Clinical Psychologist Salary

Average Clinical Psychology Salary

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical, counseling and school psychologists (studied as a group) earned an average yearly income of $63,340 in 2004.

Clinical Psychology Today

The American Psychological Association’s research office conducted a study of 1,104 doctoral-level respondents who were licensed, claimed clinical psychology as their major field, and were involved in the direct delivery of health and mental health services to clients in 2001.

Where were these clinical psychologist respondents employed?

• 65% worked in independent practices (46% in individual private practices and 19% in group private practices)
• 14% worked in hospitals
• 5% worked in clinics
• 3% worked in elementary / secondary schools
• 2% or less worked in other settings, such as university counseling centers, criminal justice systems, rehabilitation facilities or other human service settings

The overall 11-to-12 month median salary for licensed doctoral-level clinical psychologists was $72,000 in 2001. A further breakdown reveals the following average salaries of these clinical psychologists:

• 0 – 4 years: $57,061
• 5 – 9 years: $62,648
• 10 – 14 years: $77,957
• 15 – 19 years: $86,316
• 20 – 24 years: $91,926
• 25 – 29 years: $82,076
• 30+ years: $92, 582

In many cases, it is possible to earn well over $125,000 as a clinical psychologist, depending on the career path you choose and your professional experience, because the APA also indicated that their salary data represents:

• Salaries for individuals who are employed full time (at least 35 hours per week in salaried positions)
• Net income after office expenses for self-employed individuals who are working at least 35 hours per week
• Net income for individuals with a full-time (at least 32 hours per week) independent practice

Because many psychologists have additional sources of income from multiple work activities and settings, this data may not represent total income.

Source: 2001 Salaries in Psychology. Research Office, American Psychological Association. 2006.

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