Salary Outlook Ph.D in Counseling Psychology
In most areas of study, a doctoral degree is the highest possible level of achievement in academics. For those studying counseling psychology, this could mean getting a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree, or it could mean earning a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
While the degrees generally have different basic philosophies, very often, the end result is the same, and this generally is true for those pursuing a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. In comparison to other types of psychology degrees, counseling psychology is heavily focused on the practice of counseling others to help them cope with day-to-day struggles.
What are the degree options for counseling psychology students and what types of salaries can they expect to earn at the professional level?
Counseling Psychology Doctorate Options
The right degree option can make all the difference. That’s because, while doctoral programs in psychology can be quite similar between Ph.D. and Psy.D. tracks, the basic design of the coursework and academic focus are usually different in a few key ways.
Generally, people who pursue a Ph.D. in a field of psychology, including counseling psychology, do so because they want to engage in detailed study and academic research into the field. On the other hand, those who are considering a Psy.D. degree may be more inclined to careers in psychology where they practice counseling psychology one-on-one with patients or clients. Of course, this is not a hard-and-fast rule, and it’s definitely true that qualified people with either type of degree can cross over and have successful careers with a variety of daily tasks.
SEE ALSO: 5+ Online PhD in Counseling Psychology Programs
Often, the choice comes down to which programs are available where the student lives, and Ph.D. programs, in general, are slightly more common than Psy.D. degree tracks, though this is changing as the Psy.D. gains credibility in the industry.
Still, for students who want to have the broadest possible career options, a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology may help provide that.
Counseling Psychology PhD Career Tracks
With a Ph.D., a wide range of possible career paths become available, and for those studying counseling psychology, that’s definitely the case. While a career as a counseling psychologist, perhaps the most obvious related job title, is certainly possible, it’s far from the only possible occupation an individual could pursue after earning their Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology.
SEE ALSO: How to Become a Counseling Psychologist
Let’s take a look at just a few of the possibilities:
- Psychology Professor
- School Counselor
- Career Counselor
- Research Director
- Mental Health Counselor
- Marriage and Family Therapist
- Substance Abuse Counselor
Counseling psychology programs tend to focus more heavily on helping individuals who don’t have major psychiatric or behavioral health disorders, and so career tracks will lean more heavily in that direction when it comes to jobs with a clinical component.
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology Salary Overview
Statistically speaking, the mere presence of a PhD greatly boosts a person’s potential earnings. In fact, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, the average PhD graduate makes over double their high school graduate counterparts.
SEE ALSO: Clinical vs. Counseling Psychology Degree Differences
To understand the income potential for PhD graduates in the counseling psychology field, we can first look at the average salaries for a range of relevant careers:
| Counseling Psychologist | $106,600 |
| Psychology Professor | $93,990 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $68,730 |
| School and Career Counselor | $66,990 |
| Counselor | $61,790 |
The BLS tracks data specifically for clinical and counseling psychologists, and this is where we can source the most relevant state-specific data for this profession.
Average annual counseling 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 |
New Jersey offers the highest average annual salary, followed by the two neighboring West Coast states of California and Oregon. New Hampshire and South Carolina bring up the rear. 20 states offer average salaries that are above $100,000.
Looking towards future growth, Florida and California have large populations and they’re both in the top-10 states when ranked by their projected growth rates of counseling psychologist jobs. 11 states have growth rates that are forecast to be at least 20 percent. Alaska, Idaho, and Maine don’t anticipate any growth in this field; however no state is projecting negative growth.
Projected growth rates for counseling psychology PhD 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% |
Related fields are also forecast to experience growth rates that are higher than average.
National projected growth rates in related job openings, 2023-2033
| Mental Health Counselor | 18.8% |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | 16.2% |
| Counseling Psychologist | 13.3% |
| Psychology Professor | 5% |
| School and Career Counselor | 4.5% |
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.
Conclusion
As Americans increasingly accept the need to seek help coping with the stresses of their lives and relationships, it’s more and more likely that they’ll turn to professional counselors for help. For psychology students weighing their doctoral options, earning a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology can open doors, both professionally and personally.