Industrial-Organizational Psychology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Industrial-Organizational Psychology is a specialized field dedicated to understanding and enhancing human behavior within workplace environments through scientific research and practical application. This discipline bridges psychology and business by analyzing how individuals and teams function in organizational contexts, with the goal of improving productivity, employee well-being, and overall system performance.
- Group Behavior Theory: Explores how individuals interact within teams, examining dynamics such as communication patterns, leadership roles, and conflict resolution strategies in collaborative settings.
- Organizational Theory: Investigates the structure, culture, and processes that shape how organizations operate, including models of decision-making, change management, and system efficiency.
- Reward and Punishment Structures: Analyzes the psychological impact of incentive systems, disciplinary practices, and performance-based feedback on motivation and compliance.
- Human-Machine and Human-Computer Interactions: Focuses on optimizing interfaces and workflows to improve usability, reduce errors, and enhance user experience in technology-driven work environments.
- Motivation Dynamics: Studies the internal and external factors that drive employee engagement, effort, and persistence in achieving professional goals.
- Human Stress Studies: Examines sources and effects of occupational stress, including burnout, work-life balance, and mental health, with strategies for intervention and prevention.
- Environmental and Organizational Influences on Behavior: Evaluates how physical spaces, workplace policies, and cultural norms affect individual performance and psychological state.
- Alienation and Job Satisfaction: Explores the psychological experience of disconnection from work and the factors that contribute to meaningful engagement and fulfillment in professional roles.
- Job Testing and Assessment: Involves the development and application of valid, reliable tools to evaluate candidate qualifications, predict job performance, and support fair hiring and promotion decisions.
Industrial-Organizational Psychology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Industrial-Organizational Psychology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Industrial-Organizational Psychology degrees, including Human Resources Managers, Managers, All Other and Training and Development Managers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 3,182,090 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Managers 11-3121 | $140,030 | $83,790 - $239,200 | 215,520 | $67.32 |
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Training and Development Managers 11-3131 | $127,090 | $75,810 - $219,990 | 44,960 | $61.10 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists 19-3032 | $109,840 | $51,880 - $224,590 | 1,050 | $52.81 |
| Management Analysts 13-1111 | $101,190 | $59,720 - $174,140 | 893,900 | $48.65 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1066 | $80,330 | $47,870 - $158,900 | 41,610 | N/A |
| Human Resources Specialists 13-1071 | $72,910 | $45,440 - $126,540 | 917,460 | $35.05 |
| Training and Development Specialists 13-1151 | $65,850 | $37,510 - $120,190 | 436,610 | $31.66 |
Industrial-Organizational Psychology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $73,130 in Arkansas to $124,851 in California—a 71% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Massachusetts, and District of Columbia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 3,182,090 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Industrial-Organizational Psychology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Industrial-Organizational Psychology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Industrial-Organizational Psychology is found at University of Phoenix (UOPX), Arizona (439 graduates), Capella University (173 graduates), Walden University (122 graduates), The Chicago School (TCSPP), Los Angeles (87 graduates), and CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (84 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,834 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Phoenix (UOPX) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
439 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | phoenix.edu |
| Capella University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
173 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | capella.edu |
| Walden University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
122 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | waldenu.edu |
| The Chicago School (TCSPP) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional)
|
87 | Los Angeles, California | Private | thechicagoschool.edu |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
84 | New York, New York | Public | baruch.cuny.edu |
| Teachers College at Columbia University (TC) |
Master's
|
83 | New York, New York | Private | tc.columbia.edu |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) |
Master's
|
78 | Madison, New Jersey | Private | fdu.edu |
| George Mason University |
Master's
|
75 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Adler University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
73 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | adler.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Master's
|
65 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Bellevue University |
Master's
|
60 | Bellevue, Nebraska | Private | bellevue.edu |
| Franklin University |
Master's
|
60 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | franklin.edu |
| William James College (MSPP) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
57 | Newton, Massachusetts | Private | williamjames.edu |
| Albizu University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
45 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | albizu.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRA) |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Arecibo, Puerto Rico | Public | upra.edu |
| Keiser University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
42 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | keiseruniversity.edu |
| The Chicago School |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
41 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | thechicagoschool.edu |
| Touro University Worldwide (TUW) |
Master's
|
40 | Los Alamitos, California | Private | tuw.edu |
| Northcentral University (NCU) |
Master's
|
37 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| Seattle Pacific University (SPU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
32 | Seattle, Washington | Private | spu.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Master's
|
30 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
29 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Golden Gate University (GGU) |
Master's
|
29 | San Francisco, California | Private | ggu.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Master's
|
29 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| DePaul University |
Master's
|
28 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| United States Military Academy (USMA) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | West Point, New York | Public | westpoint.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
26 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Elmhurst University |
Master's
|
25 | Elmhurst, Illinois | Private | elmhurst.edu |
| California Baptist University (CBU) |
Master's
|
24 | Riverside, California | Private | calbaptist.edu |
| Touro University |
Master's
|
