Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Career, Salary and Skills
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $100,580 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 75,990. Wage data is published for 259 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
19-3033.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Post-Doctoral Training
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$100,580
Hourly median
$48.36
Employment
75,990
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.75 | 4.38 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.38 | 5.00 |
| Writing | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Active Listening | 4.25 | 4.88 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.25 | 4.38 |
| Speaking | 4.12 | 4.25 |
| Active Learning | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Service Orientation | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.75 | 3.75 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
Technology
- Web browser software
- Neurobehavioral Systems Presentation
- Addison Health Systems WritePad EHR
- Anasazi Software Client Data System
- Athena Software Penelope Case Management
- B Sharp Technologies B Care
- BlackHawk Canyon Publishers PracticianWorks
- Blueberry Harbor Software Clinical Record Keeper
- Bluewater Management Systems BMCASE
- BRB Software HorizonMIS
- Clinivate Clinitrak
- Comprehensive Affect Testing System CATS
- Core Solutions Care Enterprise
- DocuTrac QuicDoc
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary in CAMedian $116,000 · Employment 12,840
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary in NYMedian $114,400 · Employment 8,420
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary in New York, NYMedian $120,510 · Employment 8,170
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary in ILMedian $83,750 · Employment 5,810
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $85,390 · Employment 5,030
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $99,250 · Employment 4,790
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary in TXMedian $83,660 · Employment 3,640
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary in PAMedian $91,870 · Employment 3,140
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary in FLMedian $85,610 · Employment 3,040
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary in MAMedian $115,180 · Employment 2,860
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary in NCMedian $92,130 · Employment 2,770
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary in NJMedian $127,090 · Employment 2,700
Related careers
- Family Medicine PhysiciansNational median $244,180
- Clinical Nurse SpecialistsNational median $97,550
- Social and Human Service AssistantsNational median $45,930
- Psychiatric AidesNational median $44,910
- Genetic CounselorsNational median $100,040
- Occupational TherapistsNational median $100,330
- Child, Family, and School Social WorkersNational median $59,550
- Recreational TherapistsNational median $61,960
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.