If you are looking for a career in psychology and would like to know an overview of the industry then this is the salary guide for you. This career guide covers what is required for becoming a professional psychologist, the job roles available and how much you can expect to earn. It also looks at some of the factors such as education, experience and location that can influence your salary.
Salary for Psychology jobs are a vital part of finding the right position for you. It is important to keep up with your cost of living and once that number has been determined you can begin to search for positions in your desired category.
Find out the average salary for Psychology jobs. We have included an useful tool which allows you to see what other people are earning. Visit our website for more interesting information on psychology careers and jobs.
Salary For Psychology Jobs Overview
Are you a psychology major or just interested in the field? You’ve come to the right place!
We’ve put together a list of some of the most common jobs in psychology, along with the average salary for each position. This will help you understand the career path ahead of you, so that you can make an informed decision about what kind of job is right for you.
- Clinical Psychologist – This is one of the most common types of psychologist jobs. Clinical psychologists are trained to diagnose mental disorders and treat patients suffering from them. They can work in private practice or as part of a team at a hospital or clinic. The average annual salary for these jobs is $56,170 per year.
- Research Psychologist – Research psychologists are often involved in studies that investigate human behavior or cognition (e.g., memory). The role involves carrying out experiments and analyzing results to help develop theories about why people do what they do and how their minds work. The average annual salary for these jobs is $58,000 per year.
- School Psychologist – School psychologists help students who are struggling with learning disabilities or behavioral problems get back on track academically by providing counseling services
What is a Psychologist?
MEDIAN SALARY$105,780UNEMPLOYMENT RATE0.9%NUMBER OF JOBS1,100
Psychologists observe patients to glean insights about how they think, feel and behave. David Scheinfeld, a psychologist working in Austin, Texas, got his start in psychology at a young age. “I was in therapy myself as a young child through my teenage years, and I still am,” Scheinfeld says. “At a fundamental level, I found a lot of importance in therapy – the way it helps provide direction to live a valued life.”
After completing a double major in psychology and communication studies in undergrad, Scheinfeld earned a doctorate in psychology. These days, Scheinfeld works with geriatric patients at a rehabilitation facility during the day. In the morning, he attends an interdisciplinary meeting with nurses, physical therapists, physicians and social workers. After this, he makes his rounds; those patients who might be experiencing major life crises will come first. He’ll generally spend anywhere from 25 to 50 minutes with each patient, and he’ll see anywhere from eight to 14 patients a day.
Outside working hours, he’s involved with several innovative psychology programs, including Outward Bound for Veterans, an organization that facilitates outdoor therapeutic adventures for veterans, as well as Project Rebirth, “resilience” programs aimed at caring for the psychological health of the military, veterans and first responders.
“This field is not stagnant; there’s so many new and innovative ways to approach treating the mental health issues,” Scheinfeld says. “You can start in one place and end in another place. I love that flexibility.”
How to Become a Psychologist?
Those hoping to become clinical, counseling or research psychologists will need a doctoral degree, which they can acquire one of two ways. Some psychologists earn a doctorate in psychology, which is a research degree that involves passing an exhaustive exam and writing a dissertation based on their own original research. Others choose to go the clinical route with a doctoral degree in psychology, or Psy.D., which usually involves more practical experience and exams as opposed to research and dissertation writing. A one-year internship is usually a requirement as well.
Most states also require that their psychologists become licensed. And although licensing laws vary by state, most require a completed doctoral degree, a completed internship, one or two years of supervised practice and a passing mark on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology. Continuing education courses are generally required to keep licensure as well.
Certification is another hurdle, which is not always essential, but nonetheless can portray expertise in a particular area of psychology, from family psychology to rehabilitation psychology. Psychologists can obtain certification through the American Board of Professional Psychology or the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology.
School psychologists and organizational psychologists, however, have differing training requirements.
A major difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist is that unlike psychiatrists, psychologists do not earn a doctor of medicine from medical school. While both focus on mental health, psychiatrists also prescribe medications and facilitate medication plans. Psychologists generally focus on psychotherapy-based treatment plans and rarely handle medications.
What Is the Starting Salary for Psychologists?
As well as the state and level of experience of the psychologist, another factor that impacts their salary is the specific subfield of psychology they work in. These include clinical psychology, forensic psychology, industrial psychology, school psychology and many others. The starting salary for each of these jobs varies pretty widely, but the general median starting salary for all psychologist positions sits at around $40,000 at the most basic level and up to $100,000 at the highest level.
Here are the average psychology salaries for various positions and levels of experience.
| Experience | 0-1 year | 1-4 years | 5-9 years | 10-19 years | 20+ years |
| Clinical Psychologist | $50k | $54k | $63k | $70k | $80k |
| Forensic Psychologist | $40k | $55k | $60k | $70k | $80k |
| School Psychologist | $38k | $48k | $55k | $60k | $70k |
| Industrial Psychologist | $42k | $60k | $75k | $88k | $100k |
9 Highest Paying Psychology Jobs (With Salary and Duties)
Psychology is a broad profession that provides many career paths for people aspiring to help other overcome life challenges. If you’re compassionate and love helping people overcome their mental, emotional, or behavioural problems, a career in psychology might be an ideal path for you. There are many psychology careers you may undertake and get to help people while earning a lucrative salary. In this article, we provide you with the nine highest-paying psychology jobs along with the primary duties for these careers, key skills for psychologists, and job search tips for these careers.
