How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make?
Clinical psychology is a specialty that offers continuing and comprehensive behavioral and mental health care for families and individuals. You also will offer consultative services to communities and agencies, as well as education, training, and supervision.
Most clinical psychologists eventually earn a Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree to earn the highest possible salary. (APA.org). Clinical psychology is the most popular specialty in psychology, so you will face ample competition for good-paying jobs after graduation.
SEE ALSO: What Is a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology
Some of the advanced knowledge you will obtain in clinical psychology programs are:
- An understanding of diagnostic and intervention considerations as well as understanding of psychopathology.
- Mental health problems across life and based on a good understanding of psychopathology.
- The ability to assess, integrate and synthesize personality test information with other standardized assessment information.
- Learning to consult with other healthcare professionals regarding serious psychopathology disorders, violence and suicide.
Some of the different career fields you can choose with a degree in clinical psychology are:
- Clinical case manager: Handle a caseload of psychology clients with diverse needs.
- College professor: Work several years in the field, probably in private practice, and work for a college as a psychology teacher in students at the bachelor’s, master’s and/or Ph.D. level.
- Clinical social worker: Assist clients to obtain resources they need to live, such as rent help and job assistance, and help them work through their personal problems, such as marriage, divorce, anxiety, depression.
- Private practice psychologist: If you earn your Ph.D., you may be able to work as a private practice psychologist with your own slate of clients that you develop on your own. You could often work with children, young adults, those with anxiety or even specialize in people suffering from mood disorders.
- Mental health social worker: Provide clinical counseling services and resources to social work clients. You may work in crisis intervention groups, help patients find housing and daycare, and sign up for various government resources, such as healthcare and food stamps.
Working as a clinical psychologist requires a doctoral degree, which takes at least four or five years to earn. If you want to work in this field, it is important to know what you can earn as a clinical psychologist. It will, of course, vary by your job title, where you live and experience level.
Clinical Psychologist Salary Information
The Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a good resource for psychologist’s salary information. The agency reports the median salary for all psychologists is $92,740. The top 10% with the most education and experience earn a salary that starts at $151,880 per year.
The BLS also tracks salary data specifically for clinical psychologists. Their salary breakdown nationally is:
- Bottom 25% salary – $66,050 and lower
- Median salary – $96,100
- Average salary – $106,600
- Top 25% salary – $129,020 and up
- Top 10% salary – $168,870 and up
The BLS also tracks clinical psychologists data according to their place of work. Relevant sectors are listed here along with their average annual salary for clinical psychologists:
- Scientific research and development services – $131,050
- Specialty hospitals, except psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals – $117,940
- Offices of other health practitioners – $114,900
- Offices of physicians – $113,970
- Educational support services – $111,340
- Outpatient care centers – $107,500
- General hospitals – $101,450
- Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals – $100,210
- Individual and family services – $91,160
At the state-level, the BLS reports the following average salaries for clinical psychologists:
| Hourly | Annual | |
| New Jersey | $71.33 | $148,370 |
| California | $63.66 | $132,410 |
| Oregon | $62.25 | $129,470 |
| Rhode Island | $58.04 | $120,720 |
| Maine | $56.59 | $117,710 |
| Maryland | $56.04 | $116,560 |
| New York | $54.44 | $113,230 |
| Illinois | $53.51 | $111,300 |
| Utah | $53.19 | $110,630 |
| Wisconsin | $52.83 | $109,890 |
| Tennessee | $52.73 | $109,670 |
