How To Become a Biological Psychologist (Plus Salary and Job Outlook)

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Updated March 26, 2025

A biological psychologist is a professional in the mental health industry who specializes in assessing patients' behavior and determining the psychological and biological reasons behind it. For professionals in psychology, pursuing this career path can be a great way to specialize their careers further and learn about a more complex subset of the industry. If you're interested in becoming a biological psychologist, it can be beneficial to explore the specific actions you can take to prepare for the job, as this might help you secure a position once you're ready.In this article, we explain how to become a biological psychologist and review other aspects of the career, like their job duties and work environments.Related: All About Psychology Jobs and Common CareersKey takeaways:

Biological psychologists specialize in understanding the biological processes behind patients' behaviors, often working in research-focused environments and collaborating with other psychology professionals.
The educational path to becoming a biological psychologist involves obtaining a bachelor's degree, typically in psychology or a related field, pursuing a master's degree in a specific area of psychology and securing a Ph.D. in psychology or a specialized area like biopsychology.
For a successful career as a biological psychologist, securing a state-specific license and specialty certification is often required; additionally, job seekers can leverage their academic networks and online resources for job opportunities.

What is a biological psychologist?

A biological psychologist specializes in treating patients who have behavioral issues and determining how these behaviors can originate from biological processes. These professionals can work in several types of environments and usually spend much of their time conducting research and observations. Here are a few of the most common job duties for a biological psychologist:

Assessing patient behavior to identify relationships between their behavior and their brains and nervous systems
Conducting extensive research on different psychological conditions and biological reactions
Examining patients who experience brain injuries to identify connections to their behavior
Exploring psychological occurrences from a biological perspective
Researching the effects of drugs and other substances on the brain and human behavior
Collaborating with other psychology professionals to expand their research

How to become a biological psychologist

Here are some steps you can follow to become a biological psychologist:

1. Earn a bachelor's degree

The first step in becoming a biological psychologist is to complete a bachelor's degree. This is because these professionals typically need advanced degrees to work in the field, so they first need bachelor's degrees so they can apply to graduate schools. Earning a bachelor's degree can also introduce you to the basic concepts and topics in your subject, which can lay a foundation of knowledge that you can use throughout your career. Aspiring biological psychologists typically major in psychology for their undergraduate study, but you can also choose a subject like a biological or social science.Related: Psychology Degrees: Definition, Types and Specialties

2. Pursue a master's degree

After you graduate with a bachelor's degree, start working toward a master's degree. This can allow you to study more complex subjects in psychology, such as studying human behavior in relation to biological processes. There are several types of master's degrees that these professionals can pursue, such as a master's in clinical psychology and a master's in genes in behavior and health. These types of master's degrees typically take between two and four years to complete and can involve a combination of research and practical application of classroom concepts.

3. Obtain a Ph.D.

Once you have a master's degree, start applying to Ph.D. programs. This is the final formal education requirement that biological psychologists usually have to fulfill, as a Ph.D. can help them work with patients, assess biological information accurately and prescribe the correct treatment plans. Most of these professionals pursue doctoral degrees in psychology, but you can sometimes find programs with more specialized focuses, like biopsychology or biological and health psychology. Finishing a Ph.D. in a psychology subject can take between four and six years, depending on the amount of research and the complexity of projects a candidate completes.

4. Secure a license and certification

As all types of psychologists are medical professionals, they usually need a license to practice in the field. While the exact license requirements for a biological psychologist can vary, depending on the state you live in, you can typically find your state's information on the state board website. Most psychologists can earn their license by passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.As biological psychologists are specialized professionals, they also sometimes pursue specialty certification. This can verify that they have the specific training and education in advanced concepts in the industry and that they know about any federal or state regulations surrounding their practice. For example, the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology offers specialty certifications for professionals who want to work in biological psychology that involve completing a doctoral degree and passing an exam.Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

5. Apply for jobs as a biological psychologist

When you have your license and certification, you can start applying for work as a biological psychologist. If you already know about a particular facility you want to work for from your time in college, you can ask about whether they have any openings for biological psychologists. You can also look for open positions online with a job search website or search engine.Related: 10 Careers in Biological Psychology You Can Explore

Work environment for a biological psychologist

Biological psychologists most often work in clinical research environments. This can include facilities like hospitals, mental health centers and rehabilitation facilities that host patients with behavioral disorders. Some biological psychologists work in research laboratories or in clinics as well. The job typically involves full-time hours and can require overtime when completing heavy research.

Salary and job outlook for a biological psychologist

While Indeed doesn't provide salary information specifically for a biological psychologist, they offer information for a psychologist, which is a more general version of the same job title. The national average salary for a psychologist is currently $95,616 per year, with many professionals earning higher salaries, based on the city where they live. For example, psychologists in New York City can earn an average of $91,087 per year, and those in San Francisco, California, can earn an average of $117,739 per year. Most psychologists also receive employee benefits, such as health insurance, professional development assistance and paid time off.Although the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't offer job outlook data for biological psychologists, it provides data for psychologists, which includes biological psychologists. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of people working as psychologists could rise by 8% from 2020 to 2030. The BLS says this growth might result from increased demand for psychological professionals in facilities like schools and social service agencies, as well as hospitals and mental health centers. It also notes that more jobs can open as current psychologists retire or pursue other careers.

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