Top 18 Career Options in Psychology in India in 2025

The presence of psychology in India is not new. We find traces of psychological thought in ancient Indian texts of Upanishads and Vedas. These historical texts contain evidence of practice as well as knowledge of psychological practices and concepts. 

However, as an academic discipline in India, psychology is fairly new. It was established as an academic discipline in the year 1916 at Calcutta University. Despite being younger than most other academic disciplines, the scope of psychology in India has continued to grow. 

Psychology as a field extends beyond academics and has implications across sectors and industries. Psychology experts and psychologists work in healthcare, corporates, educational institutions, medical institutions as well in the non-profit sector. 

With increasing importance being given to prioritizing mental health, the mental health market is on the path to expanding in India. According to Statista, the mental health market in India is predicted to show an annual growth rate of 1.03%. This, in turn, will result in a market volume of 1.20 billion US Dollars by the year 2029. Hence, psychology career options in India have a high scope for growth as market demand for professionals increases.

Also read: Highest paying psychology jobs

Top 18 career options in Psychology in India

If you were under the pretext that the scope of psychology is limited to counselling, you are in for a big surprise. As society advances and adapts to newer shifts and technologies, there is a greater need to comprehend and adapt to emotional well-being. This has been brought upon by shedding more light on the relevance of mental health being at par with physical health.

Read along as well discuss some of the best psychology career options in India:

The following table gives an overview of the average salary of the different job roles in psychology:

JOB PROFILE	AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
Clinical Psychologist	4.9 lakhs
Career Counselor	3.6 lakhs
Industrial Psychologist	5.8 lakhs
Sports Psychologist	6.5 lakhs
Occupational Therapist	3.9 lakhs
Social Worker	2.9 lakhs
Forensic Psychologist	5.1 lakhs
Consumer Psychologist	8.7 lakhs
Educational Psychologist	1.9 lakhs
Neuropsychologist	4.95 lakhs
Psychology Teacher	4 lakhs
Psychology Professor	5 lakhs
Child Psychologist	3.3 lakhs
Psychotherapist	3.5 lakhs
Research Psychologist	4.1 lakhs
Rehabilitation Therapist	3 lakhs
Behavioral Therapist	3 lakhs
Psychometrician	16.6 lakhs

Also Read: Psychology Salary in India

Now, let’s understand each job role and what it entails:

1. Clinical Psychologist

A clinical psychologist is a professional psychologist who is licensed by the state and medical council to diagnose and treat psychological conditions among patients. 

They have a high level of expertise in mental health being, helping patients cope with conditions like anxiety, stress, and trauma. They are professionally trained to handle patient care through therapeutic techniques and measures to work on the improvement of well-being.

Key Responsibilities

A clinical psychologist’s main responsibilities are:

• Assessment of mental health conditions
• Diagnosing mental health disorders
• Working on developing treatment plans specific to the patient
• Monitoring patient response and progress 

Where do they work?

Clinical psychologists are employed in a variety of settings such as:

• Schools and educational institutions
• Research institutes
• Hospitals (private and government)
• Private clinics
• Corporate organizations

  2. Career Counselor

A career counselor is a professional who is trained to assist individuals in their career and educational decisions and personal growth. 

They provide complete guidance and support to individuals who find themselves unsure about their professional path and seek professional guidance to navigate their thoughts through informed decisions. 

Key Responsibilities

• Providing one-to-one counselling sessions to the patient to fully understand their concerns and specific requirements 
• Assisting clients in doing a full-fledged assessment of their strengths, weaknesses, interests, and goals through personality assessment tests and aptitude tests.
• Helping to take charge of career transitions and set professional goals
• Assisting in job search and required plan of action for effective job-hunting strategies

Where do they work?

We find career counsellors in:

• Schools, colleges and universities
• Corporate settings
• Personal counselling clinics
• Government organizations
• Rehabilitation centres

3. Industrial Psychologist

An industrial psychologist or an organizational psychologist is appointed by organizations to work on enhancing work dynamics by the dual means of bettering well well-being of employees along with bettering organizational performance or by applying psychological principles and strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Work on creating a positive work environment in the workplace
• Assist in the recruitment and selection process of new employees
• Conducting training programs for employees
• Working on process improvement

Where do they work?

Industrial psychologists work in a multitude of organizations:

• Consulting firms
• Healthcare firms
• Private businesses
• Human resource departments 
• Non-profit organizations
• Research institutions

4. Sports Psychologist

A sports psychologist is a professional who is appointed to ascertain and facilitate the mental well-being of sportspersons and athletes. They work closely with athletes to tackle the mental pressures of performing, challenge, competition, and expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Developing strategies for improved performance, focus, and motivation.
• Dealing with stress management and performance anxiety
• Providing mental health support to deal with mental blocks
• Assist athletes to cope with psychological turmoil after physical injuries

Where do they work?

