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Clinical / Counseling Psychologist

$95,830
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral conditions through testing and talk therapy.

Where you work

Private practices, clinics, hospitals, and schools.

The hours

Full-time, with some evening hours

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$95,830
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~4,800
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+11%
Much faster than average
Working in the U.S.
76,300
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Doctoral / professional degree

Training path: Doctoral degree + license.

License or certification

Psychologists need a doctoral degree, supervised hours, and a state license.

What it takes

Clinical assessmentTherapyResearch methodsActive listening

The honest take

A long doctoral road, but demand for mental health services keeps the outlook solid.

Standard Occupational Classification 19-3033. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.