Professor of Psychology Jobs & Career Guide 2023

Search hundreds of psychology professor jobs across the country Professor of Psychology Jobs

What’s in this guide?

By PsychologyJobs.com Staff Writer

Our career guides are produced by staff writers in conjunction with our expert career coaches.

What is a professor of psychology?

A professor of psychology is an academic faculty member who teaches courses in psychology and conducts research in the field. They typically work at a university or college, where they may be responsible for teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses, advising students, conducting research, and contributing to the academic community through publications and presentations.

In addition to teaching and research, professors of psychology may also be responsible for other academic activities, such as serving on committees, participating in departmental meetings, and engaging in outreach activities to promote the field of psychology.

To become a professor of psychology, you will need to hold doctoral degree in psychology or a related field, and typically have significant research experience and publications in the field.

“Being a psychology professor is a very rewarding career. It offers the opportunity to work with students and colleagues on interesting and important research questions, to share knowledge and expertise, and to make a positive impact on people’s lives. At the same time, it can be challenging and demanding, requiring a lot of hard work, dedication, and creativity. But for those who are passionate about psychology and committed to making a difference in the field, being a psychology professor is a fulfilling and meaningful career.”
Dr. Amy Briesch, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Maryland.

What are the day to day responsibilities of a professor of psychology?

  • Teaching courses: Professors of psychology typically teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses in psychology, including courses on specific topics within the field. This may involve developing course materials, delivering lectures, leading discussions, and evaluating student performance.
  • Conducting research: Professors of psychology are expected to conduct research in their area of expertise, often in collaboration with graduate students or other colleagues. This may involve writing grant proposals, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting findings at conferences or in academic journals.
  • Advising students: Professors may advise students on academic and career matters, such as course selection, research opportunities, and job prospects.
  • Contributing to the academic community: participate in various activities that contribute to the academic community, such as serving on committees, organizing conferences, reviewing manuscripts for academic journals, and mentoring junior colleagues.
  • Engaging in professional development: engage in ongoing professional development to stay up-to-date with developments in the field, such as attending conferences, workshops, or continuing education courses.

Here is what the day of a professor of psychology might look like:

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Respond to emails, review and prepare for the day’s lectures and meetings

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Teach undergraduate course on social psychology

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Meet with a graduate student to discuss their research progress

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Work on research project, analyze data, or write up findings for publication

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Teach graduate seminar on cognitive psychology

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Meet with another graduate student to discuss their research progress

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Attend a departmental meeting or committee meeting

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Work on preparing lectures or assignments for upcoming classes

Professor of Psychology salary – how much can you earn?

The median annual wage for postsecondary psychology professors is $80,370 (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics). For more insights see our guide on psychology professor salaries.

How to become a professor of psychology

It can take anywhere from 12-26 years of education and experience to become a tenured professor of psychology.

Earn a bachelor’s degree

The first step to becoming a professor of psychology is to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field.

Earn a master’s degree

The next step is to earn a master’s degree in psychology or a related field as this is a typical entry requirement for a doctoral degree program.

Obtain a doctoral degree

Professors of psychology typically hold a doctoral degree in psychology, such as a PhD or a PsyD. These programs take 5-7 years to complete and involve coursework, research, and clinical experience.

Gain research experience

Research experience is essential for becoming a professor of psychology. You can gain research experience through internships, research assistantships, or working as a research coordinator.

Obtain teaching experience

Professors of psychology typically need to demonstrate teaching excellence, which can be gained through teaching assistantships, adjunct teaching positions, or postdoctoral fellowships.

Pursue tenure-track positions

Professors of psychology typically start as assistant professors on a tenure-track, which involves a probationary period during which they are expected to conduct research, teach courses, and contribute to the academic community. We frequently have 100+ tenure-track positions advertised on PsychologyJobs.com – visit the job board to find the right one for you.

Obtain tenure

After completing the probationary period, assistant professors can apply for tenure, which provides job security and requires a demonstration of continued research, teaching, and service to the academic community.

