psychology research jobs pay

Research Psychologist Salary Guide 2024

If you are interested in pursuing a job in  research psychology , it is advantageous to understand the potential earnings and ways to advance your career. Our comprehensive guide to the research psychologist salary provides valuable insights for aspiring professionals.

What’s in this guide?

What salary can i expect to earn as a research psychologist, which u.s. cities are paying research psychologists the most, how does a research psychologist’s salary compare to other psychological fields, how do i advance my research psychology career and earn more.

By PsychologyJobs.com Staff Writer

Research psychologists undergo rigorous training to become specialists in behavior and psychological processes. Research psychologists may practice in a range of settings, including universities, research centers, hospitals, and private practices.

Research psychologists in the USA earn an average of $79,000 annually.

The salary for a research psychologist varies based on location, experience level, and type of employer.

According to industry data , research psychologists working in education services can earn an average annual salary of $90,000. Those who work for the military can earn $80,000 per year, while those working in hospitals earn an average of $84,000 annually. Those who work in the pharmaceutical industry earn an average annual salary of $90,000.

Research psychologists specializing in market analysis can earn an average annual salary of $61,000. Meanwhile, those specializing in experimental psychology earn an average of $69,000.

In addition, research psychologists may be eligible for grants and fellowships from universities or organizations, which can provide additional income. Research psychologists also have the potential to earn more money through consulting and speaking engagements related to their field of expertise.

Moreover, research psychologists can expect fantastic benefits such as job satisfaction, flexibility, autonomy, and competitive salaries recommended for those who desire work-life balance.

Research psychologists can expect to earn a good salary depending on their experience and qualifications. With the right education and certifications, they can look forward to even greater rewards in terms of career advancement opportunities.

Some states offer higher wages and more job opportunities than others in terms of regional prospects. For example, California has one of the highest concentrations of research psychologists due to its large population size and many universities offering graduate programs in this field.

To provide a more specific list and potential earnings for research psychologists, here are the  top ten paying  metropolitan areas for research psychologists:

• Sacramento, CA: $ 128,960
• Roseville, CA: $ 128,960
• Arden, CA: $ 128,960
• Arcade, CA: $ 128,960
• San Francisco, CA: $ 126,520
• Oakland, CA: $ 126,520
• Hayward, CA: $ 126,520
• Eugene, OR: $ 125,070
• Jacksonville, FL: $ 114,600
• Baltimore, MD: $ 112,960

Research psychologists’ salaries may significantly vary by region due to differences in the cost of living. Additionally, local labor markets can also impact salaries, with higher demand for specific specialties, such as clinical or forensic psychology leading to higher overall wages, even when accounting for education level and experience.

Note that these are median remuneration as reported. It may differ depending on experience, credentials, area, and other elements, which is the basis of this figure. Highly experienced professionals with an IQ of 150 can earn significantly more than this amount.

There are many different fields within psychology, each with its own unique set of job responsibilities and salary expectations. Here are five examples of other psychological professions and their annual earnings, for comparison to research psychologists.

Clinical Psychologist : $54,000-$98,000 annually

Clinical psychologists provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups. They assess, diagnose, and treat many psychological disorders using various therapy techniques.

School Psychologist : $63,000- $100,000 annually

School psychologists work with students, parents, and teachers to support a student’s academic and social success. They assess and address learning and behavioral issues and develop interventions to improve student outcomes.

Industrial-Organizational Psychologist : $112,690- $192,000 annually

Industrial-organizational psychologists apply psychological principles to the workplace to improve organizational effectiveness and employee well-being. They conduct research, design interventions, and consult with businesses on employee selection, training, and leadership development.

Forensic Psychologist : $60,000- $124,500 annually

Forensic psychologists apply their expertise in psychology to the criminal justice system. They may evaluate individuals’ competency to stand trial, assess the risk of violence, or provide expert witness testimony in court.

Neuropsychologist: $103,000-$140,000 annually

Neuropsychologists specialize in the study of brain-behavior relationships. They assess and diagnose individuals with brain injuries or disorders and develop interventions to help them manage symptoms and improve their quality of life.

