Jobs Similar to Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to clinical and counseling psychologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Marriage and Family Therapists, School Psychologists and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists: $100,580 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Clinical and Counseling Psychologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marriage and Family Therapists | 87% | $66,940−33% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | School PsychologistsSame group | 87% | $95,990−5% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 86% | $60,280−40% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | 85% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Healthcare Social Workers | 85% | $67,880−33% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Clinical NeuropsychologistsSame group | 83% | $110,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Genetic Counselors | 83% | $100,040−1% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Patient Representatives | 83% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 9 | NeuropsychologistsSame group | 83% | $110,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Rehabilitation Counselors | 83% | $46,850−53% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 83% | $80,340−20% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Psychiatrists | 83% | $281,870+180% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 82% | $77,570−23% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | 82% | $64,330−36% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 82% | $59,550−41% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 81% | $74,260−26% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Speech-Language Pathologists | 81% | $97,870−3% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Community Health Workers | 80% | $51,850−48% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | 80% | $48,430Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 20 | Health Education Specialists | 80% | $64,070−36% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Marriage and Family Therapists
87% similar · $66,940 (−33%) · Graduate degree
- 2School Psychologists
87% similar · $95,990 (−5%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
86% similar · $60,280 (−40%) · Graduate degree
- 4Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
85% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 5Healthcare Social Workers
85% similar · $67,880 (−33%) · Graduate degree
- 6Clinical Neuropsychologists
83% similar · $110,840 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Genetic Counselors
83% similar · $100,040 (−1%) · Graduate degree
- 8Patient Representatives
83% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 9Neuropsychologists
83% similar · $110,840 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 10Rehabilitation Counselors
83% similar · $46,850 (−53%) · Graduate degree
- 11Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
83% similar · $80,340 (−20%) · Graduate degree
- 12Psychiatrists
83% similar · $281,870 (+180%) · Graduate degree
- 13Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
82% similar · $77,570 (−23%) · Graduate degree
- 14Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
82% similar · $64,330 (−36%) · Graduate degree
- 15Child, Family, and School Social Workers
82% similar · $59,550 (−41%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
81% similar · $74,260 (−26%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Speech-Language Pathologists
81% similar · $97,870 (−3%) · Graduate degree
- 18Community Health Workers
80% similar · $51,850 (−48%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
80% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 20Health Education Specialists
80% similar · $64,070 (−36%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than clinical and counseling psychologists.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Patient Representatives83% similar · Training or associate
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers82% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Community Health Workers80% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants80% similar · Training or associate
- Health Education Specialists80% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for clinical and counseling psychologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Questions about jobs like clinical and counseling psychologists
What jobs are most similar to clinical and counseling psychologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Marriage and Family Therapists (87% similar), School Psychologists (87% similar), Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (86% similar), Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (85% similar) and Healthcare Social Workers (85% similar).
Which jobs like clinical and counseling psychologists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Psychiatrists ($281,870, +180%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with clinical and counseling psychologists ($100,580). Without more preparation than clinical and counseling psychologists usually need: Psychiatrists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.