Becoming a Counseling Psychologist via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Ashford University, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering psychology courses to train individuals to become top-notch psychologists, therapists, forensic psychologists, organizational psychologists, clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, developmental psychologists, educational psychologists, health psychologists, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 30,900 people employed as counselors alone in America, and their average annual salary is $44,400. Human resources managers make on average $105,510 per year and there are about 62,990 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Ashford University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Counseling Psychologist
  • Private clinic
  • Hospital
  • Nursing home
  • Student counseling department
  • Educational institution
  • College
  • Education facility
  • Training center
  • Medical school
  • Psychology practice
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Counseling Psychologist
  • Comfortable indoor work environment
  • Improve peoples lives
  • Good salary
  • Develop therapeutic and treatment plans based on clients' interests, abilities, and needs
  • Meet interesting people
  • Work in a calm environment
  • Set own hours
  • Build and maintain relationships
  • Expand knowledge of the human nature
  • Provide consulting services to schools, social service agencies, and businesses
Potential Drawbacks
  • Work long hours
  • Advanced education required
  • Document and record information
  • Frequent travel
  • Work directly for public
  • Communicate with large number of people
  • Learn from experience
  • Conduct face-to-face discussions
  • High stress tolerance needed
  • Judgment and decision making
Related Professions to Consider
  • Clinical Psychologist
  • Staff Clinician
  • Recreational Therapist
  • Social Worker
  • Child Psychologist
  • Career Counselor
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Probation Officer
  • Physical Therapist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Counseling Psychologist
  • How do you see the word "leader" fitting in to your role as a counselor?
  • How do you handle conflict in the workplace?
  • What do you see as the main role of a school counselor?
  • What is the counseling theory or approach that you most closely follow?
  • What is the most creative and innovative counseling technique you have used?
  • What innovative and new ideas would you like to employ?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • How would you fit in with a large staff?
  • What is your strongest asset?
  • What do you think is the most important characteristic of a counselor?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Educator
  • Staff Psychologist
  • Teaching Specialist
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Clinical Pathologist
  • Social Worker
  • Assistant Professor
  • Behavioral Specialist
  • Child Psychologist
  • Drug Rehabilitation Counselor
Counseling Psychologist Training books Counseling Psychologist (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Doctor of Marriage & Family Therapy
  • Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology
  • BS in Psychology
  • Marriage & Family Therapy
  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Community Counseling
  • Addiction Counseling
  • Juvenile Addiction Counseling
  • Drug and Alcohol Counseling

Counseling Psychologist Salary Information

Category: Human resources managers, all other

Total # Employed in the US 62,990
Average Hourly Wage: $50.73/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$28.12 $35.81 $46.42 $61.19 $78.98
Average Yearly Salary $105,510
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$58,490 $74,480 $96,550 $127,270 $164,270
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.3% 12.5% 21.7% 7.4% 36.3% 17.8% 2.0%
Human resources managers, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
District of Columbia $66.34/hr $137,990
North Dakota $62/hr $128,960
Florida $60.83/hr $126,530
Colorado $58.87/hr $122,450
Missouri $58.49/hr $121,660
Wyoming $54.34/hr $113,030
Virginia $54.02/hr $112,360
Nebraska $53.58/hr $111,440
Mississippi $53.54/hr $111,370
Connecticut $52.46/hr $109,120
Oklahoma $51.71/hr $107,550
Kansas $51.67/hr $107,480
Oregon $51.6/hr $107,320
Delaware $51.38/hr $106,880
Utah $51.29/hr $106,680
Tennessee $50.1/hr $104,210
South Carolina $50.03/hr $104,050
Montana $50.03/hr $104,060
Puerto Rico $49.9/hr $103,790
North Carolina $49.35/hr $102,640
New Hampshire $48.63/hr $101,150
Idaho $48.62/hr $101,130
Louisiana $46.08/hr $95,840
Hawaii $45.07/hr $93,740
Alaska $44.65/hr $92,860
New York $43.89/hr $91,300
Nevada $43.74/hr $90,980
Washington $43.22/hr $89,890
Alabama $43.14/hr $89,740
Maine $43.02/hr $89,480
Guam $42.08/hr $87,520
New Mexico $41.81/hr $86,970
Maryland $40.68/hr $84,620
Arkansas $40.56/hr $84,360
Wisconsin $40.09/hr $83,380
California $40/hr $83,200
Indiana $39.42/hr $82,000
Kentucky $39.19/hr $81,510
Iowa $39.07/hr $81,260
West Virginia $38.69/hr $80,480
Michigan $38.67/hr $80,440
Pennsylvania $36.82/hr $76,580
Ohio $35.46/hr $73,760
New Jersey $34.66/hr $72,080
Massachusetts $34/hr $70,710
South Dakota $29.29/hr $60,930