To advance in a career as a research psychologist, one must obtain an accredited doctoral degree in psychology or a related field and meet state licensure requirements. That includes completing an accredited doctoral program and passing the comprehensive Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), which covers psychological assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning.

Research psychologists must engage in continuing education to maintain their license and keep up-to-date with advances in the field. That includes professional seminars or online classes. Some employers may also require specialized accreditations from organizations like the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) to demonstrate advanced knowledge and expertise in health service or forensic psychology.

To succeed in research psychology, it is imperative to remain informed of the available resources and opportunities. The American Psychological Association (APA) website provides helpful information on job prospects by region and areas of specialization currently in demand. Universities typically offer career centers that can assist with resume writing and marketing oneself during interviews.

Furthermore, local mental health facilities often seek qualified professionals who have the chops to work part-time hours while gaining experience before pursuing full-time positions elsewhere. Thus, leveraging these resources can help pave the way for a successful career as a research psychologist.

Joining organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) can be advantageous when seeking to enter research psychology, providing access to job postings and resources like mentorship programs that aid with licensing procedures and post-graduation employment.

Attending conferences hosted by APA or similar organizations can also help connect with potential employers or collaborators who may need assistance on projects related to one’s area of expertise.

Years of experience can also play a significant role in increasing the salary of a research psychologist. As research psychologists become more specialized and develop advanced skills and knowledge, the greater demand for their services and the ability to command higher salaries. As long as research psychologists continue building their skills and experience over time, they can maximize their earning potential.

Research Psychologist salary

Average research psychologist salary, how much does a research psychologist make.

The average research psychologist salary in the United States is $90,440. Research psychologist salaries typically range between $63,000 and $128,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for research psychologists is $43.48 per hour. Research psychologist salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Research psychologists earn the highest average salary in California.

Where can a Research Psychologist earn more?

• Research Psychologist

A research psychologist with 0-2 years of experience earns an average entry-level salary of $93,862. A mid-career research psychologist with 3-6 years of experience makes $90,440 a year on average. A senior level research psychologist with 7-12 years of experience enjoys an average annual salary of $136,936. According to Ph.D. E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Chair Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture and Womanist Thought at Vanderbilt University, "I tell recent graduates read the contract and the faculty manual. Make sure you understand the long-term implications of your early salary. Second, plan for retirement now; do not wait until you are making the salary of your fantasies. Take advantage of opportunities to learn about financial health and management. Third, position yourself. Write and publish directly and clearly in your field of study and adjacent areas. Fourth, create a plan with vision for the career you think you want. Finally, one way or the other, you will carve out a career or job, but a vocation is nurtured by paying attention to where and you experience passion and a deep sense of belonging. A vocation is where your heart and intellect find a meaningful place in responding to the world's needs. Your salary best positions you when it supports you whole life and commitments."

Research Psychologist salary estimates from across the web

Average research psychologist salary by state.

The average research psychologist salary in California, Washington, and Virginia are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average research psychologist salary states are Nebraska, Illinois, and Tennessee.

• County View

Highest paying states for research psychologists

Highest paying cities for research psychologists.

The highest-paying cities for research psychologists are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and McLean, VA.

Research Psychologist salary details

A research psychologist's salary ranges from $63,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $128,000 at the 90th percentile.

What is a research psychologist's salary?

Highest paying research psychologist jobs.

The highest paying types of research psychologists are chief psychologist, senior staff psychologist, and licensed psychologist.

Top companies hiring research psychologists now:

• ARI Jobs (3)
• Federal Aviation Administration Jobs (2)
• US Air Conditioning Distributors Jobs (5)
• U.S. Secret Service Jobs (2)
• ACT Jobs (2)

Which companies pay research psychologists the most?

Research psychologist salaries at Parexel International and Alaka`ina Foundation Family Of Companies are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research psychologist salary at companies like CIA Inc and TechWerks are highly competitive.

Wage gap by gender, race and education

Research psychologist salary trends.

The average research psychologist salary has risen by $13,528 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research psychologist earned $76,912 annually, but today, they earn $90,440 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for research psychologists over the last decade.

