Becoming a 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 98,330 people employed as
clinical, counseling, and school psychologists alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$72,310.
Psychology teachers make on average $72,140
per year and there are about 33,450
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 Psychologist
- Hospitals
- Free Clinics
- Public Schools
- Counseling Center
- Business Field
- Management Field
- Human Resources
- Developing Program
- Law Firms
- Sports Facilities
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Psychologist
- Interact with interesting people
- Help people solve problems
- Work flexible hours
- Get to read a lot
- Analyze unique situations
- Positive social impact
- Above average salary
- Ability to own your own business
- work with children
- Work towards understanding human behavior
Potential Drawbacks
- Be professional at all times
- Understand the problems of your patients
- Face violence at times
- Be on call
- Disengage yourself from the problems of your patients
- Worry about violent outburst
- Hide your emotions from clients
- Forget your own problems just so you can treat your clients
- Maintain confidentiality
- Deal with emotional family members who thing no progress is being made
Related Professions to Consider
- Clinical Psychologist
- Senior Research Psychologist
- School Psychologist
- Psychologist
- Supervisory Psychologist
- Staff Psychologist
- Licensed Psychologist
- Forensic Psychologist
- Rehabilitation Psychologist
- Project Director
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Psychologist
- How did you decide on this career?
- What sort of courses did you take in school Did you find those courses difficult?
- What sort of aid did you need for this type of career in school As you started out?
- Is this job emotionally tough Physically?
- What type of situations do you run into as a psychologist?
- How did you start?
- What are some of the drawbacks when starting a career as a psychologist?
- Did you ever consider any other careers besides this If so other occupations did you consider?
- What did you what for your future when you were younger?
- How do you feel about the earnings in psychology?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Doctor
- Lawyer
- Teacher
- Family Physician
- Pediatrician
- Social Worker
- Clergy Members
- Hiring Manager
- Police Investigator
- Psychiatrist
Psychologist Training books
Psychologist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- General Psychology
- History of Psychology
- Statistics
- Experimental Psychology
- Physiological Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Psychologist Salary Information
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
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average 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: Psychology teachers, postsecondary
| Total # Employed in the US |
33,450 |
| Average Yearly Salary |
$72,140 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $36,050 |
$49,170 |
$65,760 |
$87,710 |
$117,480 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.2% |
0.7% |
2.7% |
2.3% |
15.3% |
34.6% |
44.2% |
|
Psychology teachers, postsecondary — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Alabama |
-
|
$66,650
|
| Arkansas |
-
|
$64,490
|
| California |
-
|
$53,800
|
| Colorado |
-
|
$85,510
|
| Connecticut |
-
|
$85,160
|
| Delaware |
-
|
$69,450
|
| District of Columbia |
-
|
$87,660
|
| Florida |
-
|
$72,650
|
| Hawaii |
-
|
$73,490
|
| Idaho |
-
|
$66,070
|
| Indiana |
-
|
$74,780
|
| Kansas |
-
|
$58,050
|
| Kentucky |
-
|
$66,270
|
| Louisiana |
-
|
$67,070
|
| Maine |
-
|
$63,880
|
| Maryland |
-
|
$67,360
|
| Massachusetts |
-
|
$54,750
|
| Michigan |
-
|
$69,860
|
| Mississippi |
-
|
$79,000
|
| Missouri |
-
|
$76,850
|
| Montana |
-
|
$81,120
|
| Nebraska |
-
|
$70,610
|
| Nevada |
-
|
$58,770
|
| New Hampshire |
-
|
$60,870
|
| New Jersey |
-
|
$43,110
|
| New Mexico |
-
|
$65,750
|
| North Carolina |
-
|
$68,860
|
| North Dakota |
-
|
$81,680
|
| Ohio |
-
|
$56,210
|
| Oklahoma |
-
|
$86,120
|
| Oregon |
-
|
$64,090
|
| Pennsylvania |
-
|
$64,700
|
| South Carolina |
-
|
$67,800
|
| Tennessee |
-
|
$81,600
|
| Utah |
-
|
$75,160
|
| Virginia |
-
|
$80,570
|
| Washington |
-
|
$60,300
|
| West Virginia |
-
|
$62,290
|
| Wisconsin |
-
|
$60,750
|
| Wyoming |
-
|
$69,890
|
| Guam |
