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Getting a Ph.D. in Psychology

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell.

Verywell / Evan Polenghi

Ph.D. vs. Psy.D.

Job opportunities, earning a degree, specialty areas, alternatives.

Getting a Ph.D. in psychology can open up a whole new world of career opportunities. For many careers paths in psychology-related career paths, a doctoral degree is necessary to obtain work and certification. A Ph.D. is one option, but it is not the only educational path that's available to reach some of these goals.

A Ph.D., or doctor of philosophy, is one of the highest level degrees you can earn in the field of psychology . If you're considering pursuing a graduate degree, you might be wondering how long it takes to earn a Ph.D. in psychology . Generally, a bachelor's degree takes four years of study. While a master's degree requires an additional two to three years of study beyond the bachelor's, a doctoral degree can take between four to six years of additional graduate study after earning your bachelor's degree.

Recently, a new degree option known as the Psy.D. , or doctor of psychology, has grown in popularity as an alternative to the Ph.D. The type of degree you decide to pursue depends on a variety of factors, including your own interests and your career aspirations.

Before deciding which is right for you, research your options and decide if graduate school in psychology is even the best choice for you. Depending on your career goals, you might need to earn a master's or doctoral degree in psychology in order to practice in your chosen field. In other instances, a degree in a similar subject such as counseling or social work may be more appropriate.

A doctorate in psychology is required if you want to open your own private practice.

If you want to become a licensed psychologist, you must earn either a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. in clinical or counseling psychology.

In most cases, you will also need a doctorate if you want to teach and conduct research at the college or university level. While there are some opportunities available for people with a master's degree in various specialty fields, such as industrial-organizational psychology and health psychology , those with a doctorate will generally find higher pay, greater job demand, and more opportunity for growth.

In order to earn a Ph.D. in psychology, you need to first begin by earning your bachelor's degree. While earning your undergraduate degree in psychology can be helpful, students with bachelor's degrees in other subjects can also apply their knowledge to psychology Ph.D. programs . Some students in doctorate programs may have a master's degree in psychology , but most doctorate programs do not require it.

After you’ve been admitted to a graduate program, it generally takes at least four years to earn a Ph.D. and another year to complete an internship. Once these requirements have been fulfilled, you can take state and national exams to become licensed to practice psychology in the state where you wish to work.

Once you enter the graduate level of psychology, you will need to choose an area of specialization, such as clinical psychology , counseling psychology, health psychology, or cognitive psychology . The American Psychological Association (APA) accredits graduate programs in three areas: clinical, counseling, and school psychology.   If you are interested in going into one of these specialty areas, it's important to choose a school that has received accreditation through the APA.

For many students, the choice may come down to a clinical psychology program versus a counseling psychology program. There are many similarities between these two Ph.D. options, but there are important distinctions that students should consider. Clinical programs may have more of a research focus while counseling programs tend to focus more on professional practice. The path you choose will depend largely on what you plan to do after you complete your degree.

Of course, the Ph.D. in psychology is not the only graduate degree option. The Psy.D. is a doctorate degree option that you might also want to consider. While there are many similarities between these two degrees, traditional Ph.D. programs tend to be more research-oriented while Psy.D. programs are often more practice-oriented.

The Ph.D. option may be your top choice if you want to mix professional practice with teaching and research, while the Psy.D. option may be preferred if you want to open your own private psychology practice.

In the book "An Insider's Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology," authors John C. Norcross and Michael A. Sayette suggest that one of the key differences between the two-degree options is that the Ph.D. programs train producers of research while Psy.D. programs train consumers of research. However, professional opportunities for practice are very similar with both degree types.

Research suggests that there are few discernible differences in terms of professional recognition, employment opportunities, or clinical skills between students trained in the Ph.D. or Psy.D. models. One of the few differences is that those with a Ph.D. degree are far more likely to be employed in academic settings and medical schools.

Social work, counseling, education, and the health sciences are other graduate options that you may want to consider if you decide that a doctorate degree is not the best fit for your interests and career goals.

A Word From Verywell

If you are considering a Ph.D. in psychology, spend some time carefully researching your options and thinking about your future goals. A doctoral degree is a major commitment of time, resources, and effort, so it is worth it to take time to consider the right option for your goals. The Ph.D. in psychology can be a great choice if you are interested in being a scientist-practitioner in the field and want to combine doing research with professional practice. It's also great training if you're interested in working at a university where you would teach classes and conduct research on psychological topics.

University of Pennsylvania; School of Arts and Sciences. Information for applicants .

