Research and Experimental Psychologyat Duke University
Graduates earn $39,359/yr in their first year — about 12.0% above the national Research and Experimental Psychology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $473K; scenarios range from $449K to $471K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Duke University
Your Duke Research and Experimental Psychology degree positions you uniquely for a wide range of analytical and human-centric roles. The university's exceptional brand and rigorous curriculum are highly respected by employers and graduate programs, even if the direct application of an undergraduate psychology degree isn't always reflected in immediate, top-tier salaries compared to other Duke fields. Many graduates leverage this strong foundation for further study in psychology, medicine, law, or business, which is often necessary to achieve the highest earning potential in specialized roles like practicing psychologists or postsecondary educators.
The local Durham and Research Triangle Park ecosystem offers robust opportunities in healthcare, biotech, and tech, valuing Duke graduates for their critical thinking and research skills in areas like UX research, data analysis, or HR analytics. However, with "high" AI risk, it's crucial to cultivate interdisciplinary skills – perhaps a minor in statistics or computer science – to augment your expertise. Your actionable advice: actively seek out internships that combine your psychological insights with data science or project management to future-proof your career trajectory.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Duke University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Research and Experimental Psychology
How Duke University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Duke University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Duke University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Research and Experimental Psychology at Duke University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Research and Experimental Psychology at Duke University?
A score of 40/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Research and Experimental Psychology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Research and Experimental Psychology careers?
With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $448,982 in decade earnings vs $471,360 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.