24 | New York, New York | Private | touro.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Master's
|
23 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| University of New Haven (UNH) |
Master's
|
22 | West Haven, Connecticut | Private | newhaven.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Master's
|
22 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Roosevelt University |
Master's
|
22 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | roosevelt.edu |
| Vanguard University of Southern California |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
21 | Costa Mesa, California | Private | vanguard.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Master's
|
20 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| CUNY Brooklyn College |
Master's
|
19 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | brooklyn.cuny.edu |
| Saint Peter's University (SPU) |
Master's
|
18 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Private | saintpeters.edu |
| The University of Tennessee (UTC) |
Master's
|
18 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Public | utc.edu |
| Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | Melbourne, Florida | Private | fit.edu |
| Northern Kentucky University (NKU) |
Master's
|
17 | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Public | nku.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Master's
|
16 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Master's
|
16 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| Meredith College |
Master's
|
16 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Private | meredith.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Master's
|
15 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| University of Houston (UHCL) |
Master's
|
15 | Houston, Texas | Public | uhcl.edu |
| Albright College |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Reading, Pennsylvania | Private | albright.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
|
14 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Master's
|
14 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | online.jwu.edu |
| Wright State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
| The Chicago School |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | thechicagoschool.edu |
| Florida Southern College (FSC) |
Master's
|
12 | Lakeland, Florida | Private | flsouthern.edu |
| Salem State University (SSU) |
Master's
|
12 | Salem, Massachusetts | Public | salemstate.edu |
| University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) |
Master's
|
12 | Detroit, Michigan | Private | udmercy.edu |
| Rowan University |
Other Award
|
12 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Master's
|
12 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| University of Akron |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
12 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| Austin Peay State University (APSU) |
Master's
|
12 | Clarksville, Tennessee | Public | apsu.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Master's
|
11 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Master's
|
11 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| Avila University |
Master's
|
11 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | avila.edu |
| Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) |
Master's
|
10 | Rolla, Missouri | Public | mst.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| Xavier University (XU) |
Master's
|
10 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | xavier.edu |
| University of Tulsa (TU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Private | utulsa.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Master's
|
10 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| Springfield College |
Master's
|
9 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | springfield.edu |
| Baker College |
Master's
|
9 | Owosso, Michigan | Private | baker.edu |
| Park University |
Master's
Other Award
|
9 | Parkville, Missouri | Private | park.edu |
| Fairfield University |
Master's
|
8 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Private | fairfield.edu |
| Sacred Heart University (SHU) |
Master's
|
8 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Private | sacredheart.edu |
| Albizu University |
Master's
|
8 | Miami, Florida | Private | albizu.edu |
| National Louis University (NLU) |
Master's
|
8 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | nl.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Master's
|
8 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| Clemson University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
|
8 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| The Chicago School |
Master's
|
8 | Richardson, Texas | Private | thechicagoschool.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | maryville.edu |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | Private | pucpr.edu |
| Concordia University (CUI) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Irvine, California | Private | cui.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Master's
|
6 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| Southwestern College (SC) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Winfield, Kansas | Private | sckans.edu |
| Rider University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Lawrenceville, New Jersey | Private | rider.edu |
| Rice University |
Master's
|
6 | Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| St. Mary's University |
Master's
|
6 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | stmarytx.edu |
| Universidad Central de Bayamon (UCB) |
Master's
|
6 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Private | ucb.edu.pr |
| Manchester University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | North Manchester, Indiana | Private | manchester.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Angelo State University (ASU) |
Master's
|
5 | San Angelo, Texas | Public | angelo.edu |
| Marian University |
Master's
|
5 | Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin | Private | marianuniversity.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Master's
|
5 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | uprrp.edu |
| The Chicago School |
Master's
|
5 | San Diego, California | Private | thechicagoschool.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Industrial-Organizational Psychology programs
How much can I earn with a Industrial-Organizational Psychology degree?
Salaries for Industrial-Organizational Psychology graduates vary by role and location. Human Resources Managers earn a median of $140,030 annually, while Managers, All Other earn around $136,550. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $124,851 compared to $73,130 in Arkansas. Approximately 3,182,090 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Industrial-Organizational Psychology programs?
Currently 126 accredited institutions offer Industrial-Organizational Psychology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Phoenix (UOPX), Arizona (439 graduates), Capella University (173 graduates), and Walden University (122 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Industrial-Organizational Psychology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,515 in 2010 to 2,898 in 2023-24. This represents a 91% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Industrial-Organizational Psychology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Human Resources Managers, Managers, All Other, and Training and Development Managers. Related occupations employ approximately 3,182,090 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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