| Arizona | $52.67 | $109,550 |
| Alaska | $52.55 | $109,300 |
| Ohio | $52.25 | $108,690 |
| Washington | $52.24 | $108,650 |
| Virginia | $51.99 | $108,130 |
| Nevada | $51.36 | $106,830 |
| Arkansas | $51.12 | $106,330 |
| Kentucky | $50.55 | $105,140 |
| Massachusetts | $49.34 | $102,630 |
| Colorado | $47.93 | $99,690 |
| Vermont | $46.13 | $95,950 |
| Minnesota | $45.72 | $95,100 |
| Hawaii | $44.61 | $92,780 |
| Indiana | $44.57 | $92,700 |
| New Mexico | $44.49 | $92,530 |
| Alabama | $44.46 | $92,470 |
| North Carolina | $43.94 | $91,390 |
| Florida | $43.00 | $89,450 |
| Oklahoma | $42.97 | $89,380 |
| North Dakota | $42.55 | $88,500 |
| Missouri | $42.18 | $87,730 |
| Iowa | $42.00 | $87,360 |
| South Dakota | $41.42 | $86,160 |
| Georgia | $41.25 | $85,800 |
| Michigan | $39.79 | $82,770 |
| Texas | $39.62 | $82,420 |
| Pennsylvania | $38.66 | $80,400 |
| Montana | $38.61 | $80,310 |
| West Virginia | $36.45 | $75,810 |
| Idaho | $36.22 | $75,330 |
| Wyoming | $35.03 | $72,860 |
| Kansas | $34.89 | $72,570 |
| South Carolina | $31.25 | $64,990 |
| New Hampshire | $30.96 | $64,390 |
Job Outlook for Clinical Psychologists
The BLS reports that all psychologist jobs in general should increase by 7% between 2023 and 2033, a rate that’s nearly double the 4% for all jobs in general over this period. It is expected there will be greater demand for psychological services in clinics, health centers, hospitals and schools as people want to deal with their mental health concerns to lead happier lives.
SEE ALSO: Average Clinical Psychologist Salary by State
Growth for clinical psychologist jobs is even better over that time period, projected at a rate of 13.3%.
BLS data also shows there are 71,730 clinical psychologists working in the US today in these fields:
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners – 40%
- Outpatient Care Centers – 10%
- Offices of Physicians – 9%
- Individual and Family Services – 9%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals – 6%
State-level data shows the following projections for clinical psychologist job growth between 2022 and 2032:
| Utah | 50% |
| Arizona | 26.8% |
| Florida | 26.1% |
| Oregon | 23.4% |
| Tennessee | 23.4% |
| New Mexico | 23.3% |
| South Carolina | 22.8% |
| California | 20.7% |
| Iowa | 20.6% |
| Colorado | 20.1% |
| New Hampshire | 20% |
| Texas | 19.6% |
| North Carolina | 18.9% |
| Mississippi | 16% |
| New Jersey | 15.2% |
| Oklahoma | 14.6% |
| South Dakota | 14.3% |
| Indiana | 13.4% |
| Arkansas | 13.2% |
| Montana | 13% |
| Maryland | 12.6% |
| Kansas | 12.5% |
| North Dakota | 12.5% |
| West Virginia | 12.2% |
| Massachusetts | 11.9% |
| Virginia | 11.6% |
| Alabama | 11.4% |
| Nebraska | 11.4% |
| Michigan | 11.2% |
| Kentucky | 11.1% |
| Wyoming | 11.1% |
| Illinois | 11% |
| Missouri | 10.9% |
| Rhode Island | 10.9% |
| Louisiana | 10.8% |
| Nevada | 10.7% |
| Georgia | 10.5% |
| Minnesota | 9.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 9.5% |
| Connecticut | 9.1% |
| Wisconsin | 9.1% |
| Delaware | 8.3% |
| District of Columbia | 7.1% |
| Vermont | 5.6% |
| Ohio | 4.5% |
| Alaska | 0% |
| Idaho | 0% |
| Maine | 0% |
An extensive review of official employment and salary data shows the salary and job outlook for clinical psychologists is solid. More Americans are looking to have their mental health and personal issues dealt with as they live longer and healthier lives. With a PhD in clinical psychology, it is possible you may earn a salary in the top 10% range starting at $168,870.
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary for Psychologists and Clinical and Counseling Psychologists. National labor market information and state labor market information also sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor. Information based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed February 2025.
Summary
An extensive review of official employment and salary data shows the salary and job outlook for clinical psychologists is solid. More Americans are looking to have their mental health and personal issues dealt with as they live longer and healthier lives. With a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, it is likely you may earn a salary well above $70,000 for years to come. This is possible working in private practice, for the US government and even as a professor of psychology at a university.