Becoming a Psychotherapist 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. Marriage and family therapists make on average $49,020 per year and there are about 26,450 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 Psychotherapist
  • Clinical Offices
  • Consumer Offices
  • Educational Firms
  • Law Firms
  • Military Bases
  • Occupational Health Firms
  • Religious Organization
  • School Offices
  • Sport Institutions
  • Industrial and Organizational Offices
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Psychotherapist
  • Work one on one with clients
  • Hear about peoples lives
  • Help people work through there daily lives
  • Set your own schedule
  • Decent Pay
  • Good benefits offered
  • Reimbursement for getting licence renewals
  • Paid trainings and travel reimbursement
  • Meet Interesting people
  • Help conquer depression
Potential Drawbacks
  • Work independently
  • Work to not be overly affected by patient's illnesses
  • Be objective
  • Be a good listener
  • Work erratic hours
  • Be prepared to deal with hostility from a patient
  • Maintain patient privacy
  • Can be very stressful
  • Remaining relaxed in high pressure situations can be difficult
  • Be empathetic to those you may not agree with
Related Professions to Consider
  • Master Psychotherapist
  • Contract Psychotherapist
  • Christian Psychotherapist
  • Psychotherapist Licensed for Outpatient
  • Licensed Psychotherapist
  • Counselor
  • Pediatric Psychotherapist
  • Therapist
  • Neurological therapist
  • Analytical Therapist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Psychotherapist
  • Tell me about a recent counseling appointment?
  • How personal attributes and team working contribute to work practices?
  • What are your 3 strengths?
  • Tell me about a time when you went the extra mile for a customer?
  • What are your passions?
  • Why are you interested in this position?
  • What are your goals?
  • What are your greatest weaknesses?
  • Do you have a PhD?
  • What is a planned collection of activities that achieves success.?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Doctors
  • Parole Officers
  • Counselors
  • Secretaries
  • Therapist
  • General Psychologist
  • Medical Administration
  • Psychologist
  • Nurses
  • Family psychologist
Psychotherapist Training books Psychotherapist (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Cognitive psychology
  • Developmental psychology
  • Cognitive neuroscience
  • Biopsychology
  • Abnormal psychology
  • Cell biology
  • Human anatomy
  • Ecology
  • Organic chemistry
  • Biochemistry

Psychotherapist 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
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: Marriage and family therapists

Total # Employed in the US 26,450
Average Hourly Wage: $23.57/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$14.07 $17.54 $22.56 $28.1 $35.39
Average Yearly Salary $49,020
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$29,270 $36,480 $46,920 $58,440 $73,610
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.3% 7.3% 10.5% 5.6% 25.0% 45.9% 4.4%
Marriage and family therapists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Indiana $35.61/hr $74,070
Idaho $30.54/hr $63,510
North Dakota $29.29/hr $60,920
Alaska $29.18/hr $60,700
New York $29.09/hr $60,510
New Hampshire $27.32/hr $56,820
District of Columbia $24.96/hr $51,920
Nebraska $24.87/hr $51,730
Colorado $24.81/hr $51,600
Oregon $24.79/hr $51,550
Delaware $24.41/hr $50,770
Iowa $24.11/hr $50,150
Guam $23.75/hr $49,400
Tennessee $23.15/hr $48,160
Utah $22.83/hr $47,480
Wyoming $22.49/hr $46,770
Mississippi $22.05/hr $45,870
Michigan $21.86/hr $45,470
South Carolina $21.38/hr $44,470
Montana $21.29/hr $44,280
Missouri $21.12/hr $43,930
California $20.98/hr $43,640
Alabama $20.89/hr $43,450
Maryland $20.61/hr $42,860
Kentucky $20.47/hr $42,570
Ohio $20.25/hr $42,130
Louisiana $20.03/hr $41,660
Kansas $20.01/hr $41,620
Washington $19.85/hr $41,300
New Mexico $19.83/hr $41,240
Oklahoma $19.62/hr $40,810
Connecticut $19.57/hr $40,700
West Virginia $19.48/hr $40,520
Hawaii $19.42/hr $40,390
Puerto Rico $19.41/hr $40,370
Pennsylvania $19.4/hr $40,340
Maine $18.87/hr $39,240
Arkansas $18.44/hr $38,360
North Carolina $18.36/hr $38,190
South Dakota $17.46/hr $36,310
Massachusetts $16.29/hr $33,880
Wisconsin $15.87/hr $33,010
New Jersey $15.52/hr $32,280


