Psychology Jobs in California
Psychology jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in healthcare systems, community mental health centers, school districts, and correctional facilities across a broad range of experience levels from entry-level associates to licensed clinical directors. The heaviest hiring happens in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where employers such as Kaiser Permanente, UCLA Health, and Dignity Health maintain large behavioral health practices. The most in-demand specialties right now are clinical and counseling psychology, neuropsychology, and school psychology. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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The Social Science Division of the Seaver College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at Pepperdine University invites applications for a Tenure-Track faculty position in Psychological Science to begin August 1, 2027. We are interested in candidates from any area within Psychology, with a specialization in developmental and/or neuroscience areas preferred, who can teach undergraduate courses including Introduction to Psychological Science, Statistics, or Research Methods, as well as upper-level undergraduate courses in their specialty. Applicants are invited to describe the courses they have previously taught and additional courses they are prepared to teach.
The psychology program is hoping to launch a new neuroscience minor and seeks to expand related course offerings and research opportunities. We are particularly interested in candidates whose research programs are well-suited to shared laboratory space and collaborative resources. Qualifications include a Ph.D. in Psychology (although ABD candidates will also be considered), an active scholarly agenda, and a commitment to teaching excellence in a Christian liberal arts environment. Pepperdine’s undergraduate Seaver College is a residential liberal arts college of approximately 3,500 students situated in Malibu, California. Successful applicants must have an active commitment to the Christian mission of the University and reflect on their willingness to support the mission of Seaver College in their application materials.
Applicants should provide the following materials: 1) a cover letter, 2) a curriculum vitae, 3) a response to the University’s Christian mission 4) transcripts of all graduate work (copies are acceptable during the application process; official transcripts will be required for selected applicants), and 5) names and contact information for three references (the same individuals who will provide a Confidential Letter of Recommendation or Evaluation if the candidate proceeds with interviews).
Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.
Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.
Review of applicants will begin on October 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit all application materials to https://apply.interfolio.com/192022.
Please address any inquiries regarding the position to the chair of the search committee:
Michael Folkerts (michael.folkerts@pepperdine.edu)
Social Science Division
Seaver College, Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
The salary for this appointment will range from $91,527 - $97,701 per year and reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this faculty appointment. Actual salary may vary based on the qualifications and experience of the applicant, as well as market conditions. In addition to salary, Pepperdine offers a robust suite of employee benefits.
Application Instructions
Applicants are required to submit the following documents:
- A letter of application
- A curriculum vitae
- Three current letters of reference. All letters should be specific to the position and completed within one year prior to the date of submission. The name and email address for each individual providing a letter of recommendation is required when submitting an application.
- Transcripts of all graduate work (Unofficial copies are acceptable for the application; however, official transcripts may be required for selected applicants.)
- Teaching statement. The teaching statement should reflect on the candidate’s values, beliefs, and goals regarding the teaching and learning process and any pedagogical practices used or envisioned to achieve these goals. Two to three pages maximum length is requested.
- Scholarly/Creative Agenda. The statement should outline applicants’ short- and long-term objectives and goals for their research and/or creative activities. Candidates should reflect on currently published or presented work(s) as a foundation for the statement. Two to three pages maximum length is requested.
- Response to Mission. Pepperdine University’s mission statement declares that we are a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Religiously affiliated with the churches of Christ, Pepperdine pursues the very highest employment and academic standards within a context which celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. In pursuit of its mission, Pepperdine reserves the right to recruit and hire persons who richly embrace the goals and Christian mission of the University.
At Seaver College, the undergraduate college of letters, arts, and science at Pepperdine, our faith calls us to uphold the highest standards of academic and scholarly excellence. To achieve this goal, the college’s mission statement affirms that we are a Christian college where each student is a person of infinite dignity and their total development is centered at the heart of our educational enterprise. Arising from our faith, we commit to pursue truth relentlessly in all disciplines, fully confident that it has nothing to fear from investigation.
Candidates should thoughtfully reflect on the Christian missions of Pepperdine University and Seaver College and address the following areas in their response.- A consistent pattern of support for generally accepted Christian values and the mission of Pepperdine University.
- Active participation in a community of faith.
- Either current practice or vision for integrating faith and learning in the classroom.
A background check is required as a condition of employment. Depending on the position, the search committee may request that additional materials accompany the application (e.g., prior teaching evaluations, portfolio of scholarly work, etc.).
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Pepperdine is committed to providing a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University.
Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. While students, faculty, and staff represent many religious backgrounds, Pepperdine is permitted under applicable law and reserves the right to seek, hire and promote persons who support the goals and mission of the institution, including the right to prefer co-religionists who support Pepperdine's Christian mission.
The Social Science Division of the Seaver College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at Pepperdine University invites applications for a Tenure-Track faculty position in Psychological Science to begin August 1, 2027. We are interested in candidates from any area within Psychology, with a specialization in developmental and/or neuroscience areas preferred, who can teach undergraduate courses including Introduction to Psychological Science, Statistics, or Research Methods, as well as upper-level undergraduate courses in their specialty. Applicants are invited to describe the courses they have previously taught and additional courses they are prepared to teach.
The psychology program is hoping to launch a new neuroscience minor and seeks to expand related course offerings and research opportunities. We are particularly interested in candidates whose research programs are well-suited to shared laboratory space and collaborative resources. Qualifications include a Ph.D. in Psychology (although ABD candidates will also be considered), an active scholarly agenda, and a commitment to teaching excellence in a Christian liberal arts environment. Pepperdine’s undergraduate Seaver College is a residential liberal arts college of approximately 3,500 students situated in Malibu, California. Successful applicants must have an active commitment to the Christian mission of the University and reflect on their willingness to support the mission of Seaver College in their application materials.
