APA Sheds New Light on Clinical Psychologist Salary
Learn what a clinical psychologist salary is, and see why a career in clinical psychology is doubly rewarding.
You may already know that clinical psychology is a rewarding field that offers fascinating work and a rosy job market. What you may not know is that a clinical psychologist salary can top $170,000 a year.
Want details? Read on – we found great info in a guide that The American Psychological Association (APA) created in 2009, where they surveyed 11,246 doctoral-level psychologists who worked at least 35 hours per week.
Who’s Paying Top Salaries?
According to 2010 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, average clinical psychologist salaries range from $50,360 to $86,250. That’s a pretty wide range, but you can set yourself up for the top earnings by learning a few key salary facts. For that information, we turned to the APA study. It might surprise you to discover the areas that pay the highest psychologist salaries, according to the respondents of the study.
The overall growth in the range of opportunities for psychologists means that it’s easier than ever to command a healthy clinical psychology salary—and a clinical psychology degree opens doors in an array of exciting fields.
Be Patient! Top Clinical Psychology Salaries Take Time
As with every career, experience pays a huge factor in salary. A clinical psychology salary jumps significantly around the fifth year, and salaries increase steadily with each consecutive year.
Where are Clinical Psychologists Working?
Now, about that private office with a couch: owning your own practice remains a popular career choice, but clinical psychology offers many more options. While the vast majority work in independent practice or the university and college system, clinical psychologists also work in hospitals, clinics and schools.
Take a look below to see where psychologists are working today.
Pie Chart Data from APA.org
Clinical psychology is about much more than the money, but it’s great to know that this career offers good salary opportunities in addition to meaningful social contributions.
To learn more about the education required for clinical psychologists, research your options and talk to a school of your choice today.
Sources: 2009 Salaries in Psychology, APA.org; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010; PayScale.com, 2011
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