system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Is it okay to do research in a field outside of the subject I eventually want to get a PhD in?

I graduated in 2019 with a degree in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience. I did a year of part time psychology research in undergrad. I then worked as a full time RA for a psychiatric research lab from November 2019 to December 2020. I moved across the country in September, and was applying to jobs over the last 4 months. I now landed a job doing Cardiovascular research paying me 25% more than my last job. I also had a job with a neurology lab lined up, but went for the cardiology one because of the pay, which is more important to me for now. I wanted to know, was this a bad move in terms of research experience if I want to study Clinical Psychology? Is it helpful to have research experience in an unrelated field? I can't find any discussion on this anywhere.
gpt
I don't see it as a problem,  particularity if they are part of the same overarching theme (medical research). Even very established researchers go outside of their  field either   for fun, to get a fresh perspective, or out of necessity.  Having experience in both fields might even be a benefit in that you will likely have a broader set of skills and it might stimulate some cross disciplinary ideas. 

I would suggest that if a future interviewer asks why you have experience in a different field you say something about getting more experience and/or trying different things.  Sometimes academia can be judgey if you do things for money (which is a silly perspective, but common) rather than  "for science".