Applicants should provide the following materials: 1) a cover letter, 2) a curriculum vitae, 3) a response to the University’s Christian mission 4) transcripts of all graduate work (copies are acceptable during the application process; official transcripts will be required for selected applicants), and 5) names and contact information for three references (the same individuals who will provide a Confidential Letter of Recommendation or Evaluation if the candidate proceeds with interviews).
Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.
Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.
Review of applicants will begin on October 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit all application materials to https://apply.interfolio.com/192022.
Please address any inquiries regarding the position to the chair of the search committee:
Michael Folkerts (michael.folkerts@pepperdine.edu)
Social Science Division
Seaver College, Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
The salary for this appointment will range from $91,527 - $97,701 per year and reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this faculty appointment. Actual salary may vary based on the qualifications and experience of the applicant, as well as market conditions. In addition to salary, Pepperdine offers a robust suite of employee benefits.
Application Instructions
Applicants are required to submit the following documents:
- A letter of application
- A curriculum vitae
- Three current letters of reference. All letters should be specific to the position and completed within one year prior to the date of submission. The name and email address for each individual providing a letter of recommendation is required when submitting an application.
- Transcripts of all graduate work (Unofficial copies are acceptable for the application; however, official transcripts may be required for selected applicants.)
- Teaching statement. The teaching statement should reflect on the candidate’s values, beliefs, and goals regarding the teaching and learning process and any pedagogical practices used or envisioned to achieve these goals. Two to three pages maximum length is requested.
- Scholarly/Creative Agenda. The statement should outline applicants’ short- and long-term objectives and goals for their research and/or creative activities. Candidates should reflect on currently published or presented work(s) as a foundation for the statement. Two to three pages maximum length is requested.
- Response to Mission. Pepperdine University’s mission statement declares that we are a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Religiously affiliated with the churches of Christ, Pepperdine pursues the very highest employment and academic standards within a context which celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. In pursuit of its mission, Pepperdine reserves the right to recruit and hire persons who richly embrace the goals and Christian mission of the University.
At Seaver College, the undergraduate college of letters, arts, and science at Pepperdine, our faith calls us to uphold the highest standards of academic and scholarly excellence. To achieve this goal, the college’s mission statement affirms that we are a Christian college where each student is a person of infinite dignity and their total development is centered at the heart of our educational enterprise. Arising from our faith, we commit to pursue truth relentlessly in all disciplines, fully confident that it has nothing to fear from investigation.
Candidates should thoughtfully reflect on the Christian missions of Pepperdine University and Seaver College and address the following areas in their response.- A consistent pattern of support for generally accepted Christian values and the mission of Pepperdine University.
- Active participation in a community of faith.
- Either current practice or vision for integrating faith and learning in the classroom.
A background check is required as a condition of employment. Depending on the position, the search committee may request that additional materials accompany the application (e.g., prior teaching evaluations, portfolio of scholarly work, etc.).
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Pepperdine is committed to providing a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University.
Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. While students, faculty, and staff represent many religious backgrounds, Pepperdine is permitted under applicable law and reserves the right to seek, hire and promote persons who support the goals and mission of the institution, including the right to prefer co-religionists who support Pepperdine's Christian mission.
See All 54 Psychology Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Psychology JobsPsychology Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Psychology Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Non-Profit & Social Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in psychology jobs across California.
- Active California license as a psychologist issued by the California Board of Psychology
- Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-accredited program required for most clinical roles
- Completion of a California-approved postdoctoral supervised experience hours
- Experience conducting psychological assessments, testing, and diagnostic evaluations
- Proficiency with electronic health record systems such as Epic or Cerner
- Strong background in evidence-based therapeutic modalities including CBT and DBT
Psychology Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a psychologist in California?
To practice as a psychologist in California you must earn a doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited program, complete a supervised predoctoral internship, and then accumulate the required postdoctoral supervised hours before applying to the California Board of Psychology for licensure. You must also pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology and the California Psychology Supplemental Examination. The California Board of Psychology oversees the entire licensure process.
Which companies hire psychologists in California?
California psychology roles are posted by California State University, Kaiser Permanente, and Sutter Health and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's large integrated health systems, county behavioral health departments, and the University of California campuses are among the most consistent employers of licensed and pre-licensed psychologists in the state.
Which California cities have the most psychology jobs?
Turlock, San Diego, and Santa Clara have the most psychology openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of its dense concentration of hospital systems, county mental health services, and academic medical centers, while San Francisco and San Diego draw demand from major healthcare networks, VA facilities, and university-affiliated clinics that anchor behavioral health hiring in those regions.
Are there remote psychology jobs in California?
Yes, but they are more limited than in purely desk-based fields because psychological assessment and some therapy modalities require in-person contact. About 43% of psychology openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting a real but selective telehealth market. Roles focused on outpatient therapy, consultation, and supervision are the most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements.
How can I get hired as a psychologist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for a predoctoral internship or postdoctoral fellowship at a California institution, since these positions are specifically designed for candidates building their hours toward licensure. Large employers such as Kaiser Permanente, the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, and UC Health campuses run formal training programs for early-career psychologists. Roles titled psychological associate or psychological assistant let you work under supervision while accruing hours, and holding your California psychological assistant registration through the California Board of Psychology gives you a concrete credential that hiring managers recognize.
Where can I find and apply to psychology jobs in California?
You can find and apply to psychology jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the state. Search the listings to find roles that match your license level, specialty, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 54 Psychology Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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