Jobs to get with an associates degree in psychology

If you enjoy helping people and want to have insight into the human mind and human behavior, an Associate of Arts (AA) or an Associate of Science (AS) degree in psychology could lead you to a rewarding career path. While a degree in any discipline can make it easier to find a job in many different fields, an associate degree in psychology can be perfect for jobs working for, and with, other professionals like mental health workers, human services and social workers.

Table of Contents Show

Jobs in Mental Health
Jobs in Human Services
Jobs in Childcare and Education
What Can You Do With an Associate Degree in Psychology?
Important Facts About Psychology Careers
AA Degree in Psychology Jobs
Psychiatric Aide
Teacher Assistant
Social and Human Services Assistant
Which associate's degree pays most?
What else can you do with a degree in psychology?
What does associates mean in psychology?

Jobs in Mental Health

With an associate degree in psychology, you could work in the mental health field. Good places to look for employment include mental health hospitals or clinics, counseling centers or intervention units.

Two positions that often require an associate degree in psychology include psychiatric technicians and psychiatric aides, which both involve assisting and caring for people with mental illness and mental disabilities. While technicians provide therapeutic care and monitor patients, aides generally assist with daily activities like feeding and keeping their living environments clean and safe. In 2017, these positions paid a median annual wage of $29,330, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Psychiatric aides don't require a license. Only a few states, including California, require psychiatric technicians to be licensed.

Jobs in Human Services

If you'd like to work with youths or the elderly, take a look at open positions at local child welfare agencies, social services agencies, juvenile detention centers, group homes and vocational rehabilitation centers. These organizations often have positions that are ideal for someone with an AA in Psychology. Drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinics also hire people with an associate degree as aides and paraprofessional counselors. It's unlikely that you'll be able to get a job as a social worker or therapist without a more advanced degree; however, you can work as an aide or assistant, helping clients while under supervision.

Many of these jobs, such as aides working with seniors, aides to social workers or state-level correctional officers, may only require a high school diploma. For these positions, having a degree could help you stand out from other applicants. Pay can vary widely. As an example, the median income of correctional officers in 2017 was $43,540, according to the BLS. The median income for social and human resource assistants was $33,120.

Jobs in Childcare and Education

With the insight into childhood development you learn in college, an associate degree could get you a great job in early childhood education as a teacher's aide or as a childcare assistant at a daycare center or preschool. Childcare workers made a median income of $22,290 in 2017. As with many jobs, the specific requirements can vary with each position and often vary by state. Some positions may only require a high school education. Other jobs may require additional training and licensing from the state.

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What Jobs Can I Get with an Associate's Degree in Psychology?

If you are interested in pursuing a profession with an associate's degree in psychology, this article will introduce important career information as well as a list of three different professional paths. Read on to learn about these possible opportunities.

What Can You Do With an Associate Degree in Psychology?

With an associate's degree in psychology, you could explore a variety of career paths. For example, you might become a social and human services assistant, psychiatric aide, or teacher assistant. Keep reading to learn more about these common psychology-related careers, including the salary and outlook information for each one.

Important Facts About Psychology Careers

	Psychiatric Aide	Teacher Assistant	Social and Human Services Assistant
Median Salary (2018)*	$29,180	$26,970	$33,750
Entry-level Education	High school diploma or equivalent	Some college, no degree	High school diploma or equivalent
Job Outlook (2018-2028)*	11%	4%	13%
On-the-Job Training	Short-term on-the-job training	None	Short-term on-the-job training

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

AA Degree in Psychology Jobs

Psychiatric Aide

As a psychiatric aide, you may work in a hospital or mental health facility. Under the direction of nurses, doctors, and mental health counselors, you'll assist mentally ill patients with feeding, bathing, and dressing. You may help them with daily programs and activities or be called upon by a supervisor to be present during testing and examinations. Other duties can include:

Drawing laboratory samples
Serving food and assisting with feeding
Cleaning patients' rooms
Managing medical records
Transporting patients
Helping restrain patients when necessary

You might also monitor the overall behaviors and treatment plans of patients. The duties related to this role will vary depending on the type of patients you are helping to treat and their level of need.

Teacher Assistant

Teacher assistants work side-by-side with teachers in educational environments. These professionals are much like the secretaries of teachers in that they are responsible for day-to-day clerical and instructional support in the classroom. Should you choose this career path, your roles may include:

Assessing student behaviors
Grading homework
Providing input on students' progress
Organizing and managing classroom supplies
Preparing instructional materials
Attending meetings with parents.

You also might supervise students on the playground, in the lunchroom, or on field trips. In addition, you could be responsible for instructing students in the classroom under the supervision of the teacher and reviewing educational materials with students in small groups or one-on-one.

A career as a social and human services assistant puts you in the hands of your community. You might help people who need information on government assistance programs or you could work directly with clients on a one-to-one basis. Your duties could include:

Assessing clients' needs for medical and financial assistance, food stamps, as well as housing
Manage and maintain client records
Coordinate the different aspects of clients' care
Arrange for transportation for clients when necessary.

Once you have helped clients by assessing their needs and connecting them with the assistance they require, you may also play a role in following up with them to ensure they are receiving the care they need. If you work in a clinical setting, such as an outpatient clinic or hospital, you could potentially collaborate with doctors and other staff to implement rehabilitative programs for patients.

Which associate's degree pays most?

What Are the Highest-Paying Associate Degrees?.

Radiation Therapy. ... .

Nuclear Technology. ... .

Nuclear Medicine. ... .

Dental Hygiene. ... .

Web Development. ... .

Diagnostic Medical Sonography. ... .

Aerospace Engineering. ... .

Electrical Engineering..

What else can you do with a degree in psychology?

Psychology majors can be successful in a variety of careers outside the field of psychology. These majors can work in human resources, marketing, education, business, and healthcare. Working as a psychologist, counselor, or therapist will require an advanced degree.

What does associates mean in psychology?

n. a friend, partner, colleague, or accomplice. 3. n. in learning studies, a word that is paired with another word to be learned with it (see paired-associates learning).