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The differences between licensed psychologists and licensed professional counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a licensed psychologist, becoming a licensed professional counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a licensed psychologist has an average salary of $97,852, which is higher than the $94,675 average annual salary of a licensed professional counselor.
The top three skills for a licensed psychologist include patients, crisis intervention and psychological services. The most important skills for a licensed professional counselor are patients, social work, and LPC.
| Licensed Psychologist | Licensed Professional Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $97,852 | $94,675 |
| Hourly rate | $47.04 | $45.52 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 24,645 | 153,612 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Master's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A licensed psychologist specializes in diagnosing and treating psychological and behavioral issues. They may work in medical facilities with in-patient or out-patient services, collaborating with other medical experts as needed. Their responsibilities include studying a patient's medical history, conducting initial assessments and examinations, facilitating interviews and therapy sessions, developing care and intervention procedures, and monitoring patients' progress. Furthermore, as a licensed psychologist, it is essential to coordinate with families and guardians, helping them understand and deal with the effects of mental illness in a family.
A licensed professional counselor is a healthcare professional who specializes in providing therapy and counseling to patients with emotional and mental health issues. They listen to their patients and utilize various techniques to address concerns and help through the healing procedures. Their duties entail conducting interviews and evaluations, performing research and assessments, studying the patients' medical histories, providing consultations, and developing treatment plans that suit every patients' needs. Additionally, a licensed professional counselor monitors and records their patients' progress, adjusting treatments and medications as necessary.
Licensed psychologists and licensed professional counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Psychologist | Licensed Professional Counselor | |
| Average salary | $97,852 | $94,675 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $137,000 | Between $73,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Acadia Healthcare | Bloomberg |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Real Estate |
There are a few differences between a licensed psychologist and a licensed professional counselor in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Psychologist | Licensed Professional Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Master's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between licensed psychologists' and licensed professional counselors' demographics:
| Licensed Psychologist | Licensed Professional Counselor | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.0% Female, 63.0% | Male, 28.8% Female, 71.2% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 15% |