-
|
$66,650
|
| Puerto Rico |
-
|
$61,980
|
Category: Psychiatrists
| Total # Employed in the US |
22,210 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$78.68/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $31.53 |
$53.14 |
$77.04 |
$0.0 |
$0.0 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$163,660 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $65,590 |
$110,530 |
$160,230 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.2% |
0.3% |
0.4% |
0.4% |
1.0% |
2.3% |
95.3% |
|
Psychiatrists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Tennessee |
$105.51/hr
|
$219,450
|
| Nebraska |
$100.57/hr
|
$209,190
|
| Alaska |
$98.14/hr
|
$204,140
|
| West Virginia |
$97.22/hr
|
$202,210
|
| Kentucky |
$96.07/hr
|
$199,820
|
| Louisiana |
$95.7/hr
|
$199,050
|
| North Dakota |
$95.07/hr
|
$197,740
|
| Delaware |
$92.19/hr
|
$191,750
|
| Maine |
$89.64/hr
|
$186,460
|
| Colorado |
$88.93/hr
|
$184,980
|
| Missouri |
$88/hr
|
$183,040
|
| South Carolina |
$87.38/hr
|
$181,750
|
| Arkansas |
$86.47/hr
|
$179,860
|
| Maryland |
$85.81/hr
|
$178,470
|
| Michigan |
$84.24/hr
|
$175,220
|
| Ohio |
$84.01/hr
|
$174,750
|
| Hawaii |
$81.72/hr
|
$169,980
|
| New York |
$81.57/hr
|
$169,660
|
| Montana |
$81.35/hr
|
$169,210
|
| Oregon |
$80.86/hr
|
$168,190
|
| Wisconsin |
$80.41/hr
|
$167,260
|
| Alabama |
$78.95/hr
|
$164,210
|
| New Mexico |
$78.79/hr
|
$163,880
|
| Virginia |
$78.21/hr
|
$162,670
|
| New Hampshire |
$78.06/hr
|
$162,360
|
| District of Columbia |
$77.72/hr
|
$161,660
|
| South Dakota |
$77.7/hr
|
$161,610
|
| Massachusetts |
$75.71/hr
|
$157,490
|
| New Jersey |
$75.04/hr
|
$156,080
|
| Oklahoma |
$74.97/hr
|
$155,930
|
| Pennsylvania |
$72.48/hr
|
$150,760
|
| Wyoming |
$72.48/hr
|
$150,750
|
| Indiana |
$71.94/hr
|
$149,640
|
| Connecticut |
$70.71/hr
|
$147,080
|
| Nevada |
$68.91/hr
|
$143,330
|
| California |
$67.75/hr
|
$140,920
|
| Guam |
$67.73/hr
|
$140,880
|
| Idaho |
$66.32/hr
|
$137,940
|
| Utah |
$64.42/hr
|
$133,980
|
| Mississippi |
$63.33/hr
|
$131,730
|
| Puerto Rico |
$58.15/hr
|
$120,960
|
| Florida |
$55.65/hr
|
$115,760
|
| Kansas |
$46.83/hr
|
$97,400
|
Category: Psychiatric aides
| Total # Employed in the US |
62,610 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$13.19/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $8.13 |
$9.63 |
$12.33 |
$15.77 |
$19.97 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$27,430 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16,910 |
$20,020 |
$25,650 |
$32,810 |
$41,540 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 16.0% |
40.6% |
28.3% |
7.2% |
5.8% |
1.3% |
0.9% |
|
Psychiatric aides — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$19.32/hr
|
$40,190
|
| Alaska |
$19.2/hr
|
$39,930
|
| Florida |
$18.24/hr
|
$37,940
|
| Montana |
$17.61/hr
|
$36,620
|
| Oklahoma |
$17.16/hr
|
$35,700
|
| Nebraska |
$17.14/hr
|
$35,660
|
| New York |
$16.76/hr
|
$34,870
|
| North Dakota |
$16.26/hr
|
$33,810
|
| South Carolina |
$15.83/hr
|
$32,930
|
| Indiana |
$15.24/hr
|
$31,700
|
| Delaware |
$15.1/hr
|
$31,410
|
| North Carolina |
$14.58/hr
|
$30,320
|
| Utah |
$14.54/hr
|
$30,250
|
| Louisiana |
$14.46/hr
|
$30,070
|
| Mississippi |
$14.18/hr
|
$29,490
|
| Oregon |
$14.18/hr
|
$29,490
|
| Michigan |
$13.99/hr
|
$29,100
|
| Ohio |
$13.89/hr
|
$28,890
|
| Kansas |
$13.69/hr
|
$28,470
|
| Tennessee |
$13.66/hr
|
$28,420
|
| District of Columbia |
$13.48/hr
|
$28,040
|
| Kentucky |
$12.98/hr
|
$27,000
|
| Arkansas |
$12.68/hr
|
$26,370
|
| New Jersey |
$12.66/hr
|
$26,330
|
| Colorado |
$12.25/hr
|
$25,480
|
| California |
$12.19/hr
|
$25,360
|
| Pennsylvania |
$12.16/hr
|
$25,290
|
| Maryland |
$12.14/hr
|
$25,260
|
| Hawaii |
$11.98/hr
|
$24,930
|
| Guam |
$11.92/hr
|
$24,800
|
| Maine |
$11.59/hr
|
$24,100
|
| Idaho |
$11.54/hr
|
$24,010
|
| Iowa |
$11.53/hr
|
$23,990
|
| Alabama |
$11.08/hr
|
$23,050
|
| West Virginia |
$11.02/hr
|
$22,930
|
| South Dakota |
$10.88/hr
|
$22,630
|
| New Hampshire |
$10.68/hr
|
$22,210
|
| Massachusetts |
$10.29/hr
|
$21,410
|
| Wisconsin |
$9.78/hr
|
$20,340
|
| Washington |
$9.66/hr
|
$20,090
|
| Wyoming |
$9.47/hr
|
$19,700
|
| Nevada |
$9.08/hr
|
$18,890
|
Category: 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% |
|
Category: Clinical 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% |
|
Category: Counseling 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% |
|
