8 Types of Child Psychology Careers

At a Glance

Child psychology careers can be a great way to put your psychology degree to great use. Such jobs often focus on helping kids deal with emotional, developmental, social, academic, or behavioral concerns. A few great careers in child psychology include becoming a:

  • Child psychologist
  • School psychologist
  • Developmental psychologist
  • School counselor
  • Family therapist
  • Animal-assisted therapist
  • Art therapist
  • Social worker

Let's take a closer look at what these careers involve, typical salaries, and educational requirements.

Working with children can be fun and challenging, a perfect mix for people who love kids and are looking for a rewarding career. One of the greatest things about choosing a child-related profession is that you have the opportunity to truly make a difference in the lives of the kids, particularly those who may be vulnerable, at-risk, or in need of assistance.

If you're looking for a fulfilling career, consider some child psychology careers that involve helping children fulfill their physical, mental, educational, and social needs.

Child Psychologist

Child psychologist with young clients
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Child psychologists deal specifically with the psychological, behavioral, social, and emotional needs of children. These professionals can work in a wide variety of settings, including schools, private practice, hospitals, and research settings.

Child psychologists employed in school settings may help children struggling with behavior issues, while those who work in private therapy practices often assess, diagnose, and treat specific mental disorders.

Education

While there are some positions available with a master's degree, you will generally find a wider range of job opportunities at the doctoral level.​

Salary

Payscale.com suggests that as of 2024, the median yearly salary for child psychologists was $72,862. A child therapist salary can vary considerably depending on factors such as geographic location, educational background, and years of experience.

School Psychologist

School psychologists work with chilren
BURGER/PHANIE / Getty Images

School psychologists are dedicated to helping children succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. These professionals work within the school system, allying with educators, administrators, counselors, and parents to help kids with school and other issues.

School psychologists perform a wide range of functions, including providing counseling, diagnosing learning problems, creating positive learning environments, and designing specific behavioral interventions.

Education

Most states require school psychologists to hold a specialist degree, although some do permit people to become licensed with a master's degree. An EdS specialist degree in school psychology usually takes two years of graduate study plus a one-year internship in a supervised setting.​

Salary

The mean annual salary for psychologists employed in elementary and secondary schools was $82,770 as of May 2021.

Developmental Psychologist

Child with developmental psychologist
BURGER/PHANIE / Getty Images

Developmental psychologists study the human growth and development process. While some developmental psychologists are interested in the aging process or lifespan development, some choose to focus specifically on children.

Developmental psychologists often conduct research on topics such as how language skills are acquired, how moral reasoning develops, or how early childhood attachment impacts later relationships.

Other developmental psychologists work directly with children doing things such as determining if a child has a specific developmental delay or disability.

Education

Most developmental psychologists hold a PhD or PsyD in developmental psychology.​

Salary

As of 2024, the median annual salary for developmental psychologists was between $64,440 and $86,309, according to the Salary Wizard at Salary.com.

School Counselor

Preteen student meeting with school counselor or therapist
Steve Debenport / Getty Images

School counselors help students cope with school and personal issues as well as helping them succeed academically. Counselors also offer educational, personal, career, and social counseling services to students.

These professionals often help students with academic planning such as choosing classes, determining which colleges they might want to attend, and exploring various career options.

They also offer advice and counseling to students struggling with personal problems, help resolve social conflicts, and assist students in developing new skills.

Education

In most states, graduation from an accredited master's program, a period of supervised clinical experience, and the completion of state licensing exams are required to work as a school counselor.​

Salary

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median yearly salary for a school counselor working in an elementary or secondary school was $65,930 as of 2022.

Family Therapists

Mother and daughter talking with counselor during family counseling session
Steve Debenport / Getty Images

Family therapists work with children and families to diagnose and treat mental illness. They also help families deal with emotional, social, cognitive, and behavioral problems that affect individuals and the family as a whole.

They may do this by offering family therapy services to an individual and counseling sessions focused on the family unit.

