Career comparison
Psychology Professor vs. School Psychologist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
School psychologists earn more at the median ($95,990 vs. $80,340), while school psychologists usually get to work faster (3 years after a bachelor’s of training). Psychology professors teach how people think, feel and behave, and research the mind. School psychologists help students learn, behave and feel well by assessing and supporting them.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Psychology Professor | School Psychologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $80,340 | $95,990 ($46.15/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $49,050 – $153,600 | $63,070 – $142,330 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.0% (about as fast as average) | +0.8% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 3,700 | 3,400 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s | 3 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in psychology | State school psychologist credential |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, research labs and offices.. | School psychologists work in schools, often traveling between several buildings.. |
What each job does
Psychology Professor
- Teach psychology courses
- Teach research methods and statistics
- Run a research lab
- Supervise student researchers
- Conduct studies
School Psychologist
- Assess students for special education
- Write psychological reports
- Take part in IEP meetings
- Design behavior plans
- Counsel students
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, helping others, and high-pay. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose psychology professor if…
- I love psychology
- I enjoy research
- I like mentoring
Choose school psychologist if…
- I care about kids
- I like testing and data
- I can write clear reports
Still torn? Take the Psychology Professor fit quiz and the School Psychologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, psychology professor or school psychologist?
School Psychologists earn more at the median: $95,990 versus $80,340 for psychology professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
School Psychologists typically train faster (3 years after a bachelor’s) than psychology professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects psychology professors to grow +4.0% from 2025–35, compared with +0.8% for school psychologists.