PSPsychologist
PS
Career

Psychologist

By the numbers
Typical pay
$100,580 / yr
Education to start
Doctoral or professional degree
Future demand
+11.2% by 2034
People in this job
76K
Figures shown for ·closest of 2 O*NET occupations
The work
A day, hour by hour
08:00
Chart prep

Review notes from last sessions before the first client arrives.

08:30
Therapy session

One-on-one session — listen, probe, guide through a stuck pattern.

09:30
Crisis call

Client sounds off; decide: manage in session or escalate now?

10:00
Assessment block

Administer standardized tests to measure memory, mood, and behavior.

11:30
Session notes

Write up three sessions — precise, confidential, legally defensible.

13:00
Consultation

Call with a client's doctor and teacher to align on a shared plan.

14:00
Afternoon sessions

Back-to-back therapy; track whether progress is real or stalling.

16:30
Report writing

Turn assessment data into a clear diagnostic report for the referrer.

17:30
CPD & reading

Skim a new study; log continuing-education hours toward licensure.

Things you do
  • Talk one-on-one with clients to understand their thoughts and feelings.
  • Diagnose mental health conditions using interviews and standardized tests.
  • Guide clients through evidence-based therapy to change harmful patterns.
  • Administer psychological tests to measure memory, mood, or behavior.
  • Write detailed reports explaining what assessments reveal about a client.
Decisions you’ll make
  • Is what this client is sharing a crisis I must act on, or something we work through together in therapy?
  • Do this person's symptoms fit a diagnosis, or am I forcing a label that doesn't quite fit?
  • Is my client making real progress, or am I missing something my approach isn't reaching?
  • Should I break confidentiality to protect this person, or would that destroy the trust we've built?
  • Is this my client's issue to work through, or is it starting to affect me in ways I need to address?
Education Pathways · how you get there
100 in 100 went the college route · 0 in 100 found another way in None, typically
Education mapped from O*NET:Clinical and Counseling Psychologists · 97% related
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