What Is a Doctorate Degree in Psychology?
For many professionals, reaching the pinnacle of education in psychology means earning a PhD in Psychology. This doctoral-level degree signifies that a person has completed a rigorous course of study in various aspects of human psychology and is qualified to work in many high-level roles within psychology, whether in academia or clinical settings.
A PhD in Psychology represents the highest possible academic achievement in the field, whether the individual focuses on neuroscience, behavior or other areas of psychology, and a PhD in Psychology differs from another popular psychology doctorate, a PsyD degree, in a few critical ways.
What are the key components of a PhD in Psychology, how does the degree differ from a PsyD, what types of jobs are available for those with a psychology doctorate, and what are some program options for interested learners?
Psychology Doctorate Options
Regardless of the doctoral path a person chooses, most programs require doctorate-seekers to have earned a master’s degree in an applicable field, though some programs may offer joint-degree paths.
Both a Ph.D. in Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) enable people to work in the highest degree levels of psychology, the degree types have some key differences. For instance, a PhD in Psychology tends to be a more academically rigorous program, including aggressive training in research, while a PsyD tends to have a stronger clinical focus.
Here are a few of the other main distinctions:
| PhD in Psychology | PsyD |
| Multiple career options, including teaching and clinical psychology work. | Direct work with patients or clients is primary career option. |
| Highly competitive and rigorous admissions process. | Generally requires less time to complete and may be easier to get into. |
| More commonly offered degree, so students have more school options. | Though growing in popularity, PsyD is often considered an alternative degree. |
In short, if your ultimate career goal is to work directly with clients and you have little to no interest in furthering the study of psychology or publishing peer-reviewed work in the field, a PsyD may be the better option. But a PhD is still considered in many quarters to be a more prestigious degree.
SEE ALSO: PhD vs PsyD in Psychology
A Ph.D. does not relegate you to the research lab, though. Individuals with a Ph.D. in Psychology in most states can practice as clinical psychologists, school psychologists or in other specialties within psychology in addition to being qualified to teach undergraduate and graduate students alike. In other words, the degree may provide broader career options than its PsyD counterpart.
Costs & Program Length
While each university’s Ph.D. in Psychology program is unique, most programs will require about six years to complete, even as a full-time student. But given the rigorous nature of the Ph.D. process, that should come as no surprise. Remember that the degree is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of psychology and the research that’s been done in the field to date.
SEE ALSO: 8 Most Affordable Online Psychology Ph.D. Programs
Your individual interests and the particular school you choose will also play a part in determining how long it’ll take to complete your degree. Some universities offer different paths to earning a Ph.D. in Psychology, with variable timetables for full-time and part-time students, and allowing for differences in research, field experience, and dissertation work.
The typical Ph.D. in Psychology student will be able to complete doctoral work in about six years, but it’s important to remember that many colleges and universities set maximum time limits as well, with some schools terminating enrollment if students haven’t finished their degrees in a set amount of time. This practice varies by school, as does the max limit, with some schools setting a seven-year limit and others extending beyond that.
The cost of a Ph.D. in Psychology degree, like overall completion time, varies by institution and specialty. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports the average tuition and fees for a graduate-level education in the 2021-2022 school year was $20,513. For private schools the average cost was $28,017, while at public schools it was considerably less at $12,596.
However, Ph.D. students are much more likely than lower-level students to secure teaching assistantships and have at least part of their tuition covered. Most advanced doctoral students at public institutions receive a full tuition waiver. Research assistantships also are available for select doctoral students, with some private university students having their tuition covered in full.
PhD in Psychology Jobs
With a Ph.D. in Psychology, an individual is prepared for a huge range of jobs in psychology, throughout the public and private sectors and in a range of work settings, from academia to the military and everything in between.
SEE ALSO: 50+ Highest Paying Psychology Careers
The job outlook for psychologists is bright, with employment projected to grow by 7% between 2023 and 2033, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This growth rate is nearly double the rate projected for all occupations in the U.S. economy. As public acceptance of the need for psychological services continues to grow and access to these services expands, the demand for psychologists looks to remain strong into the next decade.
Percentage change in employment by occupation, 2023-2033
| Clinical and counseling psychologists | 13.3% |
| Industrial-organizational psychologists | 5.8% |
| Psychologists, all other | 5% |
| Social scientists and related workers, all other | 3.4% |
| All occupations | 4% |
| School psychologists | 0.7% |
In addition to a healthy outlook in terms of job availability, a PhD in Psychology is also a solid investment from a sheer dollar standpoint, with salaries for psychologists topping six figures.
Annual average wage by occupation
| Industrial-organizational psychologists | $154,380 |
| Psychologists, all others | $110,300 |
| Clinical and counseling psychologists | $106,600 |
| Social scientists and related workers | $99,260 |
| All occupations | $91,990 |
| School psychologists | $65,470 |
Annual median wage by state, clinical and counseling psychologists, top 10
| New Jersey | $130,700 |
| Oregon | $126,830 |
| California | $126,450 |
| Washington | $110,480 |
| Rhode Island | $110,000 |
| Ohio | $105,680 |
| Nevada | $104,020 |
| Alaska | $103,530 |
| Maryland | $102,680 |
| Minnesota | $101,160 |
The availability of clinical psychologist jobs is strongest on the East Coast, with five of the top 10 states in either New England or on the East Coast.
SEE ALSO: Average Clinical Psychologist Salary by State
Clinical and counseling psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs, top 10 states
| West Virginia | 0.994 |
| Massachusetts | 0.921 |
| Maryland | 0.917 |
| Illinois | 0.820 |
| Rhode Island | 0.815 |
| New York | 0.776 |
| Idaho | 0.730 |
| Utah | 0.708 |
| California | 0.660 |
| Montana | 0.642 |
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary for Psychologists, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, Psychologists, all other, Industrial-Organizational Psychologists, Social Scientists and Related Workers, all other, and School 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 March 2025.