How long does the training take?

Typically eight years or more of study, then an internship or residency, often one to three years. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make?

The US median is $100,580 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree for this work?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train for this work?

1,643 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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Clinical and counseling psychologists: pay, training and the programs that lead there

Science · SOC 19-3033

$100,580US median pay, 2025

+11.7%Projected growth, 2025–35

4,100Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Doctoral or professional degree
Internship/residency
Work in: clinical and counseling psychologists

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Psychology, General	CIP 42.0101	1,563
Counseling Psychology	CIP 42.2803	277
Clinical Psychology	CIP 42.2801	201
Applied Behavior Analysis	CIP 42.2814	134
Developmental and Child Psychology	CIP 42.2703	58
Health/Medical Psychology	CIP 42.2810	25
Clinical Child Psychology	CIP 42.2807	10
Family Psychology	CIP 42.2811	6
Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy	CIP 51.1507	1
Geropsychology	CIP 42.2809	0

See the 1,643 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does the training take?: Typically eight years or more of study, then an internship or residency, often one to three years. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make?: The US median is $100,580 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree for this work?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train for this work?: 1,643 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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