Science
Clinical psychologist
Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.
Median pay
$100,580
Growth to 2035
+12%
faster than average
Openings a year
4,100
Time to qualify*
7 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Clinical psychologist
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Prior experience
- None
- Required
- EPPP licensing exam · Supervised hours · State psychologist license
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Exposure to disease
Clinical psychologist: 36% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
- Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
- Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
- Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
- Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
- Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.
- Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, modifying plans or diagnoses as necessary.
Also called: Case Manager · Clinical Psychologist · Counseling Psychologist · Counselor · Licensed Clinical Psychologist · Licensed Psychologist · LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) · Psychologist
Outlook and AI
Clinical psychologists held 81,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 90,900 by 2035 (+12%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Clinical psychologist vs. Mental health counselor
- Clinical psychologist vs. Social worker
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- Clinical psychologist vs. Marriage and family therapists
- Clinical psychologist vs. Psychiatrist
- Clinical psychologist vs. Healthcare social worker
- Clinical psychologist vs. School psychologist
- Clinical psychologist vs. Psychologists, all other
- Clinical psychologist vs. Registered nurse