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The differences between staff psychologists and licensed 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 staff psychologist and a licensed psychologist. Additionally, a licensed psychologist has an average salary of $97,852, which is higher than the $77,671 average annual salary of a staff psychologist.
The top three skills for a staff psychologist include patients, group therapy and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a licensed psychologist are patients, crisis intervention, and psychological services.
| Staff Psychologist | Licensed Psychologist | |
| Yearly salary | $77,671 | $97,852 |
| Hourly rate | $37.34 | $47.04 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 85,221 | 24,645 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A staff psychologist is responsible for monitoring patients with mental health conditions and conducting counseling services to observe their behaviors and diagnose their developmental disorders. Staff psychologists develop treatment plans and administer medications for the patients and may also facilitate referrals to other institutions and medical professionals for further examinations. They utilize necessary resources, especially therapy programs, to manage the patients' conditions and document their progress during each session. A staff psychologist seeks advice from other mental health experts to identify case management concepts and assessments.
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.
Staff psychologists and licensed psychologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Psychologist | Licensed Psychologist | |
| Average salary | $77,671 | $97,852 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $110,000 | Between $69,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Kaiser Permanente | Acadia Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a staff psychologist and a licensed psychologist in terms of educational background:
| Staff Psychologist | Licensed Psychologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between staff psychologists' and licensed psychologists' demographics:
| Staff Psychologist | Licensed Psychologist | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.7% Female, 56.3% | Male, 37.0% Female, 63.0% |
| 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% |