We find sports psychologists working in various departments involving sports:

• Educational institutes ( colleges, universities)
• National teams
• Professional sports team
• Sports rehabilitation centres
• Corporate settings
• Health clubs

5. Occupational Therapist

An occupational therapist is a professional therapist who helps people of all ages learn, relearn, or keep the skills they need for work and daily life. 

Occupational therapy aims to boost the mental, emotional, and physical abilities needed for everyday tasks like taking care of oneself, working, learning, and having fun. 

As an occupational therapist, you work with people who might be dealing with physical disabilities, injuries, growth issues mental health problems.

Key Responsibilities

• Assessing and evaluating the patient’s current state and coming up with a treatment plan
• Assisting patients to regain independence in their daily activities in their own capacities
• Modifying safety measures and restructuring the physical environment for better access
• Working on rehabilitation measures with post-op patients

Where do they work?

Occupational therapists work in various organizations and settings:

• Schools and educational institutions
• Rehabilitation centres
• Assisted living establishments
• Hospitals
• Personal practice clinics
• Nursing homes

6. Social Worker

Social workers are professionals who work towards improving the social well-being of individuals and communities.

They do so by addressing pressing social problems and working towards organizational action or even individual action to work towards social justice and human rights ideas.

Key Responsibilities

Social workers are involved in a multitude of roles like:

• Acting as a bridge between clients and sponsors to provide resources and aid
• Counseling families for conflict resolution
• Devising plans to work on social challenges
• Working on community outreach and community-building projects
• Perform services in childcare, eldercare, foster care 
• Provide support through legal and financial aid for refugees, abuse victims, and the homeless

Where do they work?

Social workers offer their services in a variety of settings:

• NGOs
• Community Centres
• Old Age Homes
• Juvenile detention centres
• Child Protective Services
• Adoption Agencies
• Community Centres

7. Forensic Psychologist

A forensic psychologist is a professional who applies psychological concepts to the criminal justice and legal systems. They deal with people and organizations involved in legal matters, bridging the gap between psychology and the law.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform psychological evaluations to assess mental competency
• Testify in court on account of being a psychological expert on criminal behavior and correlation with mental health conditions
• Working on criminal profiling to infer patterns and behaviors
• Developing rehabilitation plans

Where do they work?

• Government organisations
• Jails
• Juvenile centers
• Mental health centers
• Social service organizations
• Law firms

8. Consumer Psychologist

A consumer psychologist is a professional who studies the interrelationship between people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors which, in turn, influences their purchasing decisions and interactions with products, brands, and services.

They use psychological concepts to understand how customers behave and assist companies in enhancing their product creation, marketing plans, and customer service.

Key Responsibilities

• Conducting market research
• Evaluating gathered information
• Devising and creating marketing plans
• Counseling businesses on how to successfully engage with customers

Where do they work?

• Market Research Firms
• Government Agencies
• Academic Institutions: 
• Corporations
• Consulting Firms
• Nonprofits
• Advertising Agencies

9. Educational Psychologist

Educational psychologists are specialists who use psychological concepts to comprehend and treat behavioral and learning problems in students.

They evaluate each student's unique needs, formulate interventions, and work with parents and teachers to establish nurturing learning environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Educating teachers on psychological concepts and effective teaching techniques
• Performing psychological tests to detect behavioral problems, learning disabilities, or other problems
• Working together to establish encouraging learning environments with educators, parents, and other experts.
• Providing students with individual or group counselling
• Giving schools advice on inclusiveness, learning, and mental health policies.

Where do they work?

• Schools
• Universities
• Government Agencies
• Nonprofits
• Educational Consulting Firms
• Private Practice: 

10. Neuropsychologist

A neuropsychologist is an expert specializing in the connection between the brain and behaviour. 

A neuropsychologist evaluates and diagnoses cognitive and emotional problems associated with neurological diseases and applies rehabilitation techniques.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyzing behavioral, emotional, and cognitive functioning
• Determining cognitive and neurological problems
• Creating plans for rehabilitation and therapeutic measures based on the findings of assessments
• Performing investigations to enhance knowledge of the connections between the brain and behavior 
• Providing information on neurological disorders and coping mechanisms to patients and their families.

Where do they work?

• Hospitals
• Rehabilitation Centers
• Research Institutions
• Academic Institutions
• Clinics

11. Psychology Teacher

A psychology teacher is an educator who instructs students in psychological concepts, theories, and principles. 

To promote critical thinking and an awareness of psychological science, they frequently expose pupils to subjects including human behavior, mental processes, and social interactions.

Key Responsibilities

• Creating and carrying out lesson plans that adhere to academic standards
• Using assignments, projects, and tests to gauge students' comprehension
• Promoting debate and critical thinking on psychological subjects
• Following recent developments in the most recent psychological research and instructional strategies.