Compare research psychologist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average research psychologist salary over time

Compare research psychologist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Research Psychologist salary by year

Recently added research psychologist salaries, research psychologist salary faqs, what state pays research psychologists the most, how do i know if i'm being paid fairly as a research psychologist.

Search for research psychologist jobs

Research Psychologist Related Salaries

• Chief Psychologist Salary
• Clinical Fellow Salary
• Clinical Psychologist Salary
• Clinical Psychologist-Licensed Salary
• Clinical Psychology Internship Salary
• Licensed Psychologist Salary
• Licensed Psychologist Director Salary
• Psychologist Salary
• Psychology Associate Salary
• Research Associate Salary
• Research Fellow Salary
• School Psychologist Salary
• Senior Staff Psychologist Salary
• Staff Psychologist Salary

Research Psychologist Related Careers

• Behavioral Psychologist
• Chief Psychologist
• Chief, Psychology
• Child Psychologist
• Clinical Fellow
• Clinical Neuropsychologist
• Clinical Psychologist
• Clinical Psychologist-Licensed
• Clinical Psychology Internship
• Eating Disorder Specialist
• Licensed Psychologist
• Licensed Psychologist Director
• Psychologist
• Psychology Associate
• Research Associate

Research Psychologist Related Jobs

• School Psychologist
• Senior Staff Psychologist
• Sports Psychologist

What Similar Roles Do

• What Does a Chief Psychologist Do
• What Does a Clinical Fellow Do
• What Does a Clinical Psychologist Do
• What Does a Clinical Psychologist-Licensed Do
• What Does a Clinical Psychology Internship Do
• What Does a Licensed Psychologist Do
• What Does a Licensed Psychologist Director Do
• What Does a Psychologist Do
• What Does a Psychology Associate Do
• What Does a Research Associate Do
• What Does a Research Fellow Do
• What Does a School Psychologist Do
• What Does a Senior Staff Psychologist Do
• What Does a Staff Psychologist Do
• Zippia Careers
• Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
• Research Psychologist Salary

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs

• Bipolar Disorder
• Therapy Center
• When To See a Therapist
• Types of Therapy
• Best Online Therapy
• Best Couples Therapy
• Best Family Therapy
• Managing Stress
• Sleep and Dreaming
• Understanding Emotions
• Self-Improvement
• Healthy Relationships
• Student Resources
• Personality Types
• Guided Meditations
• Verywell Mind Insights
• 2023 Verywell Mind 25
• Mental Health in the Classroom
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board
• Crisis Support

Psychologist Salary Info: The 9 Highest Paying Careers

Which psychology jobs pay the best salary?

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Psychology can be a high-paying job, but it is important to recognize that there is tremendous diversity among psychology professions, and  salaries and yearly earnings are just as varied. In a struggling economy, many students have turned their interest toward some of the highest-paying careers in psychology. The highest-paying psychologist career salaries average around $167,000.

While many psychology careers have a higher-than-average yearly salary, it is important to remember that actual income depends upon various factors, including geographic location, employment sector, educational background, and years of experience.

Learn more about some of the highest-paying psychology careers, the typical salaries for such professions, and the educational requirements for entering these fields.

Psychiatrist

Average Salary:  $216,090 per year

Educational Requirements:  Considered a medical career, psychiatry is significantly tied to the study and application of psychology. Approximately eight years of post-undergraduate study. After earning a bachelor's degree, aspiring psychiatrists must graduate from medical school and then complete a four-year residency.

Psychiatry is one of the highest-paying fields tied to psychology. However, salaries can vary considerably within this field depending upon your specialty area , where you are employed, and the type of work you perform.

Industrial-Organizational Psychologist

Average Salary: $105,310

Educational Requirements: In most cases, a master's degree in psychology is the minimum training required, although having a doctorate degree may be to your advantage. While there are opportunities available at the master's degree level, earning a doctorate degree in industrial-organizational psychology offers greater opportunities and higher salaries.

Industrial-organizational psychologists use their knowledge of psychology to tackle workplace issues. Increasing worker productivity, selecting the best employees for particular jobs, and developing market research surveys are just a few things that an industrial-organizational psychologist might do.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that I/O psychologists in the scientific research and development industry earned an average annual wage of $122,660. Those employed at colleges, universities, and professional schools earned an average of $110,070.

