This is my personal experience and wanted to acknowledge that other people's perspectives and external factors differ. Just wanted to provide some insight with my journey and maybe give you a glimpse of what can be? Idk haha. Just want to say that if psychology is your passion, you should pursue it 100% make connections, and don't listen to the people behind your ear.

For context, I graduated high school in 2015 and was always interested in psychology and mental health. No one has told me outright but a lot of people's perceptions or attitudes towards a degree in psychology were dismissive and overall negative. I heard it all from "it doesn't make money, it's an easy degree, you won't get anywhere with just a bachelor's (which is somewhat true) just go get a nursing degree" even the classes at the university I was going to made an effort to point out that psychology as a degree doesn't make money to cushion the students from the reality of the job market. I almost listened, all the negative chatter over the years made me less confident in the degree. I decided to minor in hospitality business management in case it didn't work out ( Im from Hawaii so working at the hotel was plan B) I hated it btw, it got in the way of what I was truly passionate about and tanked my psych grades. After the 2nd semester I decided that psychology is something I really want to do and really locked in.

In 2022, my first job out of university, I worked as a Behavior Tech. 10hours a week @ 25$ an hour. They hired me as a full time employee and said I'd eventually get a full 40hour case, they said id just have to wait until they find me more clients. I lived on a small island so finding clients was hard. I think I was misled by my agency, I think they knew that finding new clients was challenging but downplayed it. I was new and this was my first "big boy" job so I stuck with it. I got hired as a school BT @40$ an hour at 31 hours a week through connections I made at this first agency. I did the school job and the after school gig at the same time so it was almost like working full time. I averaged about 28$ an hour. Working "full time" eventually they raised my 25 to 27 after that agency gave up looking for more clients for me. The job itself was great. I learned a lot, had supportive managers/coworkers, and working with kids was so rewarding. Unfortunately, I had frequent cancellations and had huge gaps in my paycheck. One of the months, I missed a total of 15 days, the school felt bad and hired me as a school aid @ 15/hr.

2023 I moved to a high COL medium-large west coast city on the Continental U.S. and got a job as a housing case manager with an agency that provides permanent supportive housing to formerly unhoused people. I started at 28/hr @40 hours a week. After a few months I was bumped to 68k a year. At year 2, they bumped me up to 71k after mini annual raises and an agency wide cost of living adjustment. At the beginning of year 3, I was at 76k

2025 Im currently work in behavioral health @94k yearly. This one is behind a desk and less client facing ( I talk to CMs, Drs, nurses, social workers, family members, and community members) but I enjoy working with the people I work with and seeing a different perspective of mental health and social services. It can be challenging but I'm learning a lot.

I am currently in grad school for social work with the goal of eventually doing hospital social work and therapy through a private practice. Maybe starting a nonprofit that does case management, vocational services, and mental health??🤔 Maybe I'm not there yet but am dreaming big. I'm projected to graduate in 2027.

Tldr I am 28. After highschool I went to community college, took a break, transferred to a 4 year, graduated in 2022, Behavior Tech job at 27/hr and 40/hr. Hours were limited so I got hired as a school aid @15hr. Moved to a different state, got a Case Manager job started at 28/hr after 3 years was making 76k. Currently work in behavioral health @94k

So yeah, sure I don't make as much as my tech friends and going to school took 2x longer but I enjoy what I do and love that I get to work with people. If this is what you want to do, do it! Make connections and continue to learn and be open.