American Psychological Association. Doctoral degrees in psychology: How are they different, or not so different?

U.S. Department of Labor.  Psychologists . Occupational Outlook Handbook .

Norcross JC, Sayette MA. An Insider's Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology (2020/2021 ed.) . New York, NY: The Guilford Press; 2020.

Davis SF, Giordano PJ, Licht CA. Your Career in Psychology: Putting Your Graduate Degree to Work . John Wiley & Sons; 2012. doi:10.1002/9781444315929

US Department of Education. Bachelor's, master's, and doctor's degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions, by sex of student and discipline division: 2016-17 .

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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Outlook for PhD in Psychology Salary

In the field of psychology, your education can definitely make a lot of difference when it comes to getting the job of your dreams. If you want a highly successful career in psychology , then you may need to be willing to put a great deal of work into your future, including building on your education with a Ph.D.

In psychology, most experts are expected to have a doctorate degree in psychology or a closely related field before they will be able to obtain a license that will allow them to move upwards and start practicing their profession. In addition, most teaching positions and research areas at government agencies or universities will also require a degree at a doctorate level.

What Is a Ph.D. in Psychology?

Although a master’s degree or even a bachelor’s degree in psychology may qualify you for an entry-level position within psychology, if you effectively want to compete with other psychologists for good jobs in your area, then you will need to consider obtaining your doctorate at some point. In simple terms, a doctor of philosophy or Ph.D. degree in psychology is one of the best and highest levels of degree that you can obtain in the area of psychology.

Simply put, a bachelor’s degree will take four years of study, while a master’s degree will take another two or three years of study beyond the initial four. Furthermore, a doctorate degree can take four to six years of additional study at a graduate level. In other words, you need to be willing to devote a large portion of your life to your education if you want to pursue your doctorate. It’s no surprise that many individuals considering getting a Ph.D. in psychology would want to know more about the salary and job outlook before they go about pursuing a Ph.D.

What Kind of Jobs Can You Get with a Ph.D. in Psychology?

A doctoral degree in psychology is essential for anyone who is considering opening a private practice. Additionally, in many scenarios, you will need to obtain this level of degree if you want to conduct research or teach at the university or college level. Although there may be some opportunities available for people who have already gotten their master’s degree in various fields of specialty, those who have a doctorate-level degree will often find that they have access to higher levels of pay, greater job opportunities and further solutions for growth within their industry.

Though there are many different jobs you can get with a Ph.D. in psychology, some of the most popular positions include:

• Clinical Psychologist : Clinical psychology is one of the most popular and most stable areas within the psychology industry. Most of the time, clinical psychologists are almost always in demand and can work a variety of capacities. These professionals treat and diagnose individuals that are suffering from mental illnesses, and can also work in direct settings for patient care. Almost all clinical psychologists have a Ph.D. in psychology, or they may also hold a PsyD degree .
• Counselor : Counselors can also work in direct settings for patient care, and often strive to help different people improve their quality of life through a range of different treatments. However, while clinical psychologists are responsible for treating disorders and mental illness, counselors are responsible for addressing negativity and emotional issues that might impact a person’s life on a personal level. Often, counselors will have a doctorate degree.
• Social Worker : A large number of psychology majors may end up working as social workers within the government, public, or non-profit sectors of the industry. These individuals are responsible for helping to care for people who suffer from emotional or mental illnesses. Although entry-level positions are available in social work, it’s important to remember that most people will require social workers to have a doctorate DSW degree if they want to earn the highest possible salary.

How to Get Your Ph.D. in Psychology

To earn a Ph.D. in psychology, you will need to begin by earning a bachelor’s degree. Although earning an undergraduate degree in psychology is preferred, students who have undergraduate degrees in other areas can also apply for a psychology Ph.D. program. Although some students may also obtain a master’s in psychology , various doctorate degrees will not require this level of education.

You will often have to learn for a period of at least four years to get your Ph.D., and then you will need to take part in an internship. Once you have fulfilled these requirements, you will be able to take exams at the national and local level to become licensed to practice.

For a graduate degree program in psychology, you will have to choose an area of specialization such as counseling psychology, clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, or health psychology. The American Psychological Association (APA) accredits graduate programs in areas of school psychology , clinical psychology , and counseling . If you’re interested in going into one of these specialty areas, it’s important to choose a school that has received some manner of accreditation through the APA.

For many students, the biggest concern is deciding whether to do a clinical psychology program or a counseling psychology program. There is a host of similarities between the two Ph.D. programs, but the biggest thing to remember is that clinical programs focus more on research, while counseling programs are often more focused on professional practice.

