8 Careers in Business Psychology
In a constantly evolving work environment, one thing remains constant – people are the key to success.
But what makes people tick? How do you foster environments where employees thrive, innovate and stay motivated? And when you’re competing with almost 2.7 million businesses for customer attention, but focus is more fragmented than ever – how do you cut through, connect and go the distance as a brand?
Business psychology combines the science of human behaviour with business applications, aiming to improve productivity, enhance the workplace environment and organise people.
Whether you're looking to shape performance strategy, improve workplace wellbeing or understand the complexities of human behaviour in consumer and employee interactions, business psychology provides the tools to build a high-impact and highly sought-after career.
From behavioural strategy consulting to employee experience management, the pathways in this field are as diverse as the challenges they solve.
But what do business psychology careers actually involve and what can you do with a business psychology degree? In this article, we break down the top business psychology jobs and outline how you can carve your career in business psychology.
What jobs can I get with a business psychology degree?
Business psychology professionals are highly versatile.
They are equipped to excel in human resources (HR), leadership, behavioural research and corporate strategy. By blending psychological principles with business expertise, they go beyond solving problems – anticipating and preventing them while empowering teams to perform their best.
An advanced qualification like Edith Cowan University (ECU) Online’s Master of Business Psychology opens doors to a wide range of jobs that involve psychology and business.
This degree allows graduates to combine deep insights into human behaviour with strategic business thinking, whether it’s guiding leadership decisions, enhancing workplace culture, driving employee engagement, or revolutionising marketing strategies through data-driven insights.
Here are eight business psychology careers where a business psychology degree can help you thrive.
Behavioural strategy consultant
Behavioural strategy consultants advise businesses on how to enhance strategy and performance. They’re typically found in consulting firms, large corporations or working independently on a freelance basis. They can earn from $95k for entry-level roles, and up to $155k and beyond for more experienced (or self-employed) positions.
A big part of this role is understanding consumer and employee behaviour, and applying data-driven psychological insights to bolster strategic decisions.
On a day-to-day basis, it can involve conducting behavioural analysis, leading workshops, collaborating with internal and external research teams, and presenting findings to executives.
A degree in business psychology can teach students how to apply psychological frameworks for business success and understand the decision-making process, giving graduates a cutting edge in this field.
Customer research and insights specialist
A customer research and insights specialist studies consumer behaviour and uses the data to inform marketing strategies, product development and improve the customer experience.
In practice, this might involve conducting customer surveys, analysing data, collaborating with internal and external marketing teams to refine strategies, and preparing reports on consumer trends and preferences.
Expertise in subjects like people analytics, human behaviour in consumer contexts and data-driven decision-making is highly advantageous in this role.
Insights specialists can work in marketing departments for large organisations, at advertising agencies, or market research firms – or on a freelance basis for multiple clients. According to Seek.com, the salary in Australia ranges from $85,000 to $145,000.
Employee experience manager
Employee experience managers are responsible for creating a positive workplace environment to enhance employee satisfaction, engagement and retention. They oversee employee surveys, lead workplace wellbeing initiatives, work with HR teams to improve policies and create employee engagement programs.
They are also typically found in HR departments or government organisations or consulting on behalf of specialised employee experience firms. According to Payscale.com, most earn between $90,000 and $150,000 in Australia.
Organisational development specialist
The main role of an organisational development specialist is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness within a business. Their day-to-day tasks may include designing and implementing organisational development strategies, assessing team performance, providing leadership coaching and overseeing transition projects.
Organisational development specialists can work in a range of settings, including internal HR teams or constancy firms, advising on talent management and leadership development across industries. Managing change, organisational behaviour and leadership development strategies are integral skills to thrive in this role.
Recent data on Jora.com indicates the average salary for these roles can range from $100,000 to $160,000.
Career coach
If you have a passion for helping people perform at their best, you might be the perfect career coach. This role is all about helping ambitious professionals understand both their strengths and areas for development, and using psychological insights to guide career decisions and professional growth.
In practice, this typically involves meeting clients individually, conducting assessments, providing personalised career strategies and helping clients set actionable career goals. Career coaches can be hired by individuals or organisations to help with team development and performance.
Reported salaries in Australia range from approximately $65,000 to $75,000, but it’s important to note many career coaches are self-employed and can set their own rates.
Leadership coach
Where career coaches work with professionals at all levels, leadership coaches specialise in top-level development. Generally, they help founders and executives make better decisions, navigate challenging situations, motivate teams and resolve workplace conflicts.
They may conduct leadership training, hold one-on-one coaching sessions with executives, offer feedback on strategy or leadership styles, and develop action plans on a daily basis.
Leadership coaches typically earn above $100,000. The coaching industry has grown rapidly, with reports that the number of practitioners grew by 54 per cent between 2019 and 2022.
An advanced qualification in business psychology can equip graduates with the practical skills needed to truly help others and build professional credibility.
Strategy consultant
Strategy consultants provide high-level recommendations to improve business processes, organisational culture and overall profitability.
Specifically, this role can involve analysing market trends, assessing business operations and identifying structural challenges, working with stakeholders to develop strategic solutions, and presenting recommendations to executive teams.
Often found in consulting firms, large corporations or working as independent contractors across various sectors, strategy consultants need several advanced skills to perform most effectively.
These include a knowledge of advanced decision-making models, organisational behaviour and strategic business psychology framework.
According to Seek.com, strategy consultants in Australia typically earn between $115,000 to $135,000, with higher-paying positions bringing in $155,000.
Organisational change specialist
Tasked with leading businesses through significant transitions – such as mergers and acquisitions or restructures – organisational change specialists often have to navigate high-stress and high-impact situations to deliver positive outcomes.
In practice, this role can involve developing change management strategies, training teams on new processes, assessing the impact of changes and working closely with leadership to minimise disruption.
Organisational change specialists typically work on a consultative basis in large corporations during transitions or in-house as part of HR departments.
The average salary in Australia can range from $110,000 to $130,000, with higher-paid positions securing $150,000 and beyond.
An advanced qualification in business psychology is not only a great way to increase your earning potential in this role but also to develop much-needed skills to perform this often delicate role effectively, such as change management, diversity and inclusion, and transformative leadership.
How to start your career in business psychology
The professional landscape is changing and so are the expectations, needs and behaviours of consumers and employees alike. Knowing what makes people tick, thrive and perform at their best is the key to a career that transforms workplaces and drives real change.
With ECU Online’s Master of Business Psychology, you’ll gain the skills to decode human behaviour and turn insights into powerful business strategies that elevate performance and boost employee wellbeing.
This accelerated course can be completed in as little as two years. It is designed for ambitious professionals who want to make an impact now rather than later.
You’ll master cutting-edge techniques in leadership, people analytics and change management – applying them in real-time to solve today’s most pressing challenges and prevent tomorrow’s. Whether you aim to lead, consult or reshape organisational culture, this degree gives you the competitive edge to stand out and succeed.
Expand your career options and build a future-focused, specialised expertise in business psychology with ECU Online’s Master of Business Psychology.
To find out more, reach out to one of our Student Enrolment Advisors on 1300 707 760, email future.student@studyonline.ecu.edu.au or download a brochure.
