What kind of psychologists make the most money

Using occupational data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we've analyzed and compiled a round-up of the average psychologist salary by state in the U. Read on for a full breakdown of where psychologists make the most money and where they're making the least.

However, psychologist salaries can vary dramatically from state to state, more so than the salaries of many other occupations. Below is a list of the top highest-paying states for psychologists. California has a very high median household income compared to the U. What is surprising is seeing a state like Louisiana among the top states for psychologist salaries because, with most other occupations, Louisiana tends to rank toward the bottom.

Some military psychologists conduct research, perform tests, or treat mental and emotional disorders. Research in this field is general designed with the motivation of finding out which personality traits are best for certain military positions. Research may also focus on military specific issues such as how to most effectively treat some common mental ailments in the military, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD.

It is the responsibility of certain Military Psychologists to conduct mental health evaluations before recruits are allowed to enlist in the service. These interviews help ensure that new recruits are mentally and emotionally stable enough to handle the stress of being in the military. Clinical and counseling military psychologists are responsible for assessing, diagnosing, and treating military personnel with mental or emotional disorders.

Some of the more common problems that plague military personnel may include post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD , depression, grief, anxiety, and sleep issues. Career Information: A professional psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health and emotional difficulties. Psychiatrists receive extensive medical and psychological training, which means that they have a thorough understanding of body functions and the complex relationship between mental health illness and other medical illness.

Psychiatrists are mental health professionals and physicians with the highest qualification to determine what the physical and psychological causes of both mental and physical distress. Psychiatrists use a wide variety of treatments, including different forms of psychotherapy, medications, and even hospitalization to meet the specific needs of each patient. The field of psychology has an extreme range of specialty and sub-specialty areas.

Some of these areas require as little as seven years of college education, others will require considerably more. In , The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that the general area of Psychology will see an increase of at least 12 percent between and This means that over the next ten years a number of positions will open up for newcomers to the field of professional psychology.

What is important to note is that some areas of Psychology will correspond with a much higher annual salary than other areas. While some factors like years of experience, region of the country and occupational setting affect the average annual salary, one of the biggest factors is which area of psychology you pursue.

With salaries steadily increasing and more psychology positions becoming available, the time to prepare for a career in the field of psychology is now. After earning a bachelor of arts in psychology from Rutgers University and then a master of science in clinical and forensic psychology from Drexel University, Kristen Fescoe began a career as a therapist at two prisons in Philadelphia.

At the same time she volunteered as a rape crisis counselor, also in Philadelphia. After a few years in the field she accepted a teaching position at a local college where she currently teaches online psychology courses. Kristen began writing in college and still enjoys her work as a writer, editor, professor, and mother.

Find Your Degree! AD online-psychology-degrees. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. Got it! Average years of Education and Training: 6 — 8 years Career Information: The fields of mental health counseling and marriage and family therapist are among the fields that many people think of when they hear psychology.

Recreational therapists are responsible for all or some of the following: Evaluate a clients needs through clinical observations, reviewing medical records, conducting psychological testing, and communicating with other healthcare professionals, family members and the individual.

Design and implement interventions to avoid injury to a patient. Engage clients in therapeutic activities, such as those listed above. Assist the client in learning appropriate social skills they will need to become or remain independent. Teach clients about the ways they can cope with anxiety or depression. Evaluate interventions for effectiveness. School counselors are responsible for all or some of the following: Help students understand and overcome social or behavioral problems that may be limiting their potential.

Provide individual and group counseling based on student unique needs. Work with students to develop academic and social skills, such as organization, time management, and effective study habits. Help students develop realistic academic and career goals and develop a plan to help achieve them.

Work closely with teachers, administrators, and parents to help students succeed. Deliver classroom guidance lessons on topics, such as bullying, drug abuse, and planning for college or careers after graduation. Identify and report possible cases of neglect or abuse. Refer students and parents to resources outside the school for additional support. As many careers involve a higher level of education, it is imperative to assess whether a client plans to pursue a more advanced degree.

It is also a counselors job to consider whether or not a client continuing his education is possible or advisable. In some cases, an individual might not have the ability, means or opportunity needed to pursue more education. Because different personality types often excel at different types of careers, this is a good consideration to make. Interests — Career counselors will also consider clients interests when advising them on the best career options.

Knowing what a client likes and dislikes can be a very helpful tool in choosing a career. Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS divides psychologists into three major groups: clinical, counseling and school psychologists; industrial-organizational psychologists; and all other psychologists. Different levels of education and licensing are required. They diagnose and treat mental illness and emotional disorders. They work with students and deal with education-related issues.

Career adviser present. Depending on the level of education, jobs in psychology or psychology major salary include ones focusing on research, engineering, therapy, medicine, criminal justice and more. Salary information was gathered from Indeed. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Developmental Psychologists study a range of topics related to human development and the process of change inherent in the human lifecycle.

Depending on their employer or training, they could be generalists, or they could focus on a specific aspect of developmental psychology , such as researching and analyzing memory loss related to aging. They will usually need a Psy. Geriatric Psychologists work independently or within senior living facilities to provide assessment and counseling services to elderly populations. Perhaps the most generalist role in all of psychology, Clinical Psychologists assess and treat emotional and behavioral disorders.

These psychologists study the way that individuals relate to their communities and places they live and how those places impact emotional and behavioral responses of the people who live in them. Spiritual Psychologists provide assessment and mental health treatment services that align with a faith tradition.

These Sports Psychologist professionals provide diagnostic and treatment services to athletes, often being brought in as independent consultants for professional sports figures who are experiencing mental blocks regarding their athletic performance. Child Psychologists assess, diagnose and treat behavioral and emotional disorders in children, adolescents and teens, and they sometimes will need to work with other mental health professionals to manage patient progress.

Counseling Psychologists may conduct one-on-one or group counseling sessions, and they most often will specialize in one or more areas, such as couples or substance-dependent individuals. These professionals may work within healthcare, educational or even government settings, and they are responsible for providing emergency counseling services to prevent suicide and self-harm, as well as helping individuals deal with violence. Marriage and Family Therapists work with partnered or married couples, families and other closely bonded groups to ensure the group functions as well as it can.

This could include addressing an acute mental health issue faced by one of the group members, but the group dynamic is the primary focus. These professionals help people cope with depression, anxiety or other emotional issues by developing hobbies or other recreational outlets. Substance Abuse Counselors provide treatment strategies and therapy services for individuals who are dealing with alcoholism, drug addiction or other chemical dependency problems.