Outlook and Salary for Ph.D. in Psychology Grads

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has predicted in 2015 that the demand for psychologists will grow at a rate of 19% from 2014 to 2024. This growing demand is in part due to the psychological services in schools, hospitals, and mental health clinics. As time progresses, psychologists can expect to see an increased demand in employment within a range of areas.

The job outlook may change according to the specific area of psychology professional works in. Today, the opportunities are generally more plentiful for those with doctoral degrees in applied areas of specialty such as health psychology and counseling.

As people begin to grow more aware of the importance of psychology services and the need for these services in our society, the demand for professional psychological experts should be expected to grow even further. Such professionals may be needed to provide services to aging adults and treat mental and emotional stresses in a host of different areas. Additionally, the average salary for psychologists with a doctoral degree is approximate $76,040 per year.

• Career Options with a Doctorate Degree in Psychology. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.psychologycareercenter.org/graduate-degree-career-options.html
• Kendra Cherry. Master’s Degree in Psychology. (2016, Apr. 28) Retrieved from https://www.verywell.com/masters-degree-in-psychology-2795672
• Clinical Psychologist: Career Outlook and Job Opportunities. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://study.com/articles/Clinical_Psychologist_Career_Outlook_and_Job_Opportunities.html

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Salary Outlook Ph.D in Counseling Psychology

In most areas of study, a doctoral degree is the highest possible level of achievement in academics. For those studying counseling psychology, this could mean getting a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree, or it could mean earning a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).

While the degrees generally have different basic philosophies, very often, the end result is the same, and this generally is true for those pursuing a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. In comparison to other types of psychology degrees, counseling psychology is heavily focused on the practice of counseling others to help them cope with day-to-day struggles.

What are the degree options for counseling psychology students and what types of salaries can they expect to earn at the professional level?

Counseling Psychology Doctorate Options

The right degree option can make all the difference. That’s because, while doctoral programs in psychology can be quite similar between Ph.D. and Psy.D. tracks, the basic design of the coursework and academic focus are usually different in a few key ways.

Generally, people who pursue a Ph.D. in a field of psychology, including counseling psychology, do so because they want to engage in detailed study and academic research into the field. On the other hand, those who are considering a Psy.D. degree may be more inclined to careers in psychology where they practice counseling psychology one-on-one with patients or clients. 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.

SEE ALSO: 5+ Online PhD in Counseling Psychology Programs

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. degree tracks, though this is changing as the Psy.D. gains credibility in the industry.

Still, for students who want to have the broadest possible career options, a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology may help provide that.

Counseling Psychology PhD Career Tracks

With a Ph.D., a wide range of possible career paths become available, and for those studying counseling psychology, that’s definitely the case. While a career as a counseling psychologist , perhaps the most obvious related job title, is certainly possible, it’s far from the only possible occupation an individual could pursue after earning their Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology.

SEE ALSO: How to Become a Counseling Psychologist

Let’s take a look at just a few of the possibilities:

• Psychology Professor
• School Counselor
• Career Counselor
• Research Director
• Mental Health Counselor
• Marriage and Family Therapist
• Substance Abuse Counselor

Counseling psychology programs tend to focus more heavily on helping individuals who don’t have major psychiatric or behavioral health disorders, and so career tracks will lean more heavily in that direction when it comes to jobs with a clinical component.

Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology Salary Overview

Statistically speaking, the mere presence of a Ph.D. greatly boosts a person’s potential earnings. In fact, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, the average Ph.D. graduate makes about double their high school graduate counterparts.

SEE ALSO: Clinical vs. Counseling Psychology Degree Differences

To understand the income potential for Ph.D. graduates in the counseling psychology field, we calculated an average annual income rate for a total of five jobs for which national data is available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . Here’s a look at the counseling psychology jobs we studied:

• School and Career Counselor
• College Professor

California has the highest average annual salary across the five counseling psychology Ph.D. jobs we examined, followed closely by New Jersey. D.C., New York and Oregon round out the top five. The average annual income rate in West Virginia was by far the lowest.

Average annual counseling psychology Ph.D. salary by state

Counseling psychologists have the highest annual average salary rate across the five jobs, with an average amount of about $81,000. 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.

Average annual U.S. salary, selected counseling psychology Ph.D. jobs

The next several years are expected to bring a veritable boom in counseling psychology employment. 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. Four other states are expected to see counseling psychology jobs grow by more than one-quarter — New York, Georgia, Nevada and Colorado. Alaska’s 3.8% growth rate projection is the lowest.