According to the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology , the average salary for a doctorate-level consultant was $167,000.

Neuropsychologist

Average Salary: $90,460 per year

Educational Requirements: A doctorate degree in neuropsychology or clinical neuropsychology is needed to work in this field.

Neuropsychologists specialize in the study of the brain and cognitive science.   People who work in this field often perform cognitive tests, run brain scans, assess people suffering from brain injury, and study how drugs impact the nervous system. They may work at colleges and universities, hospitals, research centers, mental health clinics, and pharmaceutical labs.

Clinical Psychologist

Average Salary: $81,330 per year

Educational Requirements: In most states, clinical psychologists must have a doctorate degree in psychology. In addition to this education, they must also complete one to two years of supervised residency and pass state licensing exams in order to practice as a licensed clinical psychologist.

Clinical psychologists are trained in assessing, diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental illness. This is also the largest area of employment within psychology. Clinical psychologists work in various settings, including hospitals, mental health clinics, and private practice.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that in May 2019, those employed in individual and family services earned an average of $85,140. Those employed in the offices of other health practitioners earned an average of $100,300 per year.

Engineering Psychologist

Average Salary: $79,818 per year

Educational Requirements: Entry-level positions require a master's degree, but those with a doctorate will find greater employment opportunities and better salaries.

Engineering psychologists work to improve the design of systems, operations, and equipment in order to increase efficiency, improve productivity, and minimize injury. As with other specialty areas of psychology, the area of employment plays a major role in determining salary. Engineering psychologists who work in the private sector earn considerably more than those employed in university settings.

Counseling Psychologist

Average Salary: $72,540 per year

Educational Requirements: A PhD, PsyD , or EdD degree is required to become a counseling psychologist.

Counseling psychologists perform many of the same tasks as clinical psychologists such as offering psychotherapy and mental health treatment, but they typically work with clients suffering from less severe forms of mental illness.

While mental health is one of the largest areas within counseling psychology, some people in this field opt to conduct research. They also teach university courses or provide vocational counseling.

Forensic Psychologist

Average Salary: $59,440

Educational Requirements: While there are some jobs available with a master's degree, you will typically need a doctorate degree in clinical, counseling, or forensic psychology.

Forensic psychologists deal with psychological issues related to the law. Some of the duties that a professional in this field might perform include developing psychological profiles of criminals, dealing with child custody issues, investigating child abuse, providing expert testimony, preparing witnesses to testify in court, and offering training to law enforcement.

School Psychologist

Average Salary: $58,360

Educational Requirements: Most states require completing a 60-credit school psychology specialist program, which leads to a master's or EdS degree. Approximately 32% of school psychologists hold a PhD , PsyD, or EdD degree.

School psychologists work within the educational system to diagnose and treat behavior and learning problems in children. They often collaborate with other professionals, including teachers and doctors as well as parents, to help kids overcome social, emotional, behavioral, and academic problems.

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Department of Labor, jobs in this field are expected to grow by approximately 10% over the next decade.

Sports Psychologist

Average Salary:  $55,000 per year

Educational Requirements:  Most jobs require a master's or doctorate degree in sports psychology or in related areas such as clinical or counseling psychology. Sports psychologists  are interested in the psychological components of sports and athletics.  

Professionals in this field often focus on topics such as  motivation  and athletic performance. They utlizie their knowledge of psychology to help athletes perform better or to help people recover from sports injuries.

While salaries for sports psychologists typically range between $60,000 and $80,000, those working with professional athletes often earn over six figures.

Frequently Asked Questions

While specific salaries vary depending on factors including experience and location, psychiatry tends to be the highest-paying psychology-related career.

They can! However, it is important to recognize that individual salaries vary a great deal. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for psychologists is $81,040. However, the lowest paid 10% made less than $47,850 per year. Your own salary may depend on factors such as your specialty, training, experience, area of employment, and geographic location.

Psychology can be a good career if it is suited to your interests and goals. The field is expected to experience modest growth in the coming year, and there are always opportunities for growth depending on where your interests lie. The growing need for mental health services and an aging population means that there will be a need for trained psychologists.

