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Psychologist (clinical and counseling): pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$100,580median pay per year, or $48.36 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $55,170lowest 10% earn less
  2. $73,21025th percentile
  3. $100,580median
  4. $135,20075th percentile
  5. $180,960top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Clinical and counseling psychologists earned a median of $100,580 a year in May 2025, well above the all-occupations median[1][2]. The typical entry path starts with a doctoral or professional degree[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+11.7%[5]
Openings per year
4,100[6]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[3]

How much do psychologists make?

The median wage for clinical and counseling psychologists was $100,580 a year, or $48.36 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of all workers made more than this amount, and half made less[1]. The mean (average) wage was $112,750 a year, or $54.21 an hour[7].

For comparison, the median annual wage for all occupations was $50,980[2]. Psychologists in this group had a median about twice that level[1][2].

Pay varies a lot across the range of workers:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][8] $55,170 $26.53
25th[4][8] $73,210 $35.20
Median[1] $100,580 $48.36
75th[4][8] $135,200 $65.00
90th[4][8] $180,960 $87.00

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $55,170 a year[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[10]. In 2025, 4.8% of clinical and counseling psychologists were self-employed[11].

Pay by state and city

Among the 47 states and DC with published data, Oregon had the highest median wage at $134,350, followed by New Jersey at $127,090 and New Mexico at $124,800[12]. New Hampshire had the lowest published median at $64,270[12].

California had the most jobs, about 12,840, followed by New York with 8,420 and Illinois with 5,810[13]. California's median was $116,000 and New York's was $114,400[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs[14], San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median at $166,400. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA followed at $153,050, then Salem, OR at $143,980[14]. The metro area with the most jobs was New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, with 8,170 jobs and a median of $120,510[15]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had 5,030 jobs and a median of $85,390[15].

Show median pay in 47 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[12]$134,350540
New Jersey$127,0902,700
New Mexico$124,800n/a
Alaska$124,27040
Arizona$119,010730
Hawaii$117,860250
North Dakota$116,130170
California$116,00012,840
Washington$115,2401,270
Massachusetts$115,1802,860
New York$114,4008,420
Wisconsin$113,3601,150
Colorado$113,2901,170
Delaware$113,050280
Rhode Island$107,490420
Minnesota$107,0301,290
District of Columbia$107,000220
Nevada$102,650680
Ohio$101,1902,080
Missouri$99,410840
Utah$99,1701,020
Kentucky$99,140710
Idaho$97,790300
Georgia$96,0601,120
Nebraska$94,540770
South Carolina$92,700n/a
North Carolina$92,1302,770
Pennsylvania$91,8703,140
Iowa$91,690440
Alabama$90,800260
Wyoming$89,89050
Virginia$86,5202,140
Florida$85,6103,040
Indiana$84,9901,850
Michigan$84,7302,170
Illinois$83,7505,810
Texas$83,6603,640
Vermont$83,270190
South Dakota$80,130120
Oklahoma$79,950950
Arkansas$77,520370
West Virginia$77,040920
Tennessee$76,8201,180
Kansas$76,690400
Mississippi$76,000210
Louisiana$71,330320
Montana$68,160150
New Hampshire$64,270330

How to become a psychologist

The training details below come from a Bureau of Labor Statistics profile that covers a wider group of psychologists, not only this occupation[16]. The entry data for clinical and counseling psychologists specifically list a doctoral or professional degree, no prior work experience, and internship or residency training[3].

1) Earn a bachelor's degree: People who apply to graduate psychology programs typically hold a bachelor's degree in a field such as psychology, education or social science[17]. 2) Complete a doctoral degree. Clinical and counseling psychologists typically need a doctorate[18], either a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. in psychology[18]. Ph.D. programs usually stress research and a dissertation, while Psy.D. programs focus on applying psychology with clients[18]. Students typically complete an internship as part of either program[18]. 3) Gain supervised experience. Licensure usually calls for supervised work, which can include an internship or postdoctoral training[19]. The required internship hours differ by state[19]. 4) Get licensed. Clinical and counseling psychologists are licensed in every state[20]. Applicants typically need a master's or doctoral degree and supervised experience, and they may also need to pass an exam[20]. Licensing rules vary by state and by type of position[21]. 5) Keep the license current. Every state requires continuing education to maintain licensure[22].

