How to become a Psychologist – Employers & Salaries

There are an increasing number of new opportunities for clinical psychologists and counsellors as expensive hospital or community based treatment for addictive habits like smoking and alcoholism is motivating people to seek help from psychologists for prevention rather than cure.

And as the World becomes ever more stressful, other mental health issues like depression, divorce, abuse, stress, and eating disorders provide even more career opportunities for psychologists. Similarly, job growth is increasing further as more corporations and organizations are implemented programs to provide counseling services for their employees.

Whilst significant numbers of psychologists work for the NHS, it is not by any means the only show in town. Other typical employers of occupational psychologists tend to be large organisations in the private and public sectors, including government departments and management training centres. And of the two, most occupational psychologists are employed in the business sector, mainly in private consultancies, though these consultancies are usually small, employing no more than a handful of psychologists. At the opposite end of the scale, the largest UK consultancies employ over 50.

The second largest sector of employment for occupational psychologists, the Civil Service, has over 1,000 psychologists currently employed (October 2009). The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) are the largest employing departments, with some psychologists also employed in the Home Office and Cabinet Office .

More than 120 occupational psychologists work in universities in teaching or research roles.

There are also many new opportunities for clinical psychologists and counselors. This is because expensive hospital or community based treatment for addictive habits like smoking and alcoholism is motivating people to seek help from psychologists in avoidance and treatment. Other issues like depression, divorce, abuse, stress, and eating disorders provide opportunities for psychologists to help. Job growth in this area is increasing further as more corporations and organizations are implemented programs to provide counseling services for their employees.

Graduate trainee clinical psychologists joining the NHS post-graduate career system start	£25,472	Band 6
After qualification, substantive grade for the role	£30,460	Band 7
Senior psychologists	£80,810	Band 8

Effective from 1st April 2010
NHS Agenda for Change Pay Scales 2010/2011
Band 1	Band 2	Band 3	Band 4	Band 5	Band 6	Band 7	Band 8a	Band 8b	Band 8c	Band 8d	Band 9
13,653	13,653	15,610	18,152	21,176	25,472	30,460	38,851	45,254	54,454	65,270	77,079
14,008	14,008	16,145	18,577	21,798	26,483	31,454	40,157	46,621	55,945	67,134	80,810
14,364	14,364	16,753	19,250	22,663	27,534	32,573	41,772	48,983	58,431	69,932	84,688
	14,779	17,118	19,933	23,563	28,470	34,189	43,388	51,718	61,167	73,351	88,753
	15,194	17,604	20,554	24,554	29,464	35,184	45,254	54,454	65,270	77,079	93,014
	15,610	18,152	21.176	25,472	30,460	36,303	46,621	55,945	67,134	80,810	97,478
	16,145	18,557	21,798	26,483	31,454	37,545
	16,753			27,534	2,573	38,851
					34,189	40,157

These Band 8 roles apply to senior experienced psychologists, possibly managing departments or large specialist sections with responsibility for the psychology service and its staff.

According to Workhound the average salary for a Clinical Pyschologist is just over £43,000 per annum.