# Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-and-counseling-psychologists
- SOC code: 19-3033.00
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $100,580 (10th percentile $55,170, 90th percentile $180,960)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +11.7%
- Openings a year: 4,100
- Typical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code SIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 1 |
| Investigative (I) | 76 |
| Artistic (A) | 34 |
| Social (S) | 93 |
| Enterprising (E) | 27 |
| Conventional (C) | 42 |

## What you'd do

- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 92/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 91/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 90/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 85/100)
- Getting Information (importance 84/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 83/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 76/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 76/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 75/100)
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others (importance 74/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Writing, Speaking, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Psychology, Therapy and Counseling, English Language, Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service, Sociology and Anthropology, Law and Government, Administration and Management, Administrative, Medicine and Dentistry

## Also called

Applied Behavior Science Specialist (ABSS), Assessment Coordinator, Behavior Analyst, Behavior Specialist, Behavior Therapist, Behavioral Analyst, Behavioral Health Specialist, Behavioral Psychologist, Behavioral Specialist, Behavioral Therapist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Psychology, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4201) (CIP 4201, 1,605 colleges)
- [Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5115) (CIP 5115, 969 colleges)
- [Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4228) (CIP 4228, 729 colleges)
- [Research and Experimental Psychology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4227) (CIP 4227, 327 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Research and Experimental Psychology | $57,478 | $99,344 | $9,888 |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | Psychology, General | $47,774 | $99,007 | $12,500 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Research and Experimental Psychology | $57,188 | $86,946 | $31,181 |
| [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus-ga-tech-1072) | Research and Experimental Psychology | not reported | $83,012 | $14,500 |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Psychology, General | $54,429 | $82,433 | not reported |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-daytona-beach-908) | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $48,898 | $82,023 | $24,529 |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-prescott-909) | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $48,898 | $82,023 | $24,529 |
| [University of Connecticut UCONN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-connecticut-uconn-2902) | Research and Experimental Psychology | $39,952 | $80,873 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mental-health-and-substance-abuse-social-workers): $60,280 median pay
- [Marriage and Family Therapists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/marriage-and-family-therapists): $66,940 median pay
- [Mental Health Counselors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mental-health-counselors): $59,350 median pay
- [Psychiatrists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/psychiatrists): $281,870 median pay
- [Healthcare Social Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/healthcare-social-workers): $67,880 median pay
- [School Psychologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/school-psychologists): $95,990 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.