Psychologists

Psychologists’ work environments vary by specialty. Clinical and counseling psychologists often have private practices with flexible hours, while others work in health care settings with possible evening or weekend shifts. School psychologists may work in schools with regular hours or in private practice. Government and industry psychologists follow structured schedules. University faculty divide time between teaching, research, and administration, often working long hours, and some may also consult or exclusively teach.

Psychologist salaries vary greatly depending on setting and on specialty. Self employed physicians typically earn higher median incomes than salaried ones but must cover their own practice insurance, health insurance, and retirement.

Annual mean salary: $156,917

Entry-level salary:  $48,685

Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists are expected to grow statewide by 19% between 2022 and 2032, with over 1,200 average annual openings.

Psychologists can obtain a master’s or doctorate degree, though only a doctoral degree is acceptable for licensure. Doctorate programs are highly competitive and typically require five years of study and a dissertation or practical work and exams instead of a dissertation based on psychology specialty.

To be licensed in New York State, psychologists have a doctoral degree from an accredited or equivalent educational institution, that includes one year of a supervised practicum, internship, field experience, or applied research. Additionally, the candidate must have had 2 years of full time supervised experience, of which one year can be during the doctoral program. Finally, the candidate must have passed the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.

Financial support can come from various federal, state, and private sources. Contact your college or university to learn about the financial aid options they offer, as well as other potential sources of funding that may be available.