Job satisfaction among doctoral level school psychologists in school, nontraditional, and university employment settings

The focus of this study was to determine if there were differences in job satisfaction for doctoral level school psychologists who practice in different settings or who practice in more than one setting. Job satisfaction was measured using the Job Satisfaction Scales (JSS), which assesses satisfaction with work, pay, advancement, supervision, and colleagues. Mailing lists were obtained from two national organizations and the Directory of School Psychology Programs (1998). Participants were requested to rate primary employment settings and, if applicable, secondary employment settings using the JSS. Employment settings were divided into three groups: public school settings, nontraditional settings, and university trainer settings.;Four hundred ninety surveys were mailed and 73% responded. Usable surveys numbered 276, with 106 reporting public schools as their primary setting, 92 reporting nontraditional primary settings, and 78 reporting university trainer as their primary settings. A total of 119 participants reported a secondary employment setting. There were no significant gender differences found in job satisfaction. Overall ratings indicated satisfaction with work, supervision, and colleagues, and neutral feelings regarding satisfaction with pay and advancement.;Univariate ANOVAs and regression analyses were performed to analyze the data. Public school practitioners tended to be less satisfied with work and advancement than practitioners in university or nontraditional settings, and less satisfied with supervision than those in nontraditional settings. University trainers were less satisfied with colleagues than participants in nontraditional settings. Participants who reported both a primary and secondary setting were less satisfied with work, advancement, and colleagues in their primary employment setting than in their secondary employment setting. Participants with a secondary employment setting tended to be less satisfied with advancement and supervision than those who did not have a secondary employment setting. Salary, over and above primary setting, significantly predicted satisfaction with pay. Advancement potential, over and above primary settings, significantly predicted satisfaction with work, pay, supervision, and colleagues.;This study indicated that results of previous research on satisfaction of school psychologists may not be representative of doctoral degree practitioners, particularly in nontraditional settings. Several hypotheses and recommendations were made from this research, including suggestions for training and practice.