Psychologists seek to explain and understand behavior, feelings, and emotions. They are responsible for diagnosing and treating mental health issues and disorders.
Read this guide to find out more about the salary trends, job outlook, and training requirements of Psychologists.
Career Statistics for Psychologists
The employment statistics listed in the table below have been taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. As per these figures, psychologists earned an annual median pay of $79,010 in 2018.
| 2018 Median Salary | $79,010 per year |
|---|---|
| Job Outlook, 2018-28 | 14% |
| Number of Jobs, 2018 | 181,700 |
| Employment Change, 2018-28 | 26,100 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Career Outlook and Prospects of Psychologists
The employment opportunities for psychologists are likely to grow by 14% from 2018 to 2028. However, the employment growth will vary by occupation.
Employment of school, counseling, and clinical psychologists is expected to increase because there is a greater demand for psychological services in mental health centers, hospitals, and schools.
There is an increased awareness of the connection between learning and mental health and the need for mental health services. This is why more schools are expected to hire school psychologists. These psychologists will also be hired to help students cope with behavioral issues, learning disabilities and special needs. However, job opportunities might be limited because the hiring in public universities and schools depends upon local and state budgets.
Moreover, an increasing number of people are turning to psychologists to deal with their mental health issues, thanks to an increased awareness of mental disorders. Therefore, the demand for counseling and clinical psychologists is also expected to increase.
Psychological services will also be required for the aging population, in order to help them cope with the physical and mental changes that result from aging. These services will also be needed by trauma survivors, war veterans, and patients of developmental disorders.
As far as the corporate sector is concerned, it will hire more industrial-organizational psychologists to select and retain the workforce, which will lead to higher morale, increased efficiency and productivity.
Job prospects will depend upon the level of education and specialty of these professionals. Individuals with postdoctoral work experience, a specialist degree, or a doctoral education will have the best opportunities.
State Data for Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists
The following bar chart depicts the salary statistics of the highest employment states for Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
The statistics show that California was the highest employed state for Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists in the U.S in 2018. Pennsylvania was the state with the fifth highest employment level for this occupation in the US.