Certification from professional associations may be optional or may be required by some employers[23].

In an ONET survey of 25 workers in this occupation, 48% said post-doctoral training is the education level required and 44% said a doctoral degree[24]. Another 8% named a master's degree[24]. ONET places the occupation in Job Zone Five, which means extensive preparation is needed[25].

What psychologists do

O*NET describes this work as assessing, diagnosing and treating mental and emotional disorders, using observation, interviews and psychological tests[26]. Typical tasks include:

Where they work

In the wider psychologist group, ambulatory healthcare services was the largest employer in 2025, with 25% of jobs[28]. Some psychologists work alone when seeing clients or doing research, and others work in teams with specialists[29].

Full-time work is typical in the wider group, and part-time work is common[30]. Evening or weekend hours may be needed to fit clients' schedules[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of clinical and counseling psychologists to grow 11.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 81,300 to 90,900 jobs[5]. That is a gain of about 9,500 jobs[5]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[31].

BLS also projects about 4,100 openings a year on average[6]. Openings count jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, as well as brand-new jobs[6]. Each year, 1.9% of workers leave the labor force and 1.8% move to a different occupation[32].

The projection counts of about 81,300 jobs include self-employed workers[5]. The OEWS count of about 75,990 covers wage and salary jobs only[33].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with pay well above the all-occupations median and faster projected growth than the average occupation[1][2][5][31]. The cost is a long training path with a doctoral degree, supervised experience and a state license[3][19][20]. Pay also differs widely by state and city[12][14]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $55,170 a year, so the range is wide[4]. People who like assessing and counseling clients and writing up their work may find the tasks a match[27].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a psychologist make an hour?
Clinical and counseling psychologists had a median wage of $48.36 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $54.21[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a psychologist?
Clinical and counseling psychologists typically need a doctoral or professional degree[3]. That usually means a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. in psychology[18].
Is psychology a growing field?
BLS projects 11.7% employment growth for clinical and counseling psychologists from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[5][31]. About 4,100 openings a year are projected[6].
Which state pays psychologists the most?
Oregon had the highest median wage at $134,350, ahead of New Jersey at $127,090 and New Mexico at $124,800[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in the US was $100,580 per year and $48.36 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Clinical and Counseling Psychologists: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists: 10th percentile $55,170, 25th percentile $73,210, 75th percentile $135,200, 90th percentile $180,960. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Clinical and Counseling Psychologists is projected to grow 11.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 81,300 to 90,900 jobs (a change of +9,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 4,100 openings for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists was $112,750 per year and $54.21 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists: 10th percentile $26.53, 25th percentile $35.20, 75th percentile $65.00, 90th percentile $87.00. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 4.8% of Clinical and Counseling Psychologists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. Median annual wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Clinical and Counseling Psychologists jobs: California 12,840; New York 8,420; Illinois 5,810; Texas 3,640; Pennsylvania 3,140. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $166,400; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $153,050; Salem, OR $143,980; Vallejo, CA $143,600; Stockton-Lodi, CA $129,860; Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $129,330; Fresno, CA $129,120; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $128,850. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Clinical and Counseling Psychologists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 8,170 (median $120,510); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 5,030 (median $85,390); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,790 (median $99,250); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,920 (median $121,270); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,920 (median $112,690); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 1,650 (median $72,090). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Psychologists" covers Clinical and Counseling Psychologists together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET 19-3033.00 survey of workers (25 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Doctoral Training 48%, Doctoral Degree 44%, Master's Degree 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 19-3033.00: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET description of Clinical and Counseling Psychologists. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists. O*NET OnLine
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of psychologists in 2025: Ambulatory healthcare services 25%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists: 1.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 1.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 75,990 people were employed as Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.