truest.me
Explore CareersSponsor Someone 🎁Log InSign Up
truest.me
AboutCareer Growth ToolsWays to access truestPricingSponsor people/teamsWho is truest for
Terms of useContactPrivacy policytruest is a public benefit company
Copyright Β© 2026, Truest.me. All rights reserved.
Browse Careers
Career Explorer β†’
Tracks
See all β†’
Admin & OfficeAgricultureArts & MediaBusiness OperationsConstructionEducationEngineeringExecutive LeadershipFacilitiesFinanceFood ServiceHealthcareHuman ResourcesLegalMaintenance & RepairMarketingOperationsPersonal CareProductionProtective ServicesReal EstateSalesScienceSocial ServicesTechnologyTransportation
Top industries
See all β†’
HealthcareAdministrative ServicesK-12 SchoolsHospitality & Food ServiceHospital SystemsRetailWholesale & DistributionCatering & Mobile Food ServicesProfessional ServicesHospitals & Medical CentersEducationRestaurants & DiningGovernmentManufacturingAmbulatory Healthcare ServicesAdministrative Support ServicesConstructionFinancial ServicesGeneral Merchandise StoresColleges & UniversitiesConsumer ServicesLocal Government ServicesFull-Service RestaurantsSpecialty Trade ContractorsTransportation & LogisticsReal Estate Services
Top metros
See all β†’
New York-NewarkLos Angeles-Long BeachChicago-NapervilleDallas-Fort WorthHouston-PasadenaWashington-ArlingtonAtlanta-Sandy SpringsPhiladelphia-CamdenMiami-Fort LauderdaleBoston-CambridgeSan Francisco-OaklandPhoenix-MesaSeattle-TacomaMinneapolis-St. PaulDetroit-WarrenRiverside-San BernardinoDenver-AuroraSan Diego-Chula VistaTampa-St. PetersburgOrlando-KissimmeeCharlotte-ConcordBaltimore-ColumbiaSt. LouisAustin-Round RockPortland-VancouverSan Jose-Sunnyvale
Careersβ€ΊRolesβ€ΊCounseling Psychologist
Mid-Level

Counseling Psychologist

People bring you anxiety, loss, hard transitions, and tangled relationships β€” and you help them work through it, grounded in psychological science. Therapy informed by research, one person at a time.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
S
I
C
A
E
R
Socialhelping, teaching
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Counseling Psychologists
Healthcare Β· 84%Government Β· 7%Education Β· 4%Professional Services Β· 3%Administrative Services Β· 1%Consumer Services Β· 0%
Job markets for Counseling Psychologists
Employment concentration Β· ~400 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Science
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Counseling Psychologist

The work centers on assessment, therapy sessions, and tracking change over time β€” often across many clients in clinics, schools, universities, or private practice. You build a trusting relationship, because progress rarely comes without it, and document carefully between sessions. The craft is presence and timing β€” knowing when to push and when to simply listen, session after session.

What's harder than people expect is holding others' pain while staying grounded yourself β€” emotional sustainability is the long game. The training path is long, progress is nonlinear, and some clients face circumstances therapy alone can't fix. Settings and populations vary widely, reshaping the work considerably.

It fits someone empathetic, patient, and able to keep healthy boundaries. If you need quick resolution or visible wins, the slow arc can be hard. But if walking with people toward change feels like meaningful work β€” and you can sustain the emotional weight β€” the work tends to be deeply rewarding, year over year.

What people in this role value
RelationshipsHigh
IndependenceAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial β€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape β€” and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$92K+15%
Technology & Information$91K+13%
Energy & Utilities$82K+2%
Financial Services$81K+2%
Wholesale & Distribution$79K-1%
Compared to Science average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033.00, 19-3034.00), not just this title Β· BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Science β†’
Counseling PsychologistCase ManagerAssessment SpecialistAssessment CoordinatorBehavior SpecialistTreatment CoordinatorLearning ConsultantOutpatient TherapistElder CounselorGroup CounselorBehavioral AnalystBehavioral SpecialistMental Health ClinicianMental Health ProfessionalBehavior TherapistBehavioral TherapistChild and Adolescent TherapistPsychologistEducational PsychologistPsychoanalystBehavior AnalystGeropsychologistFamily PsychologistHealth PsychologistClinical Psychologist+1 more
Exploring the Counseling Psychologist career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit β€” and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
✦ Editorial β€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape β€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$50K–$170K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
136K
U.S. Employment
+5.95%
10yr Growth
9K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 Β· BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingSpeakingWriting
O*NET OnLine Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
19-3033.0019-3034.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midCase Manager$66KmidAssessment Specialist$71KmidAssessment Coordinator$85KmidBehavior Specialist$77KmidTreatment Coordinator$94KmidLearning Consultant$81K
View all Science roles β†’

Navigate your career with clarity

Truest gives you tools to understand your strengths, explore roles that fit, and plan your next move.

Explore Truest career tools
Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) Β· BLS Employment Projections Β· O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.