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Clinical Psychologist Salary

Learn how much you can earn with a career in clinical psychology

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clinical psychology salary

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

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Average Clinical Psychology Salary

According to Payscale.com, clinical psychologists earned an average yearly income of $63,935 in 2008.

Salary by Years Experience

The overall 11-to-12 month median salary for licensed doctoral-level clinical psychologists was $63,935 in 2008. A further breakdown reveals the following average salaries of these clinical psychologists:

  • 0 – 1 year: $51,309
  • 0 – 4 years: $53,087
  • 5 – 9 years: $63,935
  • 10 – 19 years: $71,739
  • 20 – 24 years: $75,727
  • 25 – 29 years: $82,076
  • 30+ years: $92, 582

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Salary by Employer Type

Salaries for clinical psychologists in the US vary depending upon where you work. A survey based on type of workplace environment revealed the following median salaries:

  • Hospital: $64,611
  • Non-Profit Organization: $55,844
  • Private Practice: $74,323
  • College or University: $52,319
  • School or School District: $57,644
  • Federal Government: $81,840
  • Company: $60,196

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.

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Source: 2001 Salaries in Psychology; Research Office, American Psychological Association, 2006; Payscale.com, 2008

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At Walden, you'll benefit not only from our unique distance learning delivery models, but from the personal attention of our world-class faculty, and from a highly customized program that is directly related to your career goals.


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Argosy University - The American School of Professional Psychology Graduate Programs

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