Latest Psychology Professor Job Listings

PositionCompanyLocationPosted
Assistant or Associate ProfessorVirginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia US11/13/2024
Job DescriptionThe Department of Management in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech seeks applications for one tenure-track faculty position to begin August 2024. This position is for the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, with opportunities for teaching and program development in the Greater Washington D. C. area as well. This search is specifically at the level of assistant or associate professor, so we are interested in recent graduates as well as those … More
Associate Professor or Professor/Director Center for Health DisparitiesEast Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina US11/13/2024
Job Description: Primary Purpose of the Position:The primary purpose of the CHDR Director is to play a pivotal role in advancing the Center’s mission. This involves overseeing the development of comprehensive programs that focus on three key areas:Research Leadership: Directing research efforts to identify and disseminate drivers of and interventions for enhancing health equity. The goal is to actively contribute to the implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of … More
Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, Professor/Clinical Professor (EHRA Faculty)East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina US11/13/2024
Job Description: ECU Health Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine is looking to fill a vacancy for Pediatric/clinical child & Adolescent psychologist. We are developing an integrated multidisciplinary Child and Adolescent team to serve eastern North Carolina. This position will provide leadership, evidence-based psychosocial programming, and training to ensure appropriate intervention for patients. We are specifically interested in those who specialize in early … More
Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, Professor/Clinical Professor (EHRA Faculty)East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina US11/13/2024
Job Description: This is a full-time faculty position to serve as the Associate Medical Director for the Inpatient Psychiatry Service. This 52 bed service houses acute beds, combined MI-ID beds, and combined Med-Psych beds in a 900+ bed tertiary care academic medical center serving Eastern and coastal North Carolina. This position will serve as the lead psychiatrist for the Med-Psych program housed in the inpatient service. The hospital provides acute, intermediate, rehabilitation, … More
Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, Professor/Clinical Professor (EHRA Faculty)East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina US11/13/2024
Job Description: The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and ECU Health Physicians, are seeking a Board-Certified or Board Eligible Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist to fill a full-time faculty position as a Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, or Professor/Clinical Professor . New graduates and Visa candidates encouraged to apply. The successful … More
Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, Professor/Clinical Professor (EHRA Faculty)East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina US11/13/2024
Job Description: The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and ECU Health Physicians, are seeking a Board-Certified or Board Eligible Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist to fill a full-time faculty position as an Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, or Professor/Clinical Professor. New graduates and Visa candidates encouraged to apply.The successful … More
Assistant or Associate ProfessorEast Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina US11/13/2024
Job Description: As a full-time, tenure track position the successful candidate will support the Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies mission with excellence in teaching, research, service, and leadership. The successful candidate will be expected to teach at all curricular levels and implement, sustain, and/or research studies, including extramural supported research, on a topic pertinent to DARS mission. The successful candidate will also engage in service/leadership … More
Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, Professor/Clinical Professor (EHRA Faculty)East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina US11/13/2024
Job Description: The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and ECU Health Physicians is accepting applications for a Geriatric psychiatrist to serve as a full-time Assistant or Associate Professor. The position offers an excellent blend of clinic care, teaching, and scholarly activities in a growing, multidisciplinary, and collegial Department. The successful candidate will provide direct clinical care … More
Position
Assistant or Associate Professor
Job DescriptionThe Department of Management in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech seeks applications for one tenure-track faculty position to begin August 2024. This position is for the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, with opportunities for teaching and program development in the Greater Washington D. C. area as well. This search is specifically at the level of assistant or associate professor, so we are interested in recent graduates as well as those … More
Company
Virginia Tech
Location
Blacksburg, Virginia US
Posted
11/13/2024
Position
Associate Professor or Professor/Director Center for Health Disparities
Job Description: Primary Purpose of the Position:The primary purpose of the CHDR Director is to play a pivotal role in advancing the Center’s mission. This involves overseeing the development of comprehensive programs that focus on three key areas:Research Leadership: Directing research efforts to identify and disseminate drivers of and interventions for enhancing health equity. The goal is to actively contribute to the implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of … More
Company
East Carolina University
Location
Greenville, North Carolina US
Posted
11/13/2024
Position
Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, Professor/Clinical Professor (EHRA Faculty)
Job Description: ECU Health Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine is looking to fill a vacancy for Pediatric/clinical child & Adolescent psychologist. We are developing an integrated multidisciplinary Child and Adolescent team to serve eastern North Carolina. This position will provide leadership, evidence-based psychosocial programming, and training to ensure appropriate intervention for patients. We are specifically interested in those who specialize in early … More
Company
East Carolina University
Location
Greenville, North Carolina US
Posted
11/13/2024
Position
Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, Professor/Clinical Professor (EHRA Faculty)
Job Description: This is a full-time faculty position to serve as the Associate Medical Director for the Inpatient Psychiatry Service. This 52 bed service houses acute beds, combined MI-ID beds, and combined Med-Psych beds in a 900+ bed tertiary care academic medical center serving Eastern and coastal North Carolina. This position will serve as the lead psychiatrist for the Med-Psych program housed in the inpatient service. The hospital provides acute, intermediate, rehabilitation, … More
Company
East Carolina University
Location
Greenville, North Carolina US
Posted
11/13/2024
Position
Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, Professor/Clinical Professor (EHRA Faculty)
Job Description: The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and ECU Health Physicians, are seeking a Board-Certified or Board Eligible Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist to fill a full-time faculty position as a Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, or Professor/Clinical Professor . New graduates and Visa candidates encouraged to apply. The successful … More
Company
East Carolina University
Location
Greenville, North Carolina US
Posted
11/13/2024
Position
Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, Professor/Clinical Professor (EHRA Faculty)
Job Description: The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and ECU Health Physicians, are seeking a Board-Certified or Board Eligible Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist to fill a full-time faculty position as an Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, or Professor/Clinical Professor. New graduates and Visa candidates encouraged to apply.The successful … More
Company
East Carolina University
Location
Greenville, North Carolina US
Posted
11/13/2024
Position
Assistant or Associate Professor
Job Description: As a full-time, tenure track position the successful candidate will support the Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies mission with excellence in teaching, research, service, and leadership. The successful candidate will be expected to teach at all curricular levels and implement, sustain, and/or research studies, including extramural supported research, on a topic pertinent to DARS mission. The successful candidate will also engage in service/leadership … More
Company
East Carolina University
Location
Greenville, North Carolina US
Posted
11/13/2024
Position
Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/Clinical Associate Professor, Professor/Clinical Professor (EHRA Faculty)
Job Description: The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and ECU Health Physicians is accepting applications for a Geriatric psychiatrist to serve as a full-time Assistant or Associate Professor. The position offers an excellent blend of clinic care, teaching, and scholarly activities in a growing, multidisciplinary, and collegial Department. The successful candidate will provide direct clinical care … More
Company
East Carolina University
Location
Greenville, North Carolina US
Posted
11/13/2024