What is Salary Outlook for PhD in Psychology?

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Psychology Doctorate Options
Psychology PhD Career Tracks
Psychology PhD Salary Overview

Psychology Doctorate Options

The two main types of psychology doctorates, Ph.D. and Psy.D., are similar but have some notable differences, and those differences likely will guide the decision of which degree type is right for you.

Ph.D. degrees are the more common and traditional type of psychology doctorate, while the Psy.D. was developed in the early 1970s. The biggest difference is that most Psy.D. programs are built around ensuring that students gain hands-on clinical experience, such as by providing direct mental healthcare to actual patients and clients. This is less common in Ph.D. in Psychology programs, which tend to focus much more heavily on the academic and research side of the equation.

So generally, if your intended psychology career path will include a large dose, or consist entirely, of lab or academic research, or you hope to teach at the collegiate level, a Ph.D. in Psychology will probably be the best choice for you. That said, Ph.D. programs are often more rigorous and selective than Psy.D. programs, so your options may be limited by the institutions offering programs in your state and online.

It’s also important to note that Ph.D. programs will typically take at least five years and could take as long as eight years, while Psy.D. programs tend to be closer to five or six, with some being designed to take as little as three years. Most Ph.D. programs will require doctoral candidates to teach, which also usually helps offset the cost of their education, and graduate fellowships and assistantships are much less common in Psy.D. programs.

And given that the Ph.D. is the much more storied type of psychology doctorate, it still commands a certain cache in many circles that Psy.D. programs don’t yet inspire, so earning a Ph.D. often is a signal of higher stature within the field of psychology, which could allow professionals to boost their wage expectations.

Psychology PhD Career Tracks

There is no single career path for prospective Ph.D. in Psychology students to follow, and chances are good that whatever type of role or focus area you’re interested in, there are plenty of roles you could fill.

Ph.D. Career Options by Industry

Counseling & Therapy	Medicine & Science	Business & Consulting	Education & Instruction
Clinical Psychologist	Health Psychologist	Human Resources Director	College Professor
Practice Director	Clinical Researcher	Political Strategist	University Administrator
Mental Health Counselor	Applied Researcher	Industrial-Organizational Psychologist	School Superintendent

Career paths and educational choices will depend significantly on each person’s individual areas of interest. For example, those who want to focus on research into the biological impacts of the human mind on behavior may want to consider Ph.D. programs in neuropsychology or experimental psychology. But those who want to work in the corporate world would probably find more value in an industrial-organizational Ph.D. in Psychology degree.

Here’s a look at some of the most common focus areas within psychology Ph.D. educational programs:

Clinical
Cognitive
Developmental
Quantitative
Industrial-Organizational
Neuroscience
Attention & Perception
Social
Health

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Psychology PhD Salary Overview

Statistically speaking, those with higher academic achievement tend to make more money. In fact, according to the most recent estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual income for those with a doctoral degree, such as a PhD in Psychology, is over double the median income level for those with only a high school diploma. Doctoral degree holders also have a considerably higher median salary than those who have only a bachelor’s degree — $109,668 versus $77,636.

Let’s start with a wide-angle look at what a possible PhD-prepared psychologist could earn nationally. The following are select careers that typically expect a PhD in psychology for entry.

Average annual salaries for select PhD in psychology careers

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$106,600
General Psychologists	$92,740
Human Resources Managers	$154,740
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers	$63,870
Postsecondary Psychology Professors	$93,990
School Psychologists	$91,990

To zoom in at the state level, statistics for clinical and counseling psychologists are very relevant as a barometer for the salaries of psychology PhD graduates.

Average annual salary for clinical and counseling psychologists 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

20 states offer average salaries that are above the $100k mark. The difference between the highest and lowest salaries is $83,980.

In nearly all states, psychology jobs are projected to see openings rise over the next decade. But in some states, growth is anticipated to be much more rapid. The highest growth rate is expected in Utah, where the jobs will expand by an average of 50%! In total 11 states have growth rates forecast that are over 20%.

Projected growth in clinical and counseling 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%

The growth rates for the following related careers that often demand a PhD in psychology are also promising.

National projected growth in psychology PhD-related careers, 2023-2033

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	13.3%
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers	11.6%
General Psychologists	7%
Human Resources Managers	6.5%
Postsecondary Psychology Professors	5%
School Psychologists	0.7%

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.

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Conclusion

For most people, a high wage is far from the most important reason to pick a career or even a particular job. But the time and financial investment involved in earning a Ph.D. can be daunting, and knowing there’s a strong potential to earn a comfortable living for years to come is a good motivator to stick with the doctoral process.