What Do Clinical Psychologists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for clinical psychologists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what clinical psychologists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Clinical Psychologists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about clinical psychologists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Clinical Psychologists all psychologists not listed separately.
Popular Job Titles For Clinical Psychologists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Psychologists
- Clinical Psychologists
- Neuropsychologists
- Psychometricians
- Psychometrists
- Licensed Therapists
- Educational Psychologists
- Counseling Psychologists
- Licensed Psychologists
- School Psychologists
- Postdoctoral Psychology Fellows
- Clinical Neuropsychologists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for clinical psychologists can be found.
Best Industries for Clinical Psychologists
Clinical Psychologists Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 58.3%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 9.2%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 6.2%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 5.1%
- Federal Government, Military: 3.9%
- Offices of Physicians: 3.2%
- Other: 14.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of clinical psychologists can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2023, about 58.3% of all jobs for clinical psychologists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Offices of Other Health Practitioners (9.2%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (6.2%), General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (5.1%), Federal Government, Military (3.9%) and Offices of Physicians (3.2%).
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What Do Clinical Psychologists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what clinical psychologists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work clinical psychologists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that clinical psychologists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for clinical psychologists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Clinical Psychologists
Based on 23,012 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Clinical Psychologists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 18,479 | 80% |
| Mental Health | 7,525 | 33% |
| Clinical Psychology | 5,822 | 25% |
| Psychotherapy | 5,808 | 25% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 5,360 | 23% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Clinical Psychologists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Research | 6,355 | 28% |
| Communication | 5,522 | 24% |
| Management | 4,872 | 21% |
| Writing | 3,848 | 17% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 3,039 | 13% |
Based on 23,012 job postings related to clinical psychologists, psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 80% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for mental health, clinical psychology, psychotherapy, psychological evaluations and treatment planning were also highly sought.
As for common skills, research was the most desired skill found in job postings for clinical psychologists, followed by communication, management, writing, ethical standards and conduct and teaching.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 18,479 | 80% |
| Mental Health | 7,525 | 33% |
| Clinical Psychology | 5,822 | 25% |
| Psychotherapy | 5,808 | 25% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 5,360 | 23% |
| Treatment Planning | 5,334 | 23% |
| Behavioral Health | 5,127 | 22% |
| School Psychology | 4,910 | 21% |
| Psychiatry | 4,529 | 20% |
| Crisis Intervention | 3,451 | 15% |
| Clinical Supervision | 2,643 | 11% |
| Clinical Research | 2,550 | 11% |
| Social Work | 2,351 | 10% |
| Primary Care | 2,318 | 10% |
| Mental Diseases | 2,216 | 10% |
| Program Development | 2,192 | 10% |
| Behavioral Medicine | 1,807 | 8% |
| Health Psychology | 1,797 | 8% |
| Family Therapy | 1,724 | 7% |
| American Psychological Style (APA) | 1,718 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Research | 6,355 | 28% |
| Communication | 5,522 | 24% |
| Management | 4,872 | 21% |
| Writing | 3,848 | 17% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 3,039 | 13% |
| Teaching | 2,741 | 12% |
| English Language | 2,652 | 12% |
| Leadership | 2,610 | 11% |
| Planning | 2,135 | 9% |
| Teamwork | 1,780 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 1,764 | 8% |
| Problem Solving | 1,712 | 7% |
| Scheduling | 1,703 | 7% |
| Presentations | 1,522 | 7% |
| Report Writing | 1,439 | 6% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,316 | 6% |
| Operations | 1,096 | 5% |
| Written English | 1,089 | 5% |
| Customer Service | 1,082 | 5% |
| Time Management | 974 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Clinical Psychologists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychologists | 8,494 | 23.9% |
| Clinical Psychologists | 5,829 | 16.4% |
| Neuropsychologists | 4,439 | 12.5% |
| Psychometricians | 1,789 | 5% |
| Psychometrists | 1,405 | 3.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was psychologists, with 2,103 unique job postings. Clinical psychologists were second, with 1,096 postings, followed by neuropsychologists, psychometricians and psychometrists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to clinical psychologists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychologists | 8,494 | 23.9% |
| Clinical Psychologists | 5,829 | 16.4% |
| Neuropsychologists | 4,439 | 12.5% |
| Psychometricians | 1,789 | 5% |
| Psychometrists | 1,405 | 3.9% |
| Licensed Therapists | 1,244 | 3.5% |
| Educational Psychologists | 710 | 2% |
| Counseling Psychologists | 800 | 2.2% |
| Licensed Psychologists | 2,390 | 6.7% |
| School Psychologists | 576 | 1.6% |
| Postdoctoral Psychology Fellows | 1,537 | 4.3% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 1,154 | 3.2% |
| Psychological Assistants | 763 | 2.1% |
| Psychology Technicians | 707 | 2% |
| Psychology Postdoctoral Residents | 1,177 | 3.3% |
| Pediatric Psychologists | 710 | 2% |
| Adjunct Psychology Instructors | 348 | 1% |
| Psychology Associates | 575 | 1.6% |
| Psychology Assistants | 412 | 1.2% |
| Therapists | 523 | 1.5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for clinical psychologists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for clinical psychologists.
How much do clinical psychologists make?
Clinical Psychologists: How do you become one?
All Occupations
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