With a national median of $100,580 and +11.2% projected job growth through 2034, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.
Also known as:
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn $100,580 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $73,210 and $135,200. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Well above average for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
The mean wage for this occupation is $112,750, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
The BLS projects +11.2% employment change for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 4,800 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
Faster than average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Clinical and Counseling Psychologists professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $100,580 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 11,900 | $114,520 | +13.9% |
| 2 | New York | 7,190 | $99,910 | -0.7% |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 3,850 | $90,450 | -10.1% |
| 4 | Illinois | 3,470 | $97,470 | -3.1% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 3,470 | $87,060 | -13.4% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Clinical and Counseling Psychologists positions require a doctoral or professional degree to qualify. The 4 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychology | 144,496 | $50,706 | 1,652 |
| 2 | Counseling Psychology | 39,326 | $50,523 | 799 |
| 3 | Mental Health Services | 31,550 | $52,119 | 987 |
| 4 | Experimental Psychology | 22,179 | $55,695 | 311 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 3 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 4 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 5 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
Once you've sized up Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
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Strong earnings and growing demand make Clinical and Counseling Psychologists a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 2 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
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