Attending school is expensive for everyone, and the costs can really add up when you attend for a master’s degree and then a doctorate. PhD in Counseling Psychology (APA-accredited) Pros: 1. Note, however, that these are averages, which means it isn’t likely you would hit these figures at the beginning of your career, but instead numbers you would hit after practicing for years or decades. All rights reserved. If you’re looking for student loans, here’s the basic progression of where to find them: As soon as you’ve been accepted to school, make sure you find out more about which loans you’re eligible for, and apply. Let’s turn our attention to that next. degree is required to become a counseling psychologist. However, there are a few general services counseling psychologists typically offer: Of course, the above are just samples of what counseling psychologists do. A counseling psychologist’s duties and daily undertakings will depend on their specific focus. This isn’t to say that counseling is a one-and-done process, however; some counselors will work with patients for months, years or life. Note that many counseling psychology jobs do require a PsyD, or Doctor of Psychology Degree, but you can find out more about this by asking institutions for whom you would like to work what they require. degree tracks, though this is changing as the Psy.D. How much does a Counseling Psychologist - Higher Ed. Average. At the end of the day, most people find working as a counseling psychologist rewarding and satisfying. Help Support our Healthcare Workers on the front lines against COVID-19 by Donating Personal Protective Equipment: Masters vs PhD in Counseling Psychology Salary, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Counseling Psychologist . $45k. After that, there are three basic routes to working as a counseling psychologist: The last route is best for people who earned a master’s before they decided they wanted to work as a counseling psychologist, and now must obtain extra schooling in order to get the job they want; ideally, though, you only have to earn one. or Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology could lead to a fascinating career in research, teaching, or clinical practice, including a salary of around $77,000. Considering all five jobs, the overall average is just under $80,000, while salary rates for Counselors, which includes any counselors not classified elsewhere, are the lowest at just over $48,000. Projected Job Growth: 22%. Median Annual Salary: $46,240. Working with patients is geared toward helping them improve their wellbeing, resolve issues and move on with a better life. Postsecondary Teacher. (APA.org) High Salary Growth in Ph.D. in School Counseling Professionals with a Ph.D. in School Counseling who want to earn the highest salary may consider working as a postsecondary instructor or teacher. Wages … tracks, the basic design of the coursework and academic focus are usually different in a few key ways. For those studying counseling psychology, this could mean getting a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) $120,000. Some students may be able to apply to master’s or doctoral programs without a bachelor’s degree in psychology, but will have to complete a wide range of prerequisites first. According to U.S. Department of Labor data, the five counseling jobs we studied will see their ranks expand by about 33% in Utah, the highest rate in the country. According to BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) in 2013, the national average for clinical, counseling and school psychologists’ salary was roughly $67,700. While full-time positions can be hard to come by, BLS reports the median salary for all postsecondary teachers was $78,000 in 2018, with the 10% earning $175,000 per year. SEE ALSO: Clinical vs. Counseling Psychology Degree Differences. APA states that 58% of those who were surveyed earned from $60k to $120k, while 22% earned more than $120K. Often, the choice comes down to which programs are available where the student lives, and Ph.D. programs, in general, are slightly more common than Psy.D. Statistically speaking, the mere presence of a Ph.D. greatly boosts a person’s potential earnings. © 2020, HealthGrad.com, All Rights Reserved. © Copyright 2020, PsyDPrograms.org. Therefore, those holding doctorates would make significantly more than those holding master’s degrees. We strive to provide information on this website that is accurate, complete and timely, but we make no guarantees about the information, the selection of schools, school accreditation status, the availability of or eligibility for financial aid, employment opportunities or education or salary outcomes. Of course, this is not a hard-and-fast rule, and it’s definitely true that qualified people with either type of degree can cross over and have successful careers with a variety of daily tasks. Hard numbers for counseling psychologists with doctorates versus master’s degrees are hard to get, notably because most counseling psychologists need doctorates to work, and therefore there aren’t that many people working as counseling psychologists who only possess master’s (which is not to say it can’t be done). For psychology students weighing their doctoral options, earning a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology can open doors, both professionally and personally.