Psychologist

Explore This Path

Help individuals overcome mental challenges and improve their well-being.
Make a positive impact by guiding people toward personal growth and adjustment.
Use unique psychological tools to unlock insights and foster change.

💰 Earn $90K-$153K

📚 Doctoral or Professional Degree

⏱️ 48 MONTH TRAINING

📈 13.3% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll Do

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.

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.
Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.

Scoop

Minimum Education

Doctoral or Professional Degree

Career Prospects

Excellent (Increasing by 5% or more)

Training Time

Over 4 years

Job Openings

5,100 Annually

Median Earnings

$126,450 in California

$96,100 Nationally

$25K

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Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Being creative or artistic
Relating with or serving others
Thinking and problem solving

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Writing

You value 🙏

Accomplishing things
Having freedom
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Psychologist

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years