Clinical and counseling psychologists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,170 | $26.53 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $100,580 | $48.36 |
| Mean (average) | $112,750 | $54.21 |
| 90th percentile | $180,960 | $87.00 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Clinical and counseling psychologists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $90,800 | $57,530 | $154,340 | 260 | 0.25 |
| Alaska | $124,270 | $42,360 | $170,180 | 40 | 0.27 |
| Arizona | $119,010 | $61,890 | $170,170 | 730 | 0.46 |
| Arkansas | $77,520 | $58,090 | $111,560 | 370 | 0.59 |
| California | $116,000 | $62,900 | $188,050 | 12,840 | 1.44 |
| Colorado | $113,290 | $46,870 | $161,700 | 1,170 | 0.83 |
| Connecticut | Data unavailable | 660 | 0.8 | ||
| Delaware | $113,050 | $66,150 | $147,930 | 280 | 1.17 |
| District of Columbia | $107,000 | $70,400 | $324,950 | 220 | 0.64 |
| Florida | $85,610 | $55,480 | $259,990 | 3,040 | 0.63 |
| Georgia | $96,060 | $45,310 | $179,850 | 1,120 | 0.47 |
| Hawaii | $117,860 | $86,770 | $141,860 | 250 | 0.82 |
| Idaho | $97,790 | $60,720 | $148,930 | 300 | 0.72 |
| Illinois | $83,750 | $36,580 | $168,730 | 5,810 | 1.95 |
| Indiana | $84,990 | $56,200 | $129,110 | 1,850 | 1.18 |
| Iowa | $91,690 | $64,200 | $168,660 | 440 | 0.58 |
| Kansas | $76,690 | $47,620 | $151,800 | 400 | 0.57 |
| Kentucky | $99,140 | $49,220 | $174,820 | 710 | 0.73 |
| Louisiana | $71,330 | $46,500 | $121,750 | 320 | 0.34 |
| Maryland | Data unavailable | 2,140 | 1.58 | ||
| Massachusetts | $115,180 | $60,250 | $216,570 | 2,860 | 1.61 |
| Michigan | $84,730 | $61,290 | $134,980 | 2,170 | 1.01 |
| Minnesota | $107,030 | $62,290 | $163,610 | 1,290 | 0.89 |
| Mississippi | $76,000 | $48,270 | $107,160 | 210 | 0.37 |
| Missouri | $99,410 | $45,770 | $141,810 | 840 | 0.58 |
| Montana | $68,160 | $49,800 | $143,640 | 150 | 0.61 |
| Nebraska | $94,540 | $45,370 | $143,190 | 770 | 1.53 |
| Nevada | $102,650 | $77,700 | $150,840 | 680 | 0.89 |
| New Hampshire | $64,270 | $44,550 | $194,050 | 330 | 0.99 |
| New Jersey | $127,090 | $57,180 | $224,050 | 2,700 | 1.29 |
| New Mexico | $124,800 | $54,080 | $169,520 | ||
| New York | $114,400 | $64,980 | $204,540 | 8,420 | 1.78 |
| North Carolina | $92,130 | $52,890 | $213,160 | 2,770 | 1.15 |
| North Dakota | $116,130 | $69,520 | $148,320 | 170 | 0.83 |
| Ohio | $101,190 | $39,640 | $161,580 | 2,080 | 0.77 |
| Oklahoma | $79,950 | $62,150 | $205,790 | 950 | 1.14 |
| Oregon | $134,350 | $93,600 | $163,340 | 540 | 0.56 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,870 | $61,340 | $175,410 | 3,140 | 1.06 |
| Puerto Rico | $67,660 | $46,340 | $90,410 | 330 | 0.73 |
| Rhode Island | $107,490 | $54,500 | $144,700 | 420 | 1.72 |
| South Carolina | $92,700 | $59,600 | $131,420 | ||
| South Dakota | $80,130 | $63,630 | $123,210 | 120 | 0.52 |
| Tennessee | $76,820 | $50,520 | $126,930 | 1,180 | 0.73 |
| Texas | $83,660 | $59,490 | $136,360 | 3,640 | 0.53 |
| Utah | $99,170 | $48,070 | $156,000 | 1,020 | 1.21 |
| Vermont | $83,270 | $58,070 | $137,620 | 190 | 1.29 |
| Virginia | $86,520 | $41,990 | $176,080 | 2,140 | 1.07 |
| Washington | $115,240 | $78,940 | $179,470 | 1,270 | 0.73 |
| West Virginia | $77,040 | $44,100 | $146,240 | 920 | 2.68 |
| Wisconsin | $113,360 | $76,360 | $166,270 | 1,150 | 0.8 |
| Wyoming | $89,890 | $64,200 | $169,270 | 50 | 0.33 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for clinical and counseling psychologists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 4.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for clinical and counseling psychologists
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Psychology, General CIP 42.0101
- Developmental and Child Psychology CIP 42.2703
- Clinical Psychology CIP 42.2801
- Counseling Psychology CIP 42.2803
- Clinical Child Psychology CIP 42.2807
- Geropsychology CIP 42.2809
- Health/Medical Psychology CIP 42.2810
- Family Psychology CIP 42.2811
- Applied Behavior Analysis CIP 42.2814
- Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy CIP 51.1507
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
- Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
- Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
- Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
- Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
- Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.
- Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, modifying plans or diagnoses as necessary.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Teams (in demand)
- Zoom (in demand)
- Google Meet (in demand)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- Google Sheets (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Addison Health Systems WritePad EHR
- Anasazi Software Client Data System
- Athena Software Penelope Case Management
- B Sharp Technologies B Care
- BRB Software HorizonMIS
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Case Manager, Clinical Psychologist, Counseling Psychologist, Counselor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Psychologist, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Therapist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make?
The national median annual wage for clinical and counseling psychologists was $100,580 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $55,170 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $180,960. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do clinical and counseling psychologists need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and internship/residency on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is clinical and counseling psychologists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of clinical and counseling psychologists to change +11.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay clinical and counseling psychologists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Oregon ($134,350), New Jersey ($127,090), New Mexico ($124,800). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.