Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
Diagnose and treat mental disorders; learning disabilities; and cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems, using individual, child, family, and group therapies.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists diagnose and treat mental disorders; learning disabilities; and cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems, using individual, child, family, and group therapies. The role reports a median annual salary of $95,830 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $50,920 and $146,340 and is projected to grow 11% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a Doctoral or professional degree, and shows low AI exposure (0.38 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £47,971 a year for Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2224). ONS rates this estimate acceptable: it rests on a small sample, so treat it as a rough guide. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
The usual route into this career in India. Each step links to the official page it comes from.
- 1 · Qualification An RCI-recognised clinical psychology qualification: M.Phil (Clinical Psychology) or Master in Clinical Psychology (2 years)[1]
- 2 · Registration Registration on the RCI Central Rehabilitation Register[2][3]
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- Rehabilitation Council of India — Training programmes (regular mode) (read on 2026-09-27)
- Rehabilitation Council of India — Categories under Section 19 (Central Rehabilitation Register) (read on 2026-09-27)
- Rehabilitation Council of India — home (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- Medicine and Dentistry
A day in the life
Your day begins by reviewing session notes from yesterday and preparing for back-to-back therapy appointments. Throughout the morning you meet with individual clients—using cognitive-behavioral techniques with one, EMDR with a trauma survivor, and play therapy with a seven-year-old who is struggling after a divorce. After a working lunch where you score a neuropsychological assessment, the afternoon includes a couples session, a consultation call with a psychiatrist about medication adjustments, and documentation of clinical notes. The emotional labor is significant, but watching a client break through a pattern that has held them back for years is profoundly gratifying.
Illustrative: one typical day. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Clinical and Counseling Psychologists do?
Diagnose and treat mental disorders; learning disabilities; and cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems, using individual, child, family, and group therapies.
What does a typical day look like in Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?
Your day begins by reviewing session notes from yesterday and preparing for back-to-back therapy appointments. Throughout the morning you meet with individual clients—using cognitive-behavioral techniques with one, EMDR with a trauma survivor, and play therapy with a seven-year-old who is struggling after a divorce.
How much does Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn?
The median annual salary for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in the US is $95,830. The middle 80% of workers earn between $50,920 and $146,340 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $72,510 and $120,380.
What is the job outlook for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?
The role is projected to grow 11% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 76,300 workers.
How do I become clinical and counseling psychologists?
The typical entry education is a Doctoral or professional degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Clinical and Counseling Psychologists need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?
Our AI-durability model gives Clinical and Counseling Psychologists a score of 0.38 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists has very high barrier to entry — very highly gated — extended graduate education, licensure, or years of specialised training are required.