A Word From Verywell

Choosing a career is a big decision, and the salary is just one of many factors you need to consider. Money is an important component, but factors such as job outlook and quality of life are also essential.

So is becoming a psychologist worth it? Only you can decide. Think about how a particular career may suit your personality and goals in life before committing. In the end, the best job for you is the one you will enjoy the most and fulfills your personal and professional needs.

Zavlin D, Jubbal KT, Noé JG, Gansbacher B. A comparison of medical education in Germany and the United States: from applying to medical school to the beginnings of residency. Ger Med Sci. 2017;15:Doc15. doi:10.3205/000256

Torpey E. Business careers with high pay.  Career Outlook,  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016.

Kossek EE, Baltes BB, Matthews RA. How Work-Family Research Can Finally Have an Impact in Organizations. Ind Organ Psychol . 2011;4(3):352-369. doi:10.1111/j.1754-9434.2011.01353.x

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational employment and wages, May 2021: 19-3032 industrial-organizational psychologists .

Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. The SIOP income and employment report is here !

Harvey PD. Clinical applications of neuropsychological assessment. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2012;14(1):91-9.

Wahass SH. The role of psychologists in health care delivery. J Family Community Med. 2005;12(2):63-70.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational employment and wages, May 2019: 19-3031 clinical, counseling, and school psychologists .

Iudici A, Salvini A, Faccio E, Castelnuovo G. The clinical assessment in the legal field: An empirical study of bias and limitations in forensic expertise. Front Psychol. 2015;6:1831. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01831

Burrow-sanchez J, Call ME, Adolphson SL, Hawken LS. School psychologists' perceived competence and training needs for student substance abuse*. J Sch Health. 2009;79(6):269-76. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2009.00409.x

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Psychologists: Job outlook . Occupational Outlook Handbook .

Röthlin P, Birrer D, Horvath S, Grosse holtforth M. Psychological skills training and a mindfulness-based intervention to enhance functional athletic performance: design of a randomized controlled trial using ambulatory assessment. BMC Psychol. 2016;4(1):39. doi:10.1186/s40359-016-0147-y

American Psychological Association. Hot careers: Sports psychology .

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. 

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

30 Best universities for Psychology in Moscow, Russia

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Moscow ranked based on their research performance in Psychology. A graph of 406K citations received by 66.7K academic papers made by 30 universities in Moscow was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Moscow State University

For Psychology

2. National Research University Higher School of Economics

3. Moscow Medical Academy

4. Russian National Research Medical University

5. RUDN University

6. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

7. National Research Nuclear University MEPI

8. Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration

9. Moscow State Pedagogical University

10. Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation

11. Bauman Moscow State Technical University

12. Moscow State Institute of International Relations

13. N.R.U. Moscow Power Engineering Institute

14. Moscow Aviation Institute

15. Plekhanov Russian University of Economics

16. Russian State University for the Humanities

17. State University of Management

18. Russian State Social University

19. National University of Science and Technology "MISIS"

20. Moscow State Linguistic University

21. New Economic School

22. Russian State University of Oil and Gas

23. mendeleev university of chemical technology of russia.

24. Moscow Polytech

25. Moscow State University of Railway Engineering

26. National Research University of Electronic Technology

27. Moscow State Technological University "Stankin"

28. Pushkin State Russian Language Institute

29. Russian State Agricultural University

30. Moscow International University

Universities for Psychology near Moscow

Psychology subfields in moscow.

City Building Inspector

Job posting for city building inspector at moscow city hall.

Will report directly to the Public Works Director

Responsibilities: - Conduct pre and post build inspections of construction and existing residential sites to ensure compliance with building codes and regulations

- Document inspection findings and prepare detailed reports

Requirements: - Proven experience in construction inspection or a related field - Strong knowledge of building codes, regulations, and construction practices - Ability to read and interpret blueprints, schematics, and construction plans - Excellent attention to detail and ability to identify defects or deviations from specifications - Proficient in data collection and analysis techniques - Strong communication skills to effectively communicate findings and recommendations - Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks effectively

Skills Required: - Quality inspection techniques and procedures

Additional Skills are a plus: - Data collection and analysis skills - Strong analytical skills for identifying defects or deviations from specifications - Knowledge of construction inspection processes and quality control procedures

- Schematic reading and understanding

- Contract interpretation and analysis - Construction management knowledge

- Ability to read and interpret blueprints and construction plans - Review construction plans, blueprints, and schematics to understand project requirements - Perform quality inspections of materials, equipment, and workmanship - Collect and analyze data to identify areas for improvement and ensure adherence to quality standards - Collaborate with construction management teams to address any issues or concerns

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Inspector who is detail-oriented!