Category: Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other

Total # Employed in the US 219,240
Average Hourly Wage: $28.4/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$13.16 $20.11 $27.14 $35.83 $45.42
Average Yearly Salary $59,070
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$27,360 $41,820 $56,440 $74,520 $94,470
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.6% 13.7% 22.9% 9.2% 37.7% 13.2% 1.8%
Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $44.69/hr $92,940
Mississippi $34.01/hr $70,730
Colorado $33.23/hr $69,130
North Dakota $32.81/hr $68,240
Connecticut $32.62/hr $67,850
Delaware $32.13/hr $66,830
Missouri $31.49/hr $65,500
Idaho $30.39/hr $63,220
Nevada $29.94/hr $62,280
Nebraska $29.94/hr $62,280
Ohio $29.74/hr $61,850
Alaska $29.65/hr $61,680
Oklahoma $29.5/hr $61,360
Tennessee $29.25/hr $60,850
District of Columbia $29.24/hr $60,820
Wyoming $29.16/hr $60,640
Wisconsin $28.6/hr $59,490
Indiana $28.51/hr $59,300
Maine $28.02/hr $58,280
Oregon $27.5/hr $57,200
Puerto Rico $27.49/hr $57,180
Arkansas $27.41/hr $57,000
Hawaii $27.02/hr $56,200
New York $26.95/hr $56,060
New Hampshire $26.91/hr $55,980
Pennsylvania $26.81/hr $55,770
Washington $26.53/hr $55,180
Guam $26.47/hr $55,070
Iowa $26.12/hr $54,320
Utah $25.91/hr $53,880
New Jersey $25.67/hr $53,390
Alabama $25.61/hr $53,270
North Carolina $25.56/hr $53,170
Kansas $25.33/hr $52,690
Montana $24.75/hr $51,480
California $24.44/hr $50,830
Massachusetts $24.28/hr $50,500
Michigan $24.27/hr $50,480
South Dakota $24.17/hr $50,280
New Mexico $23.78/hr $49,450
Louisiana $23.63/hr $49,150
Kentucky $22.93/hr $47,700
Virginia $22.84/hr $47,510
Maryland $22.78/hr $47,380
South Carolina $22.3/hr $46,380