Average projected growth in counseling psychology PhD job openings by state, 2018-2028

The five selected jobs should see average growth of just under 14% through 2028, with openings for Marriage and Family Therapists rising at the quickest rate (22.4%) and jobs for School and Career Counselors climbing at the slowest rate (8.4%).

Average U.S. projected growth in counseling psychology Ph.D. job openings, 2018-2028

As Americans increasingly accept the need to seek help coping with the stresses of their lives and relationships, it’s more and more likely that they’ll turn to professional counselors for help. For psychology students weighing their doctoral options, earning a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology can open doors, both professionally and personally.

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Highest paid jobs in psychology and how to get them

Psychology is one of the most popular degrees in the UK yet studies have found that it has one of the lowest returns in terms of annual earnings , similar to that of philosophy.

This is down to the fact that it takes years, and several post-graduate steps, to get registered in one of the protected professional areas such as clinical, counselling, forensic, occupational or health psychology.

In terms of general earnings, psychologists land somewhere between nurses and doctors.

In 2020 the Nuffield Trust found that on average, around one in eight ‘psychologist’ vacancies were at the higher Agenda for Change bandings, ie Band 8b and above. However, the study also described a large variation in the earnings and career progression of psychologists.

Here we outline five characteristics which the research showed were associated with higher earnings in psychology.

1. Take the jump into leadership

Traditionally those outside of clinical psychology have had limited opportunities to progress into senior leadership positions, but as the NHS continues to expand its psychological therapies workforce more of these roles are becoming available.

In some NHS Trusts now, it is not uncommon to find a Head of Psychological Services supported by heads of psychological specialties as well as consultant psychology leads in a range of specialties.

While these roles are at the highest AfC bandings, it often means less contact with patients or clients and more strategic work in areas such as workforce planning, budgeting and service delivery. Some roles may also require further qualifications such as health psychology.

2. Shift to the private sector

The Nuffield study found career progression for psychologists in the NHS appeared to stagnate at senior levels and a significant proportion were moving into the private sector at this stage.

This could mean working for private companies or becoming self-employed.

For some specialties, such as occupational psychology, most of the work will be in the private sector anyway – working for large companies in HR or change management.

The private sector is unpredictable when it comes to salaries and these will depend on the size of the company and the role. For example, a ‘performance psychologist’ role for a major investment bank or elite sports team might offer a generous bonus if outcomes can be linked to improved financial performance.

3. Find the sectors with shortages

Specialisms experiencing acute shortages and backlogs in the system, such as child and adolescent mental health, are seeing a knock-on impact on pay.

Educational psychologists (EPs), for example, can earn between £45,000 and £70,000 per annum working for a council (depending on experience), but in some parts of the country self-employed EPs are being paid between £500 - £1,000 per day to undertake assessments.

Within the NHS, many Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are offering applicants a 15% additional payment on top of the banding rate or a fast-track into more senior roles. Similarly, self-employed child counselling or specialist clinical psychologists can earn between £120 - £250 per hour.

However, it’s worth noting that areas with acute shortages means the work is likely to be highly pressured and stressful.

While becoming self-employed can mean higher pay rates and increased flexibility, the downsides include losing holiday and sick pay, funding your own continuing professional development (CPD) or training and increased administration around tax and accounting. It can also be a lonelier working existence without the support of a team around you.

4. Move to Scotland or London

The Nuffield Trust study found that more job postings for psychologists were at the higher pay grades (Band 8b and above) in Scotland in 2020 than in the other nations. This finding was consistent with a previous audit conducted in 2018.

Researchers also found there were more psychology jobs available in London, as a proportion of all staff, than the rest of the UK (about 50% more). This might be because of the large number of teaching and specialist hospitals in the capital.

5. Be a man

Okay, so this isn’t a career choice per se, but according to the Nuffield Trust study men are less likely than women to pursue a career in psychology, but those who do tend to get paid more than their female counterparts. Around one in six of the NHS psychological workforce are male, but 46% of them are in Band 8 or 9 roles compared with 41% of women.

Where possible salaries mentioned in this article have been updated in line with current jobs postings (March 2024).

Further reading

For more information on the different branches of psychology, training requirements and average salary levels read the Complete Guide to becoming a Psychologist .

The Nuffield Trust. The right track: Participation and progression in psychology career paths, 2021.

Department of Education research report. The relative labour market: returns to different degrees, June 2018.

Psychological Professions Workforce Plan for England 2023/24.

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. National specialist shortage having profound impact on children with SEND and their families. Press release, February 2024.

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