Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
Also called: Applied Behavior Science Specialist (ABSS), Assessment Coordinator, Behavior Analyst, Behavior Specialist, Behavior Therapist, Behavioral Analyst, Behavioral Health Specialist, Behavioral Psychologist
Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests.
What clinical and counseling psychologists do
Typical tasks
- Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
- Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
- Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
- Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
- Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
- Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.
- Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, modifying plans or diagnoses as necessary.
- Use a variety of treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress reduction therapy, psychodrama, or play therapy.
- Develop therapeutic and treatment plans based on clients' interests, abilities, or needs.
- Develop and implement individual treatment plans, specifying type, frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy.
- Maintain current knowledge of relevant research.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary
The median annual wage for clinical and counseling psychologists is $100,580 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $55,170 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $180,960. The mean annual wage is $112,750.
The mean hourly wage of $54.00 is 7.4× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $100,580 → in 3 years $109,600 → in 5 years $116,100 → in 10 years $133,900 (10-year range $115,200–$155,500). The model assumes pay growth of +2.9% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Clinical and Counseling Psychologists? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists United States | 法務技官（心理）（矯正心理専門職） Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $100,580 | ¥5.83M ≈ $37,094 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $133,900 | ¥7.64M |
| Outlook score | 61 | 57 |
| AI replacement risk | 66% High | 42% Moderate |
| Workers | 76K | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 5 — extensive preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become clinical and counseling psychologists
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as clinical and counseling psychologists
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.