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Temporary

Physical setting:

• Outdoor work

Work Location: In person

Apply for this job

Receive alerts for other City Building Inspector job openings

Report this Job

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs that are on the City Building Inspector career path.

Click the checkbox next to the jobs that you are interested in.

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs with skills like those required for the City Building Inspector .

Batch Testing Skill

• Instrument Technician I Income Estimation: $44,266 - $66,689
• Quality Control Inspector II Income Estimation: $46,176 - $59,439

Building Codes and Regulations Skill

• Project Director - Construction Income Estimation: $202,793 - $278,086
• Top Construction Executive Income Estimation: $242,819 - $388,658

Take action

• Report an antitrust violation
• File adjudicative documents
• Find banned debt collectors
• View competition guidance
• Competition Matters Blog

New HSR thresholds and filing fees for 2024

View all Competition Matters Blog posts

We work to advance government policies that protect consumers and promote competition.

View Policy

Search or browse the Legal Library

Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law.

Browse legal resources

• Find policy statements
• Submit a public comment

Vision and Priorities

Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC.

Technology Blog

Consumer facing applications: a quote book from the tech summit on ai.

View all Technology Blog posts

Advice and Guidance

Learn more about your rights as a consumer and how to spot and avoid scams. Find the resources you need to understand how consumer protection law impacts your business.

• Report fraud
• Report identity theft
• Register for Do Not Call
• Sign up for consumer alerts
• Get Business Blog updates
• Get your free credit report
• Find refund cases
• Order bulk publications
• Consumer Advice
• Shopping and Donating
• Credit, Loans, and Debt
• Jobs and Making Money
• Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts
• Identity Theft and Online Security
• Business Guidance
• Advertising and Marketing
• Credit and Finance
• Privacy and Security
• By Industry
• For Small Businesses
• Browse Business Guidance Resources
• Business Blog

Servicemembers: Your tool for financial readiness

Visit militaryconsumer.gov

Get consumer protection basics, plain and simple

Visit consumer.gov

Learn how the FTC protects free enterprise and consumers

Visit Competition Counts

Looking for competition guidance?

• Competition Guidance

News and Events

Latest news, williams-sonoma will pay record $3.17 million civil penalty for violating ftc made in usa order.

View News and Events

Upcoming Event

Older adults and fraud: what you need to know.

View more Events

Sign up for the latest news

Follow us on social media

-->   -->   -->   -->   -->  

Playing it Safe: Explore the FTC's Top Video Game Cases

Learn about the FTC's notable video game cases and what our agency is doing to keep the public safe.

Latest Data Visualization

FTC Refunds to Consumers

Explore refund statistics including where refunds were sent and the dollar amounts refunded with this visualization.

About the FTC

Our mission is protecting the public from deceptive or unfair business practices and from unfair methods of competition through law enforcement, advocacy, research, and education.

Learn more about the FTC

Meet the Chair

Lina M. Khan was sworn in as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission on June 15, 2021.

Chair Lina M. Khan

Looking for legal documents or records? Search the Legal Library instead.

• Cases and Proceedings
• Premerger Notification Program
• Merger Review
• Anticompetitive Practices
• Competition and Consumer Protection Guidance Documents
• Warning Letters
• Consumer Sentinel Network
• Criminal Liaison Unit
• FTC Refund Programs
• Notices of Penalty Offenses
• Advocacy and Research
• Advisory Opinions
• Cooperation Agreements
• Federal Register Notices
• Public Comments
• Policy Statements
• International
• Office of Technology Blog
• Military Consumer
• Consumer.gov
• Bulk Publications
• Data and Visualizations
• Stay Connected
• Commissioners and Staff
• Bureaus and Offices
• Budget and Strategy
• Office of Inspector General
• Careers at the FTC

