Psychologist Salary and Career Outlook
Psychologists are mental health professionals who assess and interpret human behavior. They collect and interpret data on individuals’ social, emotional, and cognitive processes to improve their behaviors, attitudes, and overall quality of life. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), psychologists had a median annual wage of $99,110 in May 2025, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
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There are many career paths for those who want to become psychologists. As such, a psychologist’s pay and employment potential can vary depending upon a number of different factors including:
- Level of education
- Level of experience
- Psychological specialty
- Industry
Because pay depends on these factors, the national median is a starting point rather than a prediction; the sections below break wages down by specialty and work setting. For many roles in the field, the path begins with an advanced degree in psychology.
Psychologist Careers
Careers in psychology are more varied than most might assume. Even within specific psychological fields, some psychologists choose to specialize in particular industries or patient populations. Most U.S. and Canadian licensing jurisdictions require a doctoral degree in psychology for independent practice, but about half allow people with a master’s degree in psychology to practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, according to the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) (last verified Oct. 15, 2026).
Counseling, Clinical, and Research Psychologists
Becoming a licensed clinical or counseling psychologist generally requires a doctoral degree in psychology, such as a Ph.D. or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), as well as a state-issued license, according to ASPPB (last verified Oct. 15, 2026). Our guide to becoming a psychologist walks through the licensure steps.
Within this group, each specialty has a different focus:
Counseling psychologists work with patients to identify and develop strategies for dealing with problems related to mental, social, and emotional health. This can include things like relationship issues, stress, anxiety, workplace matters, abuse, and family matters to name a few.
Clinical psychologists rely on psychotherapeutic diagnostics and treatments to help identify and treat behavioral, emotional, and mental disorders. The federal 2018 Standard Occupational Classification groups clinical and counseling psychologists into one occupation, which assesses, diagnoses and treats mental and emotional disorders and provides individual or group counseling. In some states, licensed psychologists who complete additional psychopharmacology training and pass a national examination can be authorized to prescribe certain medications. Illinois and New Mexico are two examples, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the New Mexico Board of Psychologist Examiners (both last verified Oct. 15, 2026).
Research psychologists use the scientific method to both guide explorations of existing psychological studies and devise new ones to advance the field of psychology. Their work is crucial to helping clinicians, counselors, and other mental health practitioners establish best practices for patient care.
School Psychologists
School psychologists focus on the mental, social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral health of students in order to optimize the learning environment for success. They diagnose and address educational, behavioral or developmental issues that affect students’ school performance through individual or schoolwide interventions, and they may counsel students or families and consult with other school staff, according to the federal 2018 Standard Occupational Classification. To see how this role differs from a school counselor’s, compare school psychologists and school counselors.
Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychologists
I/O psychologists are group psychology experts who are hired by institutions of all types to assess and optimize the individual and collaborative components of an organization or workplace. They solve problems related to recruitment, training, professional development, employee relations, workplace motivation, and customer satisfaction.
Psychologist vs Psychiatrist
It is important to note that while a psychology background offers a broad range of career opportunities, psychiatry is not one of them. Psychiatrists differ from psychologists in several important ways:
Psychologist | Psychiatrist | |
|---|---|---|
Focus | Clinical and counseling psychologists assess, diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders through observation, interviews, psychological tests and counseling; school and industrial-organizational psychologists apply psychology in schools and workplaces (2018 SOC definitions) | Physicians who specialize in psychiatry, the medical specialty focused on mental illness |
Education | A doctoral degree in psychology (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) for independent practice in most jurisdictions; about half allow master’s-level practice under a licensed psychologist’s supervision (ASPPB, last verified Oct. 15, 2026) | A medical degree (M.D. or D.O.) followed by a four-year psychiatry residency, according to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s residency eligibility requirements and psychiatry program guidance (last verified Oct. 15, 2026) |
Employment, May 2025 (excludes self-employed) | ||
Median annual wage, May 2025 |
How Much Do Psychologists Make?
According to May 2025 data from the BLS, psychologists had a median annual wage of $99,110. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $59,080, and the highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $163,380. Pay varies with a psychologist’s specialty, where he or she works, and how much experience he or she has.
Median wages also differ by specialty. Industrial-organizational psychology is a small occupation: the BLS estimated about 790 U.S. jobs in May 2025, not counting self-employed workers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Specialty (May 2025) | Median annual wage | Lowest-paid 10% earned less than | Highest-paid 10% earned more than |
|---|---|---|---|
Industrial-organizational psychologists | $79,010 | $247,220 | |
Psychologists, all other | $54,990 | $168,520 | |
Clinical and counseling psychologists | $55,170 | $180,960 | |
School psychologists | $63,070 | $142,330 | |
All psychologists | $59,080 | $163,380 |
Among the four work settings in the table below, psychologists earn the highest median wage in government roles outside schools and hospitals. Median wages in ambulatory health care services, hospitals, and elementary and secondary schools are lower and close to one another.
Information last updated: October 2026