An AA in psychology equates to a narrow career scope. For those looking for direct psychology experience, you may work with patients in a hospital or rehab setting in the capacity of a psychology technician. Psychology technicians assist doctors and nurses with patient care. You may take patients to appointments, spend time with patients and observe behavior in order to formulate a report. Psychology is a field with easily transferable skills. Industries, such as human resources, retail, management and customer service, would fit well with the knowledge you gain with an AA in psychology. Keep in mind, however, that with an AA degree you will most likely secure an entry-level position. Many employers will require that you obtain a higher degree to move up the ladder.
You can work in a position that utilizes psychology in the government with very little education. According to World Wide Learn, entry-level psychology jobs in the government require only 24 credit hours of psychology courses. It should be noted, however, that competition is stiff for these jobs due to the lenient requirements.
An AA in psychology prepares you to transfer to a four-year university to complete your bachelor’s degree. The coursework is geared towards maximum transferability. By the time you transfer, you have essentially completed half of the coursework required for a bachelor’s degree and at half the cost. Holding a bachelor’s degree does open up more career opportunities but keep in mind that in order to work as a therapist, counselor or psychologist you will need advanced degrees such as a master's degree or PhD.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), psychology technicians make an average of $13.19 an hour which equates to $27,430 a year. The industry with the highest employment for psychology technicians is psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals. The highest-paying industry is general medical and surgical hospitals, paying an average of $13.95 an hour. Compare that to a bachelor’s degree, which according to the National Center for Educational Statistics, garners degree holders an average annual salary of $45,000.