Salary Outlook with PhD in Behavioral Psychology
A doctoral degree represents the highest possible level of academic achievement in most fields of study, and that includes in the arena of behavioral psychology. For many scholars, earning a Ph.D. in Behavioral Psychology enables them to advance their knowledge and opens up career opportunities.
Students of behavioral psychology have a couple of different doctoral options — a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.). How do the degrees differ, and what are some possible job titles and salary rates graduates could expect upon completing their doctorates?
Behavioral Psychology Doctorate Options
When it comes to psychology doctoral programs, students have a big choice to make between two possible degrees — a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. While both culminate in the completion of a doctoral program, they are usually quite different, even within the same field.
Every program is unique, but in general, Ph.D. programs are ideal for those who want to be able to focus on academic and scientific research, while Psy.D. programs are best for those who primarily want to study the clinical practice of psychology, including providing therapy and counseling services.
SEE ALSO: Top 4 Online Ph.D. in Behavioral Psychology Programs
While it’s entirely possible for graduates of either type of program to hold many of the same jobs, the differences in how the two programs are set up can make that a challenge. For example, if a behavioral psychology student is interested solely in providing hands-on therapeutic services but pursues a Ph.D. course that includes no clinical experience or internships, it’s unlikely they’ll be prepared enough for that career track.
Similarly, for those wishing to teach at higher levels and contribute to the scientific understanding of behavioral psychology, the advanced research training at the heart of most Ph.D. programs is critical.
Behavioral Psychology PhD Career Tracks
Behavioral psychology as a field is uniquely focused on the reasons why people do what they do and how problem behaviors could potentially be modified. Students in this field will study the connections between the brain and behavior to discern behavioral patterns that may be problematic.
Behavioral psychology students who intend to practice clinically will most often treat patients or serve clients who have diagnosable behavioral disorders, such as OCD or autism spectrum disorders.
Possible careers in the field, whether clinical or academic, include:
- Clinical Psychologist
- ABA Therapist
- Behavioral Psychologist
- Professor
- Behavioral Health Counselor
- Rehabilitation Counselor
Depending on an individual’s previous experience, it may also be possible to pursue non-psychology careers after completing a behavioral psychology Ph.D. This could include serving in roles like marketing or advertising, where deep understanding of human behavior is helpful.
Behavioral Psychology PhD Salary Overview
There isn’t a single obvious job title that a person becomes qualified for after earning a PhD in Behavioral Psychology. Simply having a PhD can be greatly beneficial, not only to opening up a world of career possibilities but to providing for a comfortable living.
Those with PhD degrees make about twice the median annual salary, and 41% more than those with only a bachelor’s degree.
So while these professionals can expect to earn far more than the average American, how do their salaries vary depending on the area of the country in question? To understand that we can start by looking at the average national salaries for several relevant professions.
| Clinical or counseling psychologist | $106,600 |
| Psychology professor | $93,990 |
| Behavioral health counselor | $60,080 |
| Rehabilitation counselor | $48,430 |
Of these four careers, clinical and counseling psychologist salaries come closest to being a proxy for behavioral psychology PhD graduate salaries. Not only do many of these graduates go on to become clinical and counseling psychologists; the clinical and counseling psychologist category is the only one of these four that requires a doctoral degree.
Average annual behavioral psychology PhD salary by state
| New Jersey | $148,370 |
| California | $132,410 |
| Oregon | $129,470 |
| Rhode Island | $120,720 |
| Maine | $117,710 |
| Maryland | $116,560 |
| New York | $113,230 |
| Illinois | $111,300 |
| Utah | $110,630 |
| Wisconsin | $109,890 |
| Tennessee | $109,670 |
| Arizona | $109,550 |
| Alaska | $109,300 |
| Ohio | $108,690 |
| Washington | $108,650 |
| Virginia | $108,130 |
| Nevada | $106,830 |
| Arkansas | $106,330 |
| Kentucky | $105,140 |
| Massachusetts | $102,630 |
| Colorado | $99,690 |
| Vermont | $95,950 |
| Minnesota | $95,100 |
| Hawaii | $92,780 |
| Indiana | $92,700 |
| New Mexico | $92,530 |
| Alabama | $92,470 |
| North Carolina | $91,390 |
| Florida | $89,450 |
| Oklahoma | $89,380 |
| North Dakota | $88,500 |
| Missouri | $87,730 |
| Iowa | $87,360 |
| South Dakota | $86,160 |
| Georgia | $85,800 |
| Michigan | $82,770 |
| Texas | $82,420 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,400 |
| Montana | $80,310 |
| West Virginia | $75,810 |
| Idaho | $75,330 |
| Wyoming | $72,860 |
| Kansas | $72,570 |
| South Carolina | $64,990 |
| New Hampshire | $64,390 |
In most states the U.S. Department of Labor expects job openings for behavioral psychology professionals to expand between 2022 and 2032.
Utah leads the nation with an impressive 50% projected job growth rate. Arizona and Florida both have rates above 25%, while 11 states have rates above 20%. Alaska, Idaho, and Maine are forecast to see neither decrease nor growth.
Average projected growth in behavioral psychology job openings by state, 2022-2032
| 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% |
Nationally the following relevant careers are also anticipated to see their share of growth.
Average U.S. projected growth in behavioral psychology PhD job openings, 2023-2033
| Behavioral health counselor | 18.8% |
| Clinical or counseling psychologist | 13.3% |
| Psychology professor | 5% |
| Rehabilitation counselor | 1.8% |
Conclusion
Understanding the reasons why people do the things they do is at the very heart of the study of psychology. For many scholars of the field, going deeper and diagnosing behavioral disorders, and potentially helping people alleviate them, means completing a rigorous advanced academic course, such as a Ph.D. in Behavioral Psychology.
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists and select occupations. 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.