Let employers find you by creating an Indeed Resume
Highest paying psychology jobs
Psychology can be a lucrative career path and offers many opportunities for career advancement and advanced study. Here are nine of the highest paying psychology jobs you may enjoy:
1. Mental health technician
National average salary: $31.73 per hour
Primary duties: The primary duty of a mental health technician is to provide operational assistance to doctors in the handling of patients with mental illness or emotional imbalances. They perform tasks such as creating treatment plans, administering prescriptions, and nursing duties such as bathing and dressing. Mental health technicians provide guidance and positive role modelling to their patients. They also educate families on ways of facilitating their patients’ recovery.
2. Psychotherapist
National average salary: $56.02 per hour
Primary duties: The primary duty of a psychotherapist is helping their clients face emotional problems, such as dealing with a difficult past or a negative experience. They help their clients view situations differently by helping them handle past traumas, deal with negative stimulants, and reduce destructive thoughts. Psychotherapists work with people of different ages, such as children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. They handle different issues, such as drug and substance addictions, grief, suicidal tendencies, gambling, and alcoholism. Psychotherapists develop plans and define wellness programs with their clients and help them in attaining those plans.
3. Clinical counsellor
National average salary: $39.38 per hour
Primary duties: A clinical counsellor’s duties involve interviewing clients to evaluate their behavioural and health problems. They use their skills and experience to identify issues such as drug abuse, trauma, and addictions. Clinical counsellors assist their clients to understand and overcome these problems. They conduct psychometric assessments, develop intervention programs, and help clients attain therapy goals. Clinical counsellors also liaise with other professionals and resource partners to provide wholesome intervention to their clients.
Related: 50 Interview Questions for a Counsellor With Sample Responses
4. Sports psychologist
National average salary: $75,715 per year
Primary duties: The primary duty of a sports psychologist is to help athletes excel in their fields. Sports psychologists help amateur and professional athletes by engaging them in mental strategies to improve their performance. They train athletes to use techniques, such as mental rehearsals, relaxation techniques, and cognitive restructuring to help these athletes overcome anxiety and improve focus. Sports psychologists also help athletes control their emotions and communicate effectively with coaches, teammates, and the press.
5. Psychiatric nurse
National average salary: $40.77 per hour
Primary duties: Psychiatric nurse’s primary duties involve providing psychological care to psychiatric patients. They also provide support to patient’s families. Psychiatric nurses work with doctors in transcribing doctor’s orders, administering medications, and other treatments as directed. They also monitor their patient’s progress and record noticeable behavioural changes. To become a psychiatric nurse, you require a bachelor’s degree in nursing with a focus on psychiatry or mental health. You also need to be registered to handle patients in the province of practice. Psychiatric nurses find work in hospitals, nursing homes, correctional facilities, and rehabilitation centres.
Read more: 5 Steps To Become a Psychiatrist
6. Psychology professor
National average salary: $98,718 per year
Primary duties: The primary duty of a psychology professor is to teach college students different topics in psychology. They apply their expertise to deliver classroom instruction according to the course outline. Psychology professors evaluate students through continuous assessments, essays, and other assignments. They also supervise students to write their thesis and dissertations. Psychology professors research psychology topics, publish in psychology journals, and collaborate with other psychology professionals to advance knowledge in psychology.
7. Counselling psychologist
National average salary: $56.36 per hour
Primary duties: Counselling psychologists specialize in treating patients undergoing emotional crises, anxiety, stress, and behavioural disorders. They offer patient consultation, assess patients, and identify patient problems. They develop and implement individualized treatment plans and evaluate patients’ responses to those plans. It may require counselling psychologists to plan for long-term counselling and multiple visits to patients with troublesome cases. They keep a detailed account of their patient’s history, which helps them refer their client to other specialized professionals, such as a psychiatrist.
8. Clinical psychologist
National average salary: $58.43 per hour
Primary duties: Clinical psychologists use different methods, such as testing, interviews, and observation to diagnose mental, emotional, and behavioural problems in their clients. They listen to patient history to identify underlying causes of illness, such as unresolved trauma and chronic stress. Clinical psychologists work with the patient to develop individual treatment plans and help them make progress toward the achievement of those plans. Typically, clinical psychologists specialize in particular age sets, such as children, adolescents, and the elderly. Clinical psychologists require a doctorate in psychology and require to be licensed to handle patients.
Read more: How Much Do Psychologists Make in Canada? (With Prmary Duties)
9. Psychiatrist
National average salary: $252,230 per year
Primary duties: The primary duty of a psychiatrist is to evaluate and diagnose patients with mental disorders such as personality disorders, mood swings, and behavioural disorders. Psychiatrists also prevent mental disorders by prescribing medicine or non-medicinal measures such as biofeedback, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychotherapy treatment. These professionals receive extensive training in psychology while in medical school. Psychiatrists require a license to practice their trade.
