Career comparison
Clinical psychologist vs. Mental health counselor
Clinical psychologists earn more: a median of $100,580, $41,230 (69%) above mental health counselors at $59,350.
Mental health counselors have the stronger outlook: +18% projected growth through 2035, vs. +12%.
Getting in is slower for clinical psychologists: about 7 years vs. 4.5 years for someone with a bachelor's in another field.
At a glance
| Clinical psychologist | Mental health counselor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $100,580 | $59,350 |
| Top 10% earn over | $180,960 | $97,590 |
| Growth to 2035 | +12% | +18% |
| Openings per year | 4,100 | 50,500 |
| Jobs today | 81,300 | 533,400 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Master's degree |
| Time to qualify* | 7 years | 4.5 years |
| Training cost* | $0–$250K | $31K–$95K |
* Starting from a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.
Pay
Clinical psychologist
Mental health counselor
Switching from one to the other
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Clinical psychologistMental health counselor
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Getting in
Clinical psychologist
- Entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Prior experience
- None
Required: EPPP licensing exam · Supervised hours · State psychologist license
Mental health counselor
- Entry education
- Master's degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Prior experience
- None
Required: NCE or NCMHCE exam · 2–3 years supervised practice · State LPC/LMHC 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 weekMental health counselor: 25% usually work over 40 hours a week
Clinical psychologist: 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.
Mental health counselor: core tasks
- Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
- Attend training sessions to increase knowledge and skills.
- Develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories.
- Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.
- Review and evaluate clients' progress in relation to measurable goals described in treatment and care plans.
Skills: what carries over
Both rely on: Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Writing, Critical Thinking, Speaking.
New for a clinical psychologist moving to mental health counselor: Judgment and Decision Making.
New for a mental health counselor moving to clinical psychologist: Complex Problem Solving.
Interests (Holland codes): Clinical psychologist: Social, Investigative, Conventional. Mental health counselor: Social, Investigative, Conventional.
Outlook to 2035, and AI
Clinical psychologist
+12%
faster than average · 4,100 openings a year
BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.
Mental health counselor
+18%
much faster than average · 50,500 openings a year
BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.
Quoted notes: BLS Employment Projections, factors affecting occupational utilization (Table 1.12). Average growth across all jobs: +3.5%.
Questions people ask
Who makes more, a clinical psychologist or a mental health counselor?
Clinical psychologists earn more: a median of $100,580, $41,230 (69%) above mental health counselors at $59,350.
Which has the better job outlook?
Mental health counselors have the stronger outlook: +18% projected growth through 2035, vs. +12%.
How long does it take to become a mental health counselor?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 4.5 years, with tuition of roughly $31,000 to $95,000. Required: NCE or NCMHCE exam, 2–3 years supervised practice, State LPC/LMHC license.
How long does it take to become a clinical psychologist?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 7 years, with tuition of roughly $0 to $250,000. Required: EPPP licensing exam, Supervised hours, State psychologist license.