Fact Sheet on FTC’s Proposed Final Noncompete Rule

• Competition
• Office of Policy Planning
• Bureau of Competition

The following outline provides a high-level overview of the FTC’s proposed final rule :

• Specifically, the final rule provides that it is an unfair method of competition—and therefore a violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act—for employers to enter into noncompetes with workers after the effective date.
• Fewer than 1% of workers are estimated to be senior executives under the final rule.
• Specifically, the final rule defines the term “senior executive” to refer to workers earning more than $151,164 annually who are in a “policy-making position.”
• Reduced health care costs: $74-$194 billion in reduced spending on physician services over the next decade.
• New business formation: 2.7% increase in the rate of new firm formation, resulting in over 8,500 additional new businesses created each year.
• This reflects an estimated increase of about 3,000 to 5,000 new patents in the first year noncompetes are banned, rising to about 30,000-53,000 in the tenth year.
• This represents an estimated increase of 11-19% annually over a ten-year period.
• The average worker’s earnings will rise an estimated extra $524 per year. 

The Federal Trade Commission develops policy initiatives on issues that affect competition, consumers, and the U.S. economy. The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. Follow the  FTC on social media , read  consumer alerts  and the  business blog , and  sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts .

Press Release Reference

Contact information, media contact.

Victoria Graham Office of Public Affairs 415-848-5121

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts
• 19 April 2024

Do insects have an inner life? Animal consciousness needs a rethink

• Mariana Lenharo

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Growing evidence indicates that insects such as bees show some forms of consciousness, according to a new scientific statement. Credit: Phil Savoie/Nature Picture Library

Crows , chimps and elephants : these and many other birds and mammals behave in ways that suggest they might be conscious . And the list does not end with vertebrates. Researchers are expanding their investigations of consciousness to a wider range of animals, including octopuses and even bees and flies.

Armed with such research, a coalition of scientists is calling for a rethink in the animal–human relationship . If there’s “a realistic possibility” of “conscious experience in an animal, it is irresponsible to ignore that possibility in decisions affecting that animal”, the researchers write in a document they call The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness . Issued today during a meeting in New York City, the declaration also says that there is a “realistic possibility of conscious experience” in reptiles, fish, insects and other animals that have not always been considered to have inner lives, and “strong scientific support” for aspects of consciousness in birds and mammals.

As the evidence has accumulated, scientists are “taking the topic seriously, not dismissing it out of hand as a crazy idea in the way they might have in the past”, says Jonathan Birch, a philosopher at the London School of Economics and Political Science and one of the authors of the declaration.

The document, which had around 40 signatories early today, doesn’t state that there are definitive answers about which species are conscious. “What it says is there is sufficient evidence out there such that there’s a realistic possibility of some kinds of conscious experiences in species even quite distinct from humans,” says Anil Seth, director of the Centre for Consciousness Science at the University of Sussex near Brighton, UK, and one of the signatories. The authors hope that others will sign the declaration and that it will stimulate both more research into animal consciousness and more funding for the field.

Blurry line

The definition of consciousness is complex, but the group focuses on an aspect of consciousness called sentience, often defined as the capacity to have subjective experiences, says Birch. For an animal, such experiences would include smelling, tasting, hearing or touching the world around itself, as well as feeling fear, pleasure or pain — in essence, what it is like to be that animal. But subjective experience does not require the capacity to think about one’s experiences.

The consciousness wars: can scientists ever agree on how the mind works?

Non-human animals cannot use words to communicate their inner states. To assess consciousness in these animals, scientists often rely on indirect evidence, looking for certain behaviours that are associated with conscious experiences, Birch says.

One classic experiment is the mirror test , which investigates an animal’s ability to recognize itself in a mirror. In this experiment, scientists apply a sticker or other visual mark on an animal’s body and place the animal in front of a mirror. Some animals — including chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) 1 , Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus ) 2 and cleaner fishes ( Labroides dimidiatus ) 3 — exhibit curiosity about the mark and even try to remove it. This behaviour suggests the possibility of self-awareness, which might be a sign of consciousness.

