What Does a Psychometrist Do?
With a stopwatch, a test manual and a quiet room, a psychometrist gives memory, thinking and personality tests exactly as they are written. The people tested range from children assessed for a learning disability to adults recovering from a head injury, and the work happens in hospital neuropsychology clinics, private practices and university testing offices. Psychologists interpret the scores.
Also known as: Psychometric Assistant, Psychometric Specialist
Psychometrist Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a psychometrist include:
- Administer standardized cognitive, memory and personality tests exactly as the manuals require.
- Score test protocols by hand or in scoring software and double-check every total.
- Record behavior during testing, such as fatigue, effort and attention, for the psychologist.
- Explain the testing session to patients and families and put nervous test-takers at ease.
- Schedule testing appointments and gather records, questionnaires and consent forms beforehand.
- Keep test materials secure and follow copyright and test security rules.
- Enter scores into databases and draft data tables for the psychologist's report.
- Maintain testing rooms free of noise and distractions so results stay valid.
- Assist with research studies by testing participants and managing study data.
- Arrange accommodations testing for students referred by campus disability services.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a psychometrist, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Certified Specialist in Psychometry (CSP) credential
- Standardized administration of tests such as the WAIS or WISC
- Accurate scoring and data entry
- Rapport with children, older adults and anxious patients
- Close observation of behavior during testing
- Confidentiality and test security
- Patience through long testing sessions
- Scoring software such as Pearson Q-global
Education and Training
A bachelor's degree in psychology is the usual start. BLS lists a postsecondary certificate as typical for the broad group that includes psychometrists, but most clinics hire graduates in psychology or neuroscience and train them to give each test. With experience and the CSP credential, you could progress to senior psychometrist or move into graduate study in psychology.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: varies widely for this role, and BLS does not publish pay for it separately. In the wider BLS group it belongs to (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other), the middle half of earners made $47,750 to $97,000 a year, and the median was $65,790.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other.
Psychometrists fall into a BLS catch-all group of healthcare practitioners and technical workers, where employment is projected to grow about 5 percent from 2025 to 2035. That broad group should see roughly 2,200 openings a year. Demand for neuropsychological testing is likely to grow with an aging population and more concussion and ADHD assessments, so trained psychometrists usually find work near large hospitals and universities.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other.