Are there any jobs similar to PSYOPS that don’t involve joining the military?

i’m wondering because i’m very interested in doing a job like this. i am currently a psychology major and it seems like a job that i would be good at. as much as i’d love to sit in a cozy office all day helping people with their problems, i’d rather do something a little more exciting.

Yes. All of the COCOMs (geographic Combatant Commands) have what are called Information Operations (IO) departments. These are responsible for what were formerly known as PSYOPs. Your qualifications need to be excellent in order to override the requirements for a TS/SCI:

LINK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._security_clearance_terms

Unless you want to deploy, you will need a TS/SCI in this field. Deployment might only require a SECRET, since the tactical environment means you will be less engaged in national-level assets.

PSYOPs no longer exists in DOD vernacular. If you want to get into "IO", my recommendation would be to find someone in the field or post your resume to contractors who service SOCOM or CENTCOM (the coordinator and the executor, respectively, for the GWOT). These include Northrup Grumman, MANTECH, L3, SAIC, and others.

Typically, a TS/SCI clearance costs the government 60k+. While the government will absorb most of this, a contracting company will try to weasel you out of most of it in your contract. If you negotiate an initial contract based on no clearance, ensure that a stipulation exists IN WRITING that once you attain TS/SCI that you will get into a different pay band. With your background and with the (approved) SCI clearance, expect to make around 100k. Multiply that by 2 if you want to deploy.

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