Travel is required to attend conferences or conduct research. Employment Psychologists held about 143,000 jobs in 1996. Educational institutions employed nearly 4 out of 10 salaried psychologists in positions other than teaching, such as counseling, testing, research, and administration. Three out of 10 were employed in health services, primarily in hospitals, mental health clinics, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and other health facilities. Government agencies at the Federal, State, and local levels employed about 16 percent.
Governments employ psychologists in hospitals, clinics, correctional facilities, and other settings.
The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense employ about 80 percent of the psychologists working for Federal agencies. Some psychologists work in social service organizations, research organizations, management consulting firms, marketing research firms, and other businesses. Over 40 percent of all psychologists are self-employed. In addition to the jobs described above, many held positions as psychology faculty at colleges and universities, and as high school psychology teachers. For more information on nonacademic careers in psychology, read this report from the APA Science Directorate.