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: Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists

Total # Employed in the US 92,910
Average Hourly Wage: $24.28/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$14.69 $17.32 $22.37 $29.84 $37.91
Average Yearly Salary $50,500
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$30,540 $36,030 $46,530 $62,080 $78,860
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.4% 15.3% 20.9% 9.6% 37.1% 13.4% 1.3%
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Colorado $37.03/hr $77,020
North Dakota $30.07/hr $62,540
Nebraska $29.53/hr $61,430
Oklahoma $29.17/hr $60,680
Kansas $28.36/hr $59,000
Louisiana $26.91/hr $55,970
Indiana $26.74/hr $55,610
Mississippi $25.74/hr $53,550
Florida $25.61/hr $53,270
Connecticut $25.45/hr $52,940
Montana $25.16/hr $52,320
Tennessee $23.1/hr $48,050
Arkansas $22.72/hr $47,250
South Carolina $22.63/hr $47,070
District of Columbia $22.37/hr $46,520
Utah $22.07/hr $45,910
Alabama $21.26/hr $44,230
Puerto Rico $20.71/hr $43,080
Pennsylvania $20.29/hr $42,200
Guam $20.26/hr $42,140
Washington $19.98/hr $41,560
Ohio $19.62/hr $40,800
Massachusetts $19.48/hr $40,520
Iowa $18.96/hr $39,440
New Jersey $18.96/hr $39,440
Hawaii $18.78/hr $39,070
Wyoming $18.71/hr $38,910
Oregon $18.36/hr $38,180
Maryland $18.2/hr $37,860
Maine $18.18/hr $37,810
Michigan $18.16/hr $37,760
Kentucky $18.11/hr $37,660
West Virginia $17.89/hr $37,210
Idaho $17.49/hr $36,380
New Mexico $17.45/hr $36,290
New Hampshire $16.99/hr $35,350
South Dakota $16.5/hr $34,330
Wisconsin $16.19/hr $33,680
California $15.53/hr $32,300
Nevada $15.08/hr $31,370


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
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage 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 technicians

Total # Employed in the US 70,730
Average Hourly Wage: $14.77/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$8.72 $10.82 $13.53 $17.44 $24.11
Average Yearly Salary $30,730
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$18,140 $22,500 $28,140 $36,270 $50,140
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.5% 27.8% 34.1% 19.0% 14.1% 1.4% 1.1%
Psychiatric technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Colorado $24.57/hr $51,110
North Dakota $20.96/hr $43,600
Florida $20.46/hr $42,550
Virginia $19.07/hr $39,670
Tennessee $18.14/hr $37,730
Oklahoma $17.72/hr $36,860
Mississippi $17.37/hr $36,140
Puerto Rico $17.07/hr $35,510
Utah $16.92/hr $35,180
Kansas $16.35/hr $34,020
South Carolina $15.67/hr $32,590
District of Columbia $15.11/hr $31,420
Arkansas $15.02/hr $31,240
Maine $14.89/hr $30,970
Montana $14.68/hr $30,530
Nebraska $14.55/hr $30,270
Louisiana $14.53/hr $30,220
Iowa $14.42/hr $30,000
Idaho $14.36/hr $29,860
North Carolina $14.15/hr $29,440
Connecticut $14.13/hr $29,390
West Virginia $13.88/hr $28,870
Alaska $13.81/hr $28,720
Michigan $13.6/hr $28,280
Ohio $13.23/hr $27,510
Oregon $12.92/hr $26,880
New York $12.88/hr $26,800
Kentucky $12.78/hr $26,580
South Dakota $12.7/hr $26,410
New Mexico $12.27/hr $25,510
Washington $12.11/hr $25,180
Alabama $12.01/hr $24,980
Wisconsin $11.99/hr $24,940
Hawaii $11.93/hr $24,800
Maryland $11.85/hr $24,650
New Hampshire $11.7/hr $24,340
Pennsylvania $11.48/hr $23,880
Massachusetts $11.35/hr $23,610
Nevada $11.25/hr $23,400
California $10.57/hr $21,980
Wyoming $8.99/hr $18,690


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
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage 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: 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%


Psychology Programs by State & City