Where do they work?

• Senior Secondary schools
• Community Colleges
• Non Profits

12. Psychology Professor

A psychology professor is a scholar who teaches and studies psychological theories and concepts at colleges and institutions.

They promote critical thinking about human behavior by teaching students, carrying out original research, publishing findings, and mentoring aspiring psychologists.

Key Responsibilities

• Giving undergraduate and graduate-level lectures and seminars on a range of psychological subjects
• Mentoring students with guidance and oversight
• Creating and revising curricula and course materials to inculcate the most recent findings in the subject
• Carrying out original studies, presenting results at conferences, and publishing findings in scholarly journals.

Where do they work?

• Colleges
• Universities
• Educational Platforms
• Research institutions

13. Child Psychologist

A child psychologist is a professional who specializes in diagnosing children with behavioral and developmental problems. They work with families and educators to facilitate therapy sessions for children.

Key Responsibilities

• Assessing children's emotional, behavioral, and developmental issues
• Performing diagnosis to determine mental health conditions such as anxiety, or ADHD
• Giving therapy sessions to give group, family, or individual therapy based on the needs of children.
• Creating and carrying out coping mechanisms and treatment programs.
• Providing parents with information and support regarding the mental health and development of their children.

Where do they work?

• Hospitals
• Community Clinics
• Research Institutions
• Schools
• Private Practice

14. Psychotherapist

A psychotherapist is a trained psychology professional who uses talk therapy to address mental health conditions. Psychotherapists can work with families, groups, couples, or individuals. Their adaptable style of therapy enables them to tackle a large number of psychological issues of the patients. 

Key Responsibilities

• Organizing individual, group, or family therapy sessions to address mental health issues
• Evaluating the needs through interviews and questionnaires
• Working on devising personalized treatment plans based
• Monitoring client progress and adapting treatment measures
• Strictly maintaining confidentiality throughout client interactions.

Where do they work?

• Schools
• Community Health Centers
• Hospitals
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Private Practice

15. Research Psychologist

Research psychologists are professionals who conduct psychological research to comprehend, assess, and treat psychological conditions. They conduct experiments, analyze data, and publish their results to deepen and improve our knowledge of psychological processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Researching psychological phenomena, behaviors, and mental processes
• Compiling information gathered through surveys, interviews, experiments
• Examining both quantitative and qualitative data 
• Engaging in writing and publishing research papers in scholarly journals and presenting findings at academic conferences 
• Increasing the scope of research by collaborating with other scholars, institutions, and organizations.
• Working on obtaining funding and grants for research projects 

Where do they work?

• Psychology departments of universities
• Research Institutions
• Government Organizations
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Healthcare Organizations
• Market Research firms

16. Rehabilitation Therapist

A rehabilitation therapist is a healthcare professional who provides direct assistance to patients in regaining and enhancing their mental, emotional, or physical capacities after surgery, illness, or injury. 

These professionals focus highly on recovery management through an interplay of various methods and techniques.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluating patients' needs to ascertain the range of rehab required
• Creating individualized treatment plans
• Offering therapeutic interventions including speech, occupational, or physical therapy
• Educating patients on lifestyle change patterns, effective techniques and ways for improvement
• Collaborating with other healthcare professionals, like doctors and psychologists, to coordinate care strategy

Where do they work?

• Rehabilitation Centers
• Hospitals
• Home Health Care
• Long-term Care Facilities

17. Behavioural Therapist

A Behavioural Therapist is a professional who offers services to clients to assess and tackle behavioral aspects after assessing behavior patterns. The end goal is overall improvement of emotional well and coping mechanisms.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluating the emotional and behavioral health of your clients
• Creating individualized treatment programs
• Tracking the development and progress of patients 
• Educating families on ways to manage behavior 
• Documenting records of therapy sessions as well as results

Where do they work?

• Schools
• Non-profit organizations
• Private clinics
• Hospitals

18. Psychometrician

A psychometrician is a professional who specializes in psychometrics, a field that encompasses the theory and practice of psychological measurement.

A few examples of psychometric tests measuring psychological dimensions are aptitude tests, personality tests, and IQ tests. These are created, given, and interpreted by psychometricians.

Key Responsibilities

• Designing and evaluating psychological exams and evaluations
• Conduct psychological assessments and analyze the findings
• Examining data to ensure that evaluations are valid 
• Working in collaboration with educators and researchers to enhance testing procedures.
• Giving analysis and suggestions based on test findings.
• Ensuring adherence to professional and ethical norms.

Where do they work?

• Psychological Testing Centers
• Research Organizations
• Educational Institutions
• Private Consulting Firms
• Government Agencies

Top sectors hiring psychology professionals in India

With advances in increasing mental health awareness, there is a greater need for psychologists in India. This increase is the result of a growing understanding of the significance of psychological health in a variety of spheres of life, including education and professional relationships. 

