Clinical Psychologist Salary

At times, we face stressful consequences, either personal or professional, which disturb our ability to cope up with normal life. This is when a psychology specialist comes to the rescue and resolve our difficult problems. A clinical psychologist is a trained professional who specializes in analyzing the human mind. The nature of work itself reveals the expected clinical psychologist salary range per year.

Clinical Psychologist Job Description

Before we discuss clinical psychologist salary, let's get to know what is this psychology job all about. In mental health, the scope of clinical psychology is very vast, with sub specialties like child mental health, learning disability, adult mental health, older people mental health, emotional stresses, and substance abuse. Even though clinical psychology is categorized under medical science, a professional does not prescribe medications or suggest surgery. This is the main difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. If required, the patients are referred to other doctors.

The main duty of a clinical psychologist is to hear to stressful situations of patients and give solutions (not medicine) to improve their mental state. Hence, part of the clinical psychologist job description is to evaluate and assess metal worries of clients correctly. Following this, any metal related problem experienced by the patient is diagnosed and treated accordingly. The psychologist also consults people regarding ways on how to prevent stressful situations or come out of them in a better way.

Clinical Psychologist Salary Range

The salary range of a clinical psychologist varies by location, years of experience, employee credentials, and hiring organization. Approximately one-quarter of the licensed clinical psychologists work in healthcare settings, while more than 30 percent are self-employed. Also, the specialization does matters in deciding the income. The school psychologist salary range is lower than that of a behavioral consultant. Refer to the points for understanding more about the clinical psychologist salary range.

Salary with Respect to Experience
Difference in the salary package of clinical psychologist is understandable as per experience of the job applicant. For example; a fresher psychologist who has just passed out earns about USD 51,309 annually and those having more than 12 years experience can expect an annual package of USD 82,800 per year. As per a salary survey data, employees having 20 years experience earn the highest slab, about USD 124,444 per year.

Salary with Respect to Work Hours
According to a recent survey, the per hour earning for a clinical psychologist is approximately USD 49.50. Nonetheless, the salary differs based on how experienced the candidate is in the relative field. For example, freshers who have just passed out will get about USD 20 on an hourly basis, and this may continue for the initial 1 - 2 years. With experience, the salary of a qualified psychologist may be increased to USD 80 per hour.

Salary with Respect to Hiring Organization
The average salary for those employed in health related organization is approximately USD 68,400 per year. Certain organizations pay a higher salary than others; the list includes Federal government, mental health clinics, private practices, hospitals, behavioral consultancies, and many more. Obviously, those working in non-profit organizations will be paid a lower salary, about USD 55,855 per year. Thus, a candidate should take a note of the organization, while applying for jobs.

Salary with Respect to State
Everyone of us have a fair idea that the salary scale of a particular profession varies according to the location. As far as clinical psychologist salary range by state is concerned, highest pay scale is reported in the states of California, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois. In these states, the psychologist average salary falls within the range USD 74,640 - 101,100 per year.

With this information on clinical psychologist salary, I hope you have understood the annual income that you can anticipate out of this profession. However, becoming a clinical psychologist is not so easy and an aspirant should earn a doctoral degree in the relative field. After gaining Psy.D. degree, he/she can choose teaching, researching, or counseling line. In order to provide patient care service, a candidate should also pass the state licensing exam. Overall, prospective candidates can demand a higher salary package with experience in clinical psychology counseling.