Who is a psychologist? Well, it’s someone who studies human behavior. And from the knowledge they gain, they use it to treat patients with a variety of issues. These patients mostly suffer from life-changing experiences like death, divorce, and physical and mental illnesses. It’s a profession that combines psychological science and clinical methods to help patients. As a result, it’s one of the best paying careers, with clinical psychologist salary averaging above $100,000 yearly.
Clinical Psychologist Salary in the U.S., U.K., and Canada
Once you have your psychology degree, definitely the next thing is to seek employment. You will most likely get plenty of job offers, but you will notice the salary options are vast, like an open field. Like in every other occupation, salary variance is based on several factors.
That said, read on to learn what a psychologist working in the U.S., U.K., and Canada earns. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, a clinical psychologist’s salary is $70,580 per year. Mind you; this is the median national salary. Otherwise, the actual compensation may vary because of several factors. These factors range from specialty, field, location, and years of experience.
In the U.K., trainee clinical psychologists have a starting salary of £30,401, in band 6 of the NHS. After qualification, they receive £37,570 within the NHS Band 7. Whereas the more experienced psychologists; earn from £44,606 to £60,983 (band 8a and 8b). The consultant-level clinical psychologist salary ranges from £61,777 to £86,687 (Bands 8c and 8d). And the senior-most Head of psychology services receives compensation of between £89,537 and £103,860 (Band 9).
The NHS pays them an additional supplement of high-cost areas based on location. Those in London receive 20% of basic salary, inner London gets 15%, while those in fringe areas take home 5%.
Canadian records show the lowest hourly average wage earned in provinces like New Brunswick to be $34.02 per hour. On the same note, Edmonton, Alberta, has the highest hourly average salary of about $48.36 per hour. However, the full-time clinical psychologist salary ranges from $70,000 to $110,000.
How Many years does it take to be a Clinical Psychologist?
Are you considering a career in this field? Then, you are likely asking how long will it take before you become licensed. Honestly, it will be unfair to put in specific years. For instance, the time people take to complete a college education varies. Things like the area of specialty, career interest, and personal issues play a significant role.
If psychology is what you want to pursue, know the following requirements. First, earn a degree in psychology or other related disciplines like sociology, education, anthropology, or social work. You can then further your education and earn a doctorate in either clinical psychology or its equivalent. And later, you do masters where you could choose a career option like marriage and family therapist.
Psychology is a diverse field with multiple career options to follow. This means a licensed psychologist will not solely treat patients with mental problems. Again, licensing requirements vary from location and specialty.
To fully become a clinical psychologist, it will take about eight to twelve years in higher education. The following is a breakdown of the years:
- Undergraduate degree four to five years of college
- Postgraduate degree or doctorate four to seven of graduate school
- Master’s degree two to three years of graduate school
Are Clinical Psychologists in Demand?
Like the above-mentioned, psychology is vast as an open field. Meaning, their job description goes beyond studying brain functions and human behavior effects. Other duties they can perform are diagnosing, treating, research, consulting, and teaching. Also, psychologists conduct specific tests like intelligence and personality testing. Although Most work in health care facilities, still, there are other in-demand psychology jobs.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, they expect overall employment to grow at a rate of three percent in the next decade. This projection rate is average compared to other occupations.
Besides, the Demand for clinical and counseling psychologists will continue to rise. This is due to the fact, more and more people are turning to psychologists for help. Issues like depression and mental disorders, marriage, and family problems, addiction, among others, are factors pushing for more psychologists. Not forgetting, the aging population needs help to deal with mental and physical change.
In summary, there is a bright future for those aspiring to join this noble profession.
Where are Psychologists most in Demand?
Psychology being a versatile field, you expect some areas to grow faster than others. And indeed, some fields are doing it at an unprecedented rate, and jobs are readily available. Notwithstanding, competition is still intense for good jobs, and the number of fresh graduates seeking employment is on the rise as well.
To increase your chances of securing employment, it would be good if you pursue the following fields. That is clinical and counseling psychology, health care psychology, and school psychology. Also, having a doctoral degree gives you a plus. It’s reported that 72 percent of psychologists with doctorates get their chosen job. Likewise, at least 73 percent of doctorate holders secure employment within three months of graduating. This is according to research conducted by The American Psychological Association’s Center of Workforce Studies.
To Wrap Up
The field of psychology is not a kid’s playground. Those wishing to follow this path should be ready to invest some substantial amount of time. But in the end, it’s a rewarding career. Before committing, it’s good to ask yourself, is psychology the right choice? Too, consider your purpose, goals, available resources, and potential alternatives.
Take your time and do diligent deliberations. You may be surprised to find psychology seems like the right choice but doesn’t meet your career goals. And yet, an alternative path may suit you and your aspiration better. For example, you can opt to become a psychiatrist, counselor, or physical therapist. They are all centered around helping people.
On top of it all, don’t allow money to be a motivating factor when choosing. But all the same, clinical psychologist salary is enough compensation for the extra miles they go to serve people. You can explore another medical profession of family medicine doctor Salary information. You might be interested to know another related profession of criminal psychologist salary.