Category: Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists

Total # Employed in the US 98,330
Average Hourly Wage: $34.77/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$18.88 $24.14 $31.75 $41.0 $52.63
Average Yearly Salary $72,310
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$39,270 $50,210 $66,040 $85,270 $109,470
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.2% 0.2% 0.4% 0.3% 4.2% 43.2% 51.5%
Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
North Dakota $44.41/hr $92,380
Connecticut $43.33/hr $90,130
Colorado $40.68/hr $84,600
South Carolina $38.69/hr $80,470
Virginia $38.28/hr $79,630
Oklahoma $38.21/hr $79,480
District of Columbia $37.13/hr $77,230
Montana $37.05/hr $77,060
Alabama $36.78/hr $76,500
Alaska $36.77/hr $76,480
Delaware $35.94/hr $74,750
Massachusetts $35.61/hr $74,070
Missouri $35.54/hr $73,930
Kansas $35.26/hr $73,340
Michigan $34.63/hr $72,030
Mississippi $34.28/hr $71,310
New York $34.26/hr $71,260
West Virginia $34.21/hr $71,160
Indiana $33.95/hr $70,630
California $33.64/hr $69,980
Puerto Rico $33.05/hr $68,750
Idaho $32.34/hr $67,270
Florida $32.33/hr $67,240
Hawaii $32.24/hr $67,050
Utah $32.23/hr $67,030
Wisconsin $31.26/hr $65,020
Oregon $31.23/hr $64,950
North Carolina $31/hr $64,480
Nebraska $31/hr $64,480
Tennessee $30.96/hr $64,390
Guam $30.4/hr $63,220
Iowa $30.33/hr $63,090
Kentucky $30.21/hr $62,830
Washington $30.11/hr $62,620
Louisiana $29.95/hr $62,300
Ohio $29.75/hr $61,880
Arkansas $29.72/hr $61,820
New Hampshire $28.87/hr $60,050
Wyoming $28.65/hr $59,590
Maine $27.95/hr $58,150
New Mexico $26.86/hr $55,870
Maryland $26.43/hr $54,970
Pennsylvania $26.16/hr $54,420
South Dakota $26.08/hr $54,250
New Jersey $22.84/hr $47,500
Nevada $21.64/hr $45,000


Category: Child, family, and school social workers

Total # Employed in the US 277,670
Average Hourly Wage: $20.93/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$12.52 $15.36 $19.21 $25.2 $32.38
Average Yearly Salary $43,540
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$26,050 $31,950 $39,960 $52,410 $67,360
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.2% 6.2% 10.4% 6.0% 42.3% 32.2% 1.6%
Child, family, and school social workers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Delaware $29.66/hr $61,690
Nebraska $26.36/hr $54,820
Virginia $26.04/hr $54,170
North Dakota $25.77/hr $53,610
Kansas $25.59/hr $53,230
Florida $24.66/hr $51,290
Oklahoma $24.44/hr $50,830
New York $24.23/hr $50,400
Colorado $24.2/hr $50,340
Mississippi $23.85/hr $49,600
Montana $23.81/hr $49,520
Indiana $23.68/hr $49,250
Missouri $22.21/hr $46,200
Alaska $21.4/hr $44,500
Connecticut $21.33/hr $44,370
Massachusetts $20.99/hr $43,660
Oregon $20.71/hr $43,090
Maine $19.89/hr $41,370
Alabama $19.6/hr $40,760
Hawaii $19.47/hr $40,500
Michigan $19.33/hr $40,200
Puerto Rico $19.16/hr $39,860
Guam $19.15/hr $39,840
Pennsylvania $18.98/hr $39,480
Louisiana $18.92/hr $39,360
Tennessee $18.91/hr $39,330
North Carolina $18.79/hr $39,090
South Carolina $18.39/hr $38,240
Maryland $18.01/hr $37,450
Wyoming $17.9/hr $37,230
Idaho $17.75/hr $36,910
Utah $17.69/hr $36,790
Arkansas $17.58/hr $36,560
West Virginia $17.25/hr $35,870
Ohio $17.2/hr $35,780
Iowa $17.13/hr $35,630
California $17.13/hr $35,620
New Mexico $17.07/hr $35,510
New Jersey $17.01/hr $35,390
Kentucky $16.82/hr $34,990
Wisconsin $16.6/hr $34,530
New Hampshire $16.31/hr $33,910
South Dakota $15.91/hr $33,090
Washington $15.69/hr $32,630
Nevada $15.34/hr $31,910