Education

Educational, licensing, and certification requirements can vary by state. Many family therapists are licensed counselors who hold a master's degree in counseling. Others might hold a doctorate degree in psychology or a master's degree in social work.​

Salary

The Department of Labor reports that as of May 2022, the yearly median salary for family therapists was $56,570.

Animal-Assisted Therapist

Autistic child receives therapy with dolphin trainer and bottlenose dolphin
Jeffrey Rotman / Getty Images

Animal-assisted therapy is a growing field in psychology that involves offering therapeutic services with the assistance of pets. Research has shown that interacting with animals can have a number of benefits such as improving emotional, cognitive, social, and physical functioning.

While animal-assisted therapists can work with people of all ages, some choose to specialize in working with children suffering from physical or developmental difficulties such as delayed physical development or autism spectrum disorders.

Education

At a minimum, you will need a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, nursing, education, or a related area. A graduate degree in counseling, social work, occupational therapy, or psychology may lead to increased job opportunities and earnings.

Additionally, you should receive training specifically in animal-assisted therapy. Some colleges and universities now offer an animal-assisted therapy certificate.​

Salary

Earnings vary widely depending on the training, qualifications, and employment area. For example, physical therapists earn an average of $97,720 while psychologists earn an average of $85,330.

Art Therapist

Young woman with learning difficulties in art clas
Dean Mitchell / Getty Images

Art therapists utilize art as an expressive medium to help people experiencing psychological distress and mental illness. Professionals in this field combine principles from psychotherapy with art and the creative process to enhance the well-being and mental health of their clients.

Art therapists often work with children experiencing developmental delays, children suffering from anxiety, and kids who have endured some type of trauma.

Education

While specific requirements vary by state, most require you to become licensed to provide psychotherapy services. This might involve earning a doctorate in psychology, a master's in counseling or a master's in social work.

The Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. (ATCB) offers a credentialing program that allows professionals to become board-certified, registered or licensed art therapists.​

Salary

Yearly earnings vary considerably based on your educational background, years of experience, and geographic location. National salary data from Payscale.com suggests that the median salary for an art therapist in 2024 is $49,760.

Social Worker

Helping a Child Out of Her Wheelchair
Christopher Futcher / Getty Images

Social workers perform a wide range of duties, but many specialize in working with children. A few of the things that a social worker might do regularly include:

  • Helping kids overcome behavior problems
  • Finding resources in their communities to help young clients
  • Protecting vulnerable clients to ensure their best interests are upheld
  • Acting as advocates for children

Helping single parents, arranging foster care and adoptions, and counseling children are common tasks that a social worker might perform.

Education

While a bachelor degree in social work is the minimum degree required to enter the field, jobs are more abundant with a master's degree in social work.

Salary

The median pay for social workers as of May 2022 was $55,350. The National Association of Social Workers reports that those with a master's degree earn $13,000 a year more than those with a bachelor's degree.

What This Means For You

These are just a few different types of child psychology jobs that you might want to consider if you are interested in helping kids. Such jobs can be challenging at times, but they can also be very rewarding. If you are interested in child development and enjoy working with kids, consider going into one of these fascinating fields. 

11 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Payscale. Average child psychologist salary.

  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 19-3034 School psychologists: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021.

  3. Salary.com. Developmental Psychologist Salary in the United States.

  4. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Psychologists.

  5. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Marriage and Family Therapists.

  6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. NIH News in Health. The Power of Pets: Health Benefits of Human-Animal Interactions.

  7. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physical Therapists.

  8. Van Lith T. Art therapy in mental health: A systematic review of approaches and practicesThe Arts in Psychotherapy. 2016;47:9-22. doi:10.1016/j.aip.2015.09.003

  9. Payscale. Average Art Therapist Salary.

  10. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Social workers: Pay. Occupational Outlook Handbook.

  11. National Association of Social Workers. Social Work Salaries.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd
Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."