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The differences between licensed psychologists and school 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 licensed psychologist and a school psychologist. Additionally, a licensed psychologist has an average salary of $97,852, which is higher than the $78,431 average annual salary of a school psychologist.
The top three skills for a licensed psychologist include patients, crisis intervention and psychological services. The most important skills for a school psychologist are professional development, mental health, and psychological services.
| Licensed Psychologist | School Psychologist | |
| Yearly salary | $97,852 | $78,431 |
| Hourly rate | $47.04 | $37.71 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 24,645 | 25,457 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
School psychologists are knowledgeable professionals whose responsibilities include identifying, addressing, and overcoming the educational and behavioral needs of school-aged children. They generally work in schools and focus their observations on children and youth who often face issues related to education, social relationships, decision-making, as well as managing emotions. They help families, counselors, and members of the community understand and solve these issues the children may encounter. Additionally, they provide comprehensive psychological services to help students achieve academic, behavioral, social, and emotional success.
Licensed psychologists and school psychologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Psychologist | School Psychologist | |
| Average salary | $97,852 | $78,431 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $137,000 | Between $55,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Acadia Healthcare | CORA Services |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between a licensed psychologist and a school psychologist in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Psychologist | School Psychologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between licensed psychologists' and school psychologists' demographics:
| Licensed Psychologist | School Psychologist | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.0% Female, 63.0% | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% |
| 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, 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% |