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Occupational psychologist: Salary and conditions

• Range of typical starting salaries: £18,000 - £30,000 (salary data collected Oct 09).
• Range of typical salaries at senior level/with experience: £35,000 - £70,000 (salary data collected Oct 09).
• Management consultancies and the private sector tend to pay significantly more than the public sector and academia, but require longer working hours. More experienced and senior consultants may earn higher salaries.
• Working hours and conditions often include regular extra hours in large private organisations. This is less likely in the public sector. Weekends and shift work are rare. Flexible working hours operate in some civil service agencies.
• You may work both on your own and in small project teams, in the clients' premises, a management centre or your own office.
• Self-employment/freelance work is common. Self-employed psychologists are likely to have substantial work experience in a particular specialist area and will have built up a good client profile.
• Both men and women are well represented throughout the profession.
• Jobs are available throughout the UK, but major consultancies tend to be based in the South East of England and larger cities.
• Consultants must respond to client needs. This often means working to tight deadlines. Business clients usually expect you to maintain a professional appearance.
• Travel within a working day is frequent. Self-employed consultants need to be mobile, as they will need to travel to their client. Absence from home at night may be necessary. There may be occasional opportunities in the largest consultancies for work overseas with multinational companies.

AGCAS

Written by Ed Riddick, AGCAS

Last updated:

October 2009

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