizen arrest and detention and do not have police authority. Public detectives work for the government.

   Detectives can also specialize in forensics, where they focus on recognizing, identifying, and evaluating physical evidence. They utilize their scientific knowledge to investigate the evidence from a crime scene to run scientific tests and write detailed reports or provide solid scientific evidence in court.

   To be a detective, you should be highly investigative and enjoy solving puzzles. You may be intellectual, curious, analytical, and logical, as well as confident and optimistic. Depending on their area of focus, detectives can work at a desk or in the field, including being on call at all hours of the day.

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8. Survey Researcher

   Average Yearly Salary: $50,000

   Survey researchers are individuals that design surveys and analyze data from those surveys. They may collect factual data or ask specific questions to better understand a group’s preferences or desires. They may work in research firms, polling companies, nonprofits, corporations, academia, and government agencies.

   The data survey researchers collect is typically used to help organizations make better decisions. They may collaborate with others to understand the survey objective and work to distribute the survey to the most impactful audience. They can also conduct focus groups and one on one interviews for these purposes.

   As far as job growth in this field goes, employment of survey researchers is expected to grow 6% from 2021 to 2031, which is, on average, for most occupations. This means that just about 1,000 openings for survey researchers are expected to be available each year on average.

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What to Know About a Master’s in Forensic Psychology

Psychology is a fascinating field and is tightly related to crime or criminal behavior. That’s because understanding the criminal mind and what motivates criminal behavior is one of the fascinating aspects of psychology. Psychology in itself is closely related to law and criminal justice.

Those who find an interest in this topic are best suited for a master’s in forensic psychology. They equip students with interdisciplinary tools like criminal justice and psychology to develop the expertise they need to better understand and gain critical insights into the workings of the criminal mind.

Forensic psychology programs typically take two years to complete if you can attend full-time or three years if you work a full-time job. You can also get a forensic psychology degree online, which allows for broader schedule flexibility. Forensic psychology opens up a broad range of opportunities, including working in law, criminal justice, and research.

With a master’s degree in psychology, you can typically qualify for positions within law enforcement agencies, psychiatric hospitals, prison systems, and victim advocacy. It also gives you the ability to work for yourself and offer services as an independent contractor who works with private investigators or to offer expert witness testimony.

Why Get a Master’s in Forensic Psychology?

A master’s in forensic psychology is a great career option for those interested in psychology and the law. It is also an essential degree to obtain if you are looking to become a fully licensed forensic psychologist. Here are some other reasons you may want to consider before pursuing a master’s in forensic psychology.

• You enjoy helping others. With a master’s in forensic psychology, you can become anything from an expert witness to a victim advocate to a mental health professional. All of these career fields are opportunities for you to help others through your expertise or by helping them gain key skills they can use to improve their life.

• You like a healthy balance of research and working with people. Forensic psychology sometimes offers the best of both worlds, where you can use your time to independently research or work one-on-one or in group settings with individuals who need your help and expertise.

• You want a fulfilling career. Some of the most common careers after graduating with a master’s in forensic psychology include becoming a psychologist, sociologist, substance abuse counselor, psychology professor, or correctional treatment specialist. No matter which career you choose, you’ll know you’re making a difference.

Master’s in Forensic Psychology Jobs FAQ

1. What can you do with a master’s degree in Forensic Psychology?

   You can work as a crime scene investigator, behavioral analyst, law enforcement advocate, academic researcher, social worker, or many other jobs within psychology and law.

2. What skills do you need for Forensic Psychology jobs?

   To work a forensic psychology job, you must have excellent verbal communication, be a critical thinker, and be skilled at writing, interviewing, and presenting a case.

3. Do employees with a master’s in Forensic Psychology get paid more?

   Yes, on average, employees with a master’s in forensic psychology get paid more.