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The differences between clinical psychologist-licenseds and research psychologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a clinical psychologist-licensed and a research psychologist. Additionally, a clinical psychologist-licensed has an average salary of $96,135, which is higher than the $90,440 average annual salary of a research psychologist.
The top three skills for a clinical psychologist-licensed include rehabilitation, patients and family therapy. The most important skills for a research psychologist are research projects, research studies, and technical reports.
| Clinical Psychologist-Licensed | Research Psychologist | |
| Yearly salary | $96,135 | $90,440 |
| Hourly rate | $46.22 | $43.48 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 83,526 | 58,163 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A licensed clinical psychologist specializes in diagnosing and treating various emotional, behavioral, and psychological issues. Part of their job is to conduct initial interviews and assessments to identify the patients' needs, study their medical history, coordinate with fellow health care professionals, develop intervention and treatment plans, and provide regular counseling sessions, monitoring the patients' progress. They may also conduct research and analyses, assess the clients' risks, and work together with the clients' families to ensure the client's welfare.
Research psychologists are psychology professionals who examine questions and test hypotheses by using scientific methods to understand human thought and behavior. These psychologists must conduct experiments in controlled lab settings as well as out in the field to examine the social behavior of people living in a rural town. They must analyze data and prepare reports to be presented professionally to program managers and administrators. Research psychologists must also supervise staff and interns who are involved in treating and diagnosing mental health.
Clinical psychologist-licenseds and research psychologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Psychologist-Licensed | Research Psychologist | |
| Average salary | $96,135 | $90,440 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $129,000 | Between $63,000 And $128,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Kaiser Permanente | Parexel International |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a clinical psychologist-licensed and a research psychologist in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Psychologist-Licensed | Research Psychologist | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Clinical Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between clinical psychologist-licenseds' and research psychologists' demographics:
| Clinical Psychologist-Licensed | Research Psychologist | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.8% Female, 69.2% | Male, 50.7% Female, 49.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 3.3% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 3.3% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |