How much does a psychologist earn? Average salary in different countries
We reveal the average salary of mental health professionals.
Mental and physical health problems, adjustment to the needs of different individuals and groups, training and selection of personnel... there is a large number of areas in which a professional is needed who takes into account the different processes that make us people and shape the way we are, think, feel, act and relate to each other.
Such a professional can be found in the figure of the psychologist.. And today, these psychologists are increasingly in demand due to the various problems existing in our society. As a professional activity, the services of psychologists are a regulated and remunerated activity.
How much does a psychologist earn? Let's see the average salary that these professionals earn in seven different countries and territories of the world.
What does it mean to be a psychologist?
Psychologists are those professionals dedicated to the practice of psychology, the science dedicated to the study of the mind and the different processes that are part of it or in which it participates. The psychologist works exploring and intervening at different levels and in different areas of specialization, both at the clinical, social, social, business and school levels, among others.
To become a professional in this sector will require great dedication, as well as extensive training and preparation that will allow us to be efficient and guarantee the best possible service regardless of our field of action. It is also necessary, as in many other professions, to keep abreast of new developments so that we can optimize as much as possible the improvement of customers or patients.
A psychologist is in close contact with the thoughts, emotions and behaviors of those who choose to trust him as a professional. of those who choose to trust him/her as a professional. Being a psychologist demands a high level of vocation, requiring a deep interest in people and the well-being of clients above all other considerations.
The salary of the psychologist
The concrete remuneration that receives a professional of the psychology can vary enormouslyThe final salary will depend on the field of psychology to which the professional is dedicated, the type of service and treatments offered and the degree of prestige of the professional. For example, someone who has just finished his or her degree will not charge the same as someone who has many years of experience behind him or her.
There will also be differences depending on whether the psychologist is in clinical and health care, education or business. There will also be variations depending on whether the psychologist is in private or public practice. It should also be borne in mind that if he/she is a self-employed professional, which is very often the case, he/she will have to incur many expenses in order to maintain the practice in question.
Likewise, the code of ethics allows the salary that each professional receives for his or her work to vary greatly according to the criteria of each professional, as long as it does not detract from or degrade the profession and does not represent unfair competition with other professionals. It is even possible that a professional may decide to offer counseling or therapy free of charge, as long as the person requesting it is in dire need of it and is not able to afford to pay the stipulated fees.
For all these reasons, the figures shown below are merely indicative and may vary greatly from case to case. In addition, it should also be taken into account that the lifestyles and purchasing power of the different countries differ greatly, as well as the sociocultural valuation of psychologists as professionals.
Spain
Professionals dedicated to psychology in Spain can have a very variable salary. As a general rule, the average salary ranges from 1,000 to around 1,500 Euros per month1,500 per month, in some cases reaching as much as 3,000 euros. The annual salary is usually between €18,000 and €21,000 gross.
If we focus on the private clinic sector, in the field of health, the salary per session of a clinical psychologist can range from around €40 to €120, with a similar amount obtained by school psychologists external to the center.
United Kingdom
The professional practice of psychology in the territories forming part of the United Kingdom is remunerated at between £30,000 and £48,000 per annum on average.. In the case of senior positions such as hospital triage managers, the figure can be as high as £80,000. In Great Britain, for example, a psychologist is paid about £38 an hour.
Mexico
In Mexico, the remuneration received by psychology professionals tends to be around 9,000 pesos per month. In private clinics, each consultation tends to cost between 300 and 500 pesos. In the hospital setting the salary is around 10,000 pesos per month.
As far as education is concerned, the average salary is between 8,000 pesos per month, the average salary is between 8,000 and 12,000 pesos per month.. Finally, the average in the business area is between 10,000 and 12,000 pesos per month.
Australia
The average salary of a psychologist in Australia is around 85,000$ per year.. However, it should also be noted that the standard of living here is significantly more expensive than in other countries.
Argentina
Argentina is one of the countries where the profession of psychologist has had more expansion, especially from the psychodynamic branch. In this country, private consultation usually costs between $207 and $600 per session. The average salary of a licensed psychologist can range from $202,695 to $261,000 per year..
Canada
The average annual salary of a psychologist in Canada is around C$71,450.. Approximately $37.12 per session.
United States
The average annual salary of psychologists in the United States is $51,000.. While this may seem high (around $4,500 per month), it should be noted that average salaries in North America also tend to be higher.
By sector, we can see that the clinical sector earns on average $60,000, while educational psychologists can reach $54,000. However, private practices usually have a much lower remuneration, around $37,000.
Labor intrusiveness
It must be taken into account that the money psychologists earn depends, in turn, on many other factors that have nothing to do either with their level of training and experience or with the effort they have put into building a professional career.
Specifically, nowadays, labor intrusion is one of the most damaging factors for psychologists. one of the factors most damaging to job prospects and career advancement. and career advancement. It is something that is part of the problems of the labor market and its regulation in many of the countries with an abundance of psychologists.
Thus, the presence of people who present themselves as therapists of psychological aspects having done courses of a few months or weeks related to Coaching not only take away the work of many real psychologists, but also the work of those who are not real psychologists. take away the work of many of the real psychologists, who are obliged toThey are forced to take on many more responsibilities, but they also cause the salaries of those who do have a job to fall due to unfair competition.
Addressing these types of problems related to regulation is very important to ensure that psychologists can have access to the salary that corresponds to a profession that is accessed after more than 5 years of study and preparation.
(Updated at Apr 13 / 2024)