Category: Medical and public health social workers

Total # Employed in the US 133,510
Average Hourly Wage: $23.24/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$13.75 $17.35 $22.26 $28.12 $34.22
Average Yearly Salary $48,340
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$28,600 $36,090 $46,300 $58,490 $71,190
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.2% 6.2% 10.4% 6.0% 42.3% 32.2% 1.6%
Medical and public health social workers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $31.86/hr $66,270
New York $30.64/hr $63,720
Delaware $29.47/hr $61,290
Mississippi $28.17/hr $58,590
Colorado $27.83/hr $57,890
Indiana $27.78/hr $57,780
Virginia $27.03/hr $56,230
North Dakota $26.15/hr $54,390
Tennessee $26.14/hr $54,360
Alaska $25.85/hr $53,780
Oklahoma $25.59/hr $53,230
North Carolina $24.7/hr $51,370
Nebraska $24.66/hr $51,290
Kansas $24.12/hr $50,170
Missouri $24.12/hr $50,160
Puerto Rico $23.98/hr $49,880
Montana $23.62/hr $49,120
Guam $23.55/hr $48,990
District of Columbia $23.42/hr $48,720
Wisconsin $23.15/hr $48,150
Wyoming $22.85/hr $47,520
Idaho $22.09/hr $45,940
Iowa $22.08/hr $45,920
Kentucky $21.98/hr $45,710
South Carolina $21.88/hr $45,520
Connecticut $21.87/hr $45,500
Hawaii $21.69/hr $45,120
Michigan $21.42/hr $44,540
Massachusetts $21.38/hr $44,470
California $21.36/hr $44,420
Washington $21.04/hr $43,760
Oregon $20.91/hr $43,500
Louisiana $20.65/hr $42,960
Utah $20.61/hr $42,870
Arkansas $20.24/hr $42,100
New Jersey $20.17/hr $41,940
Maine $20.15/hr $41,900
Alabama $20.03/hr $41,670
Maryland $19.82/hr $41,220
New Hampshire $19.8/hr $41,190
New Mexico $19.14/hr $39,810
Ohio $18.6/hr $38,690
West Virginia $18.45/hr $38,370
South Dakota $18.38/hr $38,240
Pennsylvania $17.96/hr $37,350
Nevada $17.21/hr $35,800


Category: Mental health and substance abuse social workers

Total # Employed in the US 127,140
Average Hourly Wage: $19.88/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$11.99 $14.66 $18.37 $23.96 $30.17
Average Yearly Salary $41,350
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$24,940 $30,480 $38,200 $49,840 $62,760
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.2% 6.2% 10.4% 6.0% 42.3% 32.2% 1.6%
Mental health and substance abuse social workers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
North Dakota $28.36/hr $59,000
Virginia $25.05/hr $52,100
Mississippi $24.4/hr $50,750
Indiana $24.37/hr $50,680
Delaware $24.31/hr $50,560
Alaska $23.7/hr $49,300
Oklahoma $23.52/hr $48,910
Nebraska $23.4/hr $48,680
Florida $23.05/hr $47,950
New York $22.97/hr $47,770
Colorado $22.28/hr $46,340
Missouri $21.01/hr $43,700
District of Columbia $20.37/hr $42,370
Montana $19.86/hr $41,300
Oregon $19.85/hr $41,290
Guam $19.72/hr $41,020
California $19.68/hr $40,940
Massachusetts $19.5/hr $40,570
Kansas $19.47/hr $40,500
North Carolina $19.38/hr $40,310
Idaho $19.22/hr $39,990
Michigan $18.77/hr $39,040
Arkansas $18.63/hr $38,750
Utah $18.51/hr $38,500
Maine $18.16/hr $37,780
New Mexico $18.13/hr $37,700
Louisiana $17.94/hr $37,310
Tennessee $17.9/hr $37,230
South Carolina $17.85/hr $37,130
Maryland $17.84/hr $37,110
South Dakota $17.84/hr $37,100
Ohio $17.65/hr $36,710
Pennsylvania $17.55/hr $36,500
New Jersey $17.3/hr $35,990
Hawaii $17.15/hr $35,660
Kentucky $17.02/hr $35,400
Iowa $16.91/hr $35,180
Wyoming $16.64/hr $34,610
West Virginia $16.59/hr $34,510
New Hampshire $16.47/hr $34,260
Wisconsin $16.37/hr $34,050
Nevada $16.35/hr $34,010
Connecticut $15.84/hr $32,960
Alabama $15.68/hr $32,610
Washington $13.86/hr $28,830


Psychology Programs by State & City