Jobs Similar to Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to industrial-organizational psychologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Management Analysts, Survey Researchers and Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists.
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists: $193,950 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Industrial-Organizational Psychologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Management Analysts | 81% | $101,860−47% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Survey ResearchersSame group | 80% | $69,460−64% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | 79% | $78,210−60% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 79% | $104,590−46% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Training and Development Specialists | 79% | $69,280−64% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Human Resources Managers | 78% | $149,280−23% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Lawyers | 77% | $159,670−18% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 77% | $78,760−59% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 77% | $99,080−49% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | 77% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Medical and Health Services Managers | 77% | $123,860−36% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Labor Relations Specialists | 76% | $95,420−51% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Instructional Coordinators | 76% | $77,440−60% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | SociologistsSame group | 76% | $106,030−45% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Training and Development Managers | 76% | $133,000−31% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 76% | $105,870−45% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | 76% | $149,230−23% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Personal Financial Advisors | 75% | $105,070−46% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Search Marketing Strategists | 75% | $78,760Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Social and Community Service Managers | 75% | $80,390−59% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Management Analysts
81% similar · $101,860 (−47%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Survey Researchers
80% similar · $69,460 (−64%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
79% similar · $78,210 (−60%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Education Administrators, Postsecondary
79% similar · $104,590 (−46%) · Graduate degree
- 5Training and Development Specialists
79% similar · $69,280 (−64%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Human Resources Managers
78% similar · $149,280 (−23%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Lawyers
77% similar · $159,670 (−18%) · Graduate degree
- 8Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
77% similar · $78,760 (−59%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Business Teachers, Postsecondary
77% similar · $99,080 (−49%) · Graduate degree
- 10Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
77% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Medical and Health Services Managers
77% similar · $123,860 (−36%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Labor Relations Specialists
76% similar · $95,420 (−51%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Instructional Coordinators
76% similar · $77,440 (−60%) · Graduate degree
- 14Sociologists
76% similar · $106,030 (−45%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Training and Development Managers
76% similar · $133,000 (−31%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary
76% similar · $105,870 (−45%) · Graduate degree
- 17Compensation and Benefits Managers
76% similar · $149,230 (−23%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Personal Financial Advisors
75% similar · $105,070 (−46%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Search Marketing Strategists
75% similar · $78,760 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Social and Community Service Managers
75% similar · $80,390 (−59%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Management Analysts81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists79% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Training and Development Specialists79% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Human Resources Managers78% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists77% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers77% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for industrial-organizational psychologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where industrial-organizational psychologists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Training and Development Specialists (84)
- Human Resources Managers (83)
- Management Analysts (83)
- Training and Development Managers (81)
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary (79)
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary (77)
- Lawyers (77)
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (76)
- Labor Relations Specialists (75)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (74)
Questions about jobs like industrial-organizational psychologists
What jobs are most similar to industrial-organizational psychologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Management Analysts (81% similar), Survey Researchers (80% similar), Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists (79% similar), Education Administrators (Postsecondary) (79% similar) and Training and Development Specialists (79% similar).
Do jobs like industrial-organizational psychologists pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than industrial-organizational psychologists where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.