In an experiment with crows ( Corvus corone ) 4 , the birds were trained to make a specific head gesture whenever they saw a coloured square on a screen, a task they carried out with high accuracy. While the birds performed the task, scientists measured the activity in a region of their brain associated with high-level cognition. The birds’ brain activity correlated with what the birds were reporting, not with what they were actually shown. This suggests that they were aware of what they were perceiving, another potential marker of consciousness.

Invertebrate inner lives?

Another experiment showed that octopuses ( Octopus bocki ) 5 , when picking between two chambers, avoided one where they had previously received a painful stimulus in favour of one where they were given an anaesthetic. This suggests that they experience and actively avoid pain, which some researchers think indicates conscious experience.

Research shows that octopuses avoid pain, which some scientists take as a sign of consciousness. Credit: Brandon Cole/Nature Picture Library

Investigations of fruit flies ( Drosophila melanogaster ) show that they engage in both deep sleep and ‘active sleep’, in which their brain activity is the same as when they’re awake 6 . “This is perhaps similar to what we call rapid eye movement sleep in humans, which is when we have our most vivid dreams, which we interpret as conscious experiences,” says Bruno van Swinderen, a biologist at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, who studies fruit flies ’ behaviour and who also signed the declaration.

Some suggest that dreams are key components of being conscious, he notes. If flies and other invertebrates have active sleep, “then maybe this is as good a clue as any that they are perhaps conscious”.

Animal minds

Other researchers are more sceptical about the available evidence on animal consciousness. “I don’t think there is basically any decisive evidence so far,” says Hakwan Lau, a neuroscientist at the Riken Center for Brain Science in Wako, Japan.

Lau acknowledges that there is a growing body of work showing sophisticated perceptual behaviour in animals, but he contends that that’s not necessarily indicative of consciousness. In humans, for example, there is both conscious and unconscious perception. The challenge now is to develop methods that can adequately distinguish between the two in non-humans.

Seth responds that, even in the absence of definitive answers, the declaration might still have a positive influence in shaping policies relating to animal ethics and welfare.

For van Swinderen, the time is right to consider whether most animals might be conscious. “We are experiencing an artificial-intelligence revolution where similar questions are being asked about machines. So it behoves us to ask if and how this adaptive quality of the brain might have evolved in nature.”

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01144-y

Gallup Jr, G. G. Science 167 , 86–87 (1970).

Article   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Plotnik, J. M., de Waal, F. B. M. & Reiss, D. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103 , 17053–17057 (2006).

Kohda, M. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 120 , e2208420120 (2023).

Nieder, A., Wagener, L. & Rinnert, P. Science 369 , 1626–1629 (2020).

Crook, R. J. iScience 24 , 102229 (2021).

Anthoney, N. et al. eLife 12 , RP88198 (2023).

Download references

Reprints and permissions

Related Articles

• Neuroscience

Rat neurons repair mouse brains — and restore sense of smell

News 25 APR 24

Mini-colon and brain ‘organoids’ shed light on cancer and other diseases

News 24 APR 24

How to freeze a memory: putting worms on ice stops them forgetting

News 22 APR 24

Antisense oligonucleotide therapeutic approach for Timothy syndrome

Article 24 APR 24

Whole-cortex in situ sequencing reveals input-dependent area identity

First glowing animals lit up the oceans half a billion years ago

Marsupial genomes reveal how a skin membrane for gliding evolved

News & Views 24 APR 24

Charles Darwin investigates: the curious case of primrose punishment

News & Views 23 APR 24

Berlin (DE)

Springer Nature Group

ECUST Seeking Global Talents

Join Us and Create a Bright Future Together!

Shanghai, China

East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST)

Position Recruitment of Guangzhou Medical University

Seeking talents around the world.

Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Guangzhou Medical University

Junior Group Leader

The Imagine Institute is a leading European research centre dedicated to genetic diseases, with the primary objective to better understand and trea...

Paris, Ile-de-France (FR)

Imagine Institute

Director of the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute of Palacký University Olomouc

The Rector of Palacký University Olomouc announces a Call for the Position of Director of the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute of P...

Czech Republic (CZ)

Palacký University Olomouc

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.