Iowa State University · Ames, IA

Psychology, General

Bachelor's degree · Graduating classes 2001–2018 (5-yr figures) · 2023 dollars

Years after graduating

01 / Typical pay

Typical pay, 5 years after graduating

$51,947

Middle half: $38,197–$67,504

Typical pay is the median: half earned more, half earned less. The middle half is the 25th to 75th percentile. Based on 2,380 grads with earnings records. Pay is in 2023 dollars.

From MajorOutcomes

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See how this stacks up

Compare Psychology, General with 11 of Iowa State University's biggest majors.

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02 / Over time

How pay changes over time

1Y
$24,726$32,975$42,342
5Y
$38,197$51,947$67,504
10Y
$49,564$67,734$91,103
Middle half of gradsTypical pay
Show as a table
Years out25thTypical75thGrads
1$24,726$32,975$42,3422,359
5$38,197$51,947$67,5042,380
10$49,564$67,734$91,1031,539

Each year-out uses a different group of graduating classes, so this isn't the same people's raise over time. Graduating classes, pooled: 1 year out, 2001–2021; 5 years out, 2001–2018; 10 years out, 2001–2012.

All Iowa State University psychology majors

Census publishes job location and industry only for broad fields, so this tab covers all Iowa State University bachelor's grads in psychology (CIP 42), not Psychology, General alone. Location means where the employer is, not where grads live.

03 / Location

Stayed in Iowa vs. elsewhere

56.9% worked for an employer in Iowa43.1% elsewhere

By Census division

Map of the 9 U.S. Census divisions, shaded by share of employed psychology grads. Iowa outlined. Values are in the list below. AlabamaAlaskaArizonaColoradoFloridaGeorgiaIndianaKansasMaineMassachusettsMinnesotaNew JerseyNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOklahomaPennsylvaniaSouth DakotaTexasWyomingConnecticutMissouriWest VirginiaIllinoisNew MexicoArkansasCaliforniaDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaHawaiiIowaKentuckyMarylandMichiganMississippiMontanaNew HampshireNew YorkOhioOregonTennesseeUtahVirginiaWashingtonWisconsinNebraskaSouth CarolinaIdahoNevadaVermontLouisianaRhode Island
FewerMoreIowa

Alaska and Hawaii are shown in the insets (not to scale). Both are in the Pacific division.

  1. West North CentralIncludes Iowa70.4%
  2. East North Central9.9%
  3. Mountain4.9%
  4. South Atlantic4.1%
  5. West South Central3.9%
  6. Pacific3.8%
  7. Middle Atlantic1.5%
  8. East South Central1.1%
  9. New England0.6%

04 / Industry

Top industries

Health Care and Social Assistance32.8%
Educational Services16.4%
Finance and Insurance11.8%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services7.1%
Public Administration6.8%

Share of 2,412 employed psychology grads, 5 years after graduating. Division shares include in-state jobs. Other industries make up the rest.

05 / Compare

Typical pay vs. Iowa State University's biggest majors, 5 years after graduating

How we picked these: the 12 Iowa State University bachelor's majors with the most grads in the 5-year earnings data (CIP 4-digit) that have published 1-, 5- and 10-year figures. Sorted by typical pay for the years you pick.

  1. Mechanical EngineeringCIP 14.19$95,783
    Middle half: $81,154–$114,120
  2. Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralCIP 11.01$84,993
    Middle half: $67,316–$106,057
  3. Accounting and Related ServicesCIP 52.03$75,525
    Middle half: $61,118–$92,924
  4. Finance and Financial Management ServicesCIP 52.08$75,210
    Middle half: $59,016–$96,339
  5. Business Administration, Management and OperationsCIP 52.02$73,173
    Middle half: $57,205–$93,173
  6. Agricultural Business and ManagementCIP 01.01$72,743
    Middle half: $56,263–$96,818
  7. MarketingCIP 52.14$67,842
    Middle half: $52,972–$88,854
  8. Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessCIP 31.05$59,602
    Middle half: $44,593–$76,564
  9. Animal SciencesCIP 01.09$58,630
    Middle half: $43,604–$78,899
  10. Design and Applied ArtsCIP 50.04$55,987
    Middle half: $42,020–$72,404
  11. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsCIP 13.12$54,167
    Middle half: $45,718–$61,612
  12. Psychology, GeneralCIP 42.01$51,947
    Middle half: $38,197–$67,504
This majorOther majors: middle halfTypical pay
Show as a table
Major (CIP)25thTypical75thGrads
Mechanical Engineering (14.19)$81,154$95,783$114,1203,769
Computer and Information Sciences, General (11.01)$67,316$84,993$106,0572,173
Accounting and Related Services (52.03)$61,118$75,525$92,9242,162
Finance and Financial Management Services (52.08)$59,016$75,210$96,3392,678
Business Administration, Management and Operations (52.02)$57,205$73,173$93,1734,173
Agricultural Business and Management (01.01)$56,263$72,743$96,8182,368
Marketing (52.14)$52,972$67,842$88,8543,328
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (31.05)$44,593$59,602$76,5642,720
Animal Sciences (01.09)$43,604$58,630$78,8992,234
Design and Applied Arts (50.04)$42,020$55,987$72,4043,702
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (13.12)$45,718$54,167$61,6122,885
Psychology, General (42.01)$38,197$51,947$67,5042,380

Each major is its own group of grads. Pay differs by field for many reasons, so this isn't a prediction for any one student. Majors are shown by their federal CIP titles, which may differ from Iowa State University's program names.

From MajorOutcomes

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Where this data comes from

Real earnings from tax and job records via the U.S. Census Bureau, not survey guesses.

How we use this data