As industries grow and evolve, they rely on the domain expertise of psychologists to tackle a variety of problems.

The table below provides a glimpse into the industries in India that recruit psychologists, highlighting the variety of opportunities : 

SECTOR	ROLES
HEALTHCARE	Therapy service, Patient Care, Assessment
EDUCATION	Counselling, Curriculum Development, Research
NON-PROFIT AND GOVERNMENT	Policy Development, Community Mental Health Programs, Mental Health Advocacy
TECH AND GAMING	Product Development, User Experience Research
RESEARCH	Research Studies, Primary Research
CORPORATE	Organizational Development, Talent Management

Skills required for psychology professionals

Like any other discipline, psychology demands a diverse skill set from professionals for their career advancement and industry needs. Psychologists deal with the complicated interplay of emotions and behaviour patterns of individuals. Hence, being equipped with the right skills helps them offer service better.

Working on continuous skill development opens the doorway to better professional performance as well as chances to rise to higher positions in the industry.

Let’s take a look at some important skills required by psychology professionals:

1. Communication 

• Effective communication is crucial for assessing client needs and understanding their concerns
• Mastering both verbal and non-verbal communication increases your professional credibility as patients feel more comfortable getting treated by you

Check out upGrad’s course on Effective Communication to learn from esteemed industry leaders

2. Critical thinking

• Critical thinking skills allow you to improve your performance and improve client treatment results
• It enables a more efficient psychological treatment of patients

3. Patience

• Patience is a fundamental skill for a psychology career as it gives your client a sense of understanding, trust, and security
• It also encourages active listening, assists in handling challenging circumstances, and lets clients advance at their speed

4. Problem-Solving

• Problem-solving skills allow you to recognize client problems, create efficient treatment programs, and handle challenging circumstances
• It further entails evaluating adopted strategies to make required modifications

5. Research and Analysis 

• Since you work with data and statistics in psychological studies, this skill is a vital component in its practice
• It entails performing literature review, data collection, statistical data analysis as well as report writing

Looking to upgrade your knowledge in research, check out our Research Methodology courses to elevate your learning!

6. Cultural Competence

• Professionals in psychology need to be culturally competent to comprehend and value people from different backgrounds, ideologies, and values. 
• This skill promotes better communication and rapport-building, which in turn allows psychologists to improve mental health outcomes in multicultural settings

7.  Empathy and Compassion

• These skills are required in a psychology profession so that you can fully understand your client's feelings and be able to validate them.
• This provides a safe space for patients and encourages an effective healing process.

8. Ethical awareness and understanding

• Ethical awareness and understanding are rudimentary to psychological practice. Ensuring the protection of client privacy and confidentiality is essential to the practice.
• Further, ethical standards contribute to the integrity of psychology careers. This role bears several responsibilities with it as patients trust you to open up to you.

Future Trends in Psychology in India

 The Economic Times reports that around 60 to 70 million people in India suffer from some mental disorders. This is highly concerning and needs systemic reforms and organizational change as well.

However, tackling such a large number is a mammoth task, posing newer challenges for psychologists and healthcare practitioners in India. However, with rising awareness about mental health and its implications, there is a greater need for psychologists who are specialized in different fields.

We can expect the following future trends in psychology in India:

• Increased Integration of technology like AI and Machine Learning will enable analysis of large data sets. Virtual therapy via bots shall also make its way into everyday life

Want to be a part of the rise and roar of AI and ML? Check out upGrad’s AI and ML programs to upskill yourself now!

 

• As time evolves, India is set to witness a high demand for psychologists and tackle the mental health taboo in India. Moreover, psychology shall gain institutional integration in terms of mental health care and practices.
• Digital Mental Health is already entering the mental health market and is expected to grow further due to its far-reaching accessibility and possible affordability in the future, on online platforms like applications
• The advocation of policies on mental health will be on the rise to target systemic inaccuracies. This will give rise to larger discussions and attention to the importance of mental health by involving the public.
• Preventive mental health programs in educational institutes and workplaces shall garner attention to enable the prevention of issues and provide instant attention to issues faced. 

Conclusion

The psychology landscape in India is set to see substantial growth and give way to a rise in psychology career options. Owing to the vast potential of psychology careers in India, pupils and professionals interested in this field have a chance to pursue some promising career paths.

With newer advancements in technology and digitalization, psychology and mental health are expected to make the best use of these resources and democratize mental health services in India. Moreover, potential career aspirants of psychology have a plethora of options to gain specialization in and offer niche services to organizations.

If you are looking to explore your career options and seek professional guidance, book a free counseling session with us to brainstorm together with expert counselors!