School psychologists assess and support students' mental health, learning, and behavior in educational settings. You'll need a master's degree and extensive preparation. The work is in demand, deeply collaborative, and centers on helping young people succeed.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
School psychologists work directly with students, families, teachers, and administrators to address learning and behavioral challenges. You gather information through interviews, observations, and assessments. You communicate findings to supervisors and peers, establish strong relationships with the school community, and monitor how interventions are working. You identify patterns in student behavior and performance, make decisions about support strategies, and solve problems that affect academic and social growth. Your work draws on psychology, counseling, education, and sociology to create environments where students can thrive.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
School Psychologists earn a median of $95,990 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 3,800 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You'll need a master's degree in school psychology or a related field. This typically involves coursework in psychology, counseling, education, and assessment, plus supervised practice in schools. The path requires extensive preparation and study beyond a bachelor's degree. During your master's program, you'll develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and data analysis. You may also need to complete specific credentialing or certification requirements that vary by state. Working with a school counselor or academic advisor can help you identify programs and requirements in your area.
Most school psychologists earn a master's degree after completing a bachelor's degree, which shapes your timeline and cost. If you're weighing different paths or trying to understand the full scope of preparation, Pathly can map the school psychologist path that fits you and build a step-by-step plan with your counselor.
Many school psychologists must be licensed, and professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You're drawn to work that centers on people and their growth. You listen well, communicate clearly, and enjoy solving complex problems that affect others' wellbeing and learning.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).