Career comparison
Industrial-Organizational Psychologist vs. Psychology Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Industrial-organizational psychologists earn more at the median ($193,950 vs. $80,340), while industrial-organizational psychologists usually get to work faster (2–6 years after a bachelor’s of training). Industrial-organizational psychologists use psychology to improve hiring, teamwork and workplaces. Psychology professors teach how people think, feel and behave, and research the mind.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | Psychology Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $193,950 ($93.24/hr) | $80,340 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $79,010 – $247,220 | $49,050 – $153,600 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.5% (faster than average) | +4.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 300 | 3,700 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 2–6 years after a bachelor’s | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Master’s or Ph.D. in I-O | Ph.D. in psychology |
| Work setting | I-O psychologists work in offices, often for consulting firms or large employers.. | Faculty work in classrooms, research labs and offices.. |
What each job does
Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
- Design hiring assessments
- Run employee surveys
- Build performance systems
- Analyze workforce data
- Develop leaders
Psychology Professor
- Teach psychology courses
- Teach research methods and statistics
- Run a research lab
- Supervise student researchers
- Conduct studies
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, working with information, and working with people. They sit in different fields, business & office and education & childcare, but share transferable skills such as communication and mentoring.
Which should you choose?
Choose industrial-organizational psychologist if…
- I love psychology and data
- I want better workplaces
- I like research
Choose psychology professor if…
- I love psychology
- I enjoy research
- I like mentoring
Still torn? Take the Industrial-Organizational Psychologist fit quiz and the Psychology Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, industrial-organizational psychologist or psychology professor?
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists earn more at the median: $193,950 versus $80,340 for psychology professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists typically train faster (2–6 years after a bachelor’s) than psychology professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects industrial-organizational psychologists to grow +6.5% from 2025–35, compared with +4.0% for psychology professors.