Also called: LCSW, Psychotherapist
Runs their own therapy practice, treating clients for anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship problems.
Sees six to eight clients a day in 50-minute sessions, some in an office and some by video. Between sessions they write notes, bill insurance, and return calls. Evenings are often booked because that's when clients can come.
Pay depends on caseload and rates; established practices with several clinicians can earn well above $150k.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 8 years after high school. Master of Social Work (MSW) plus ~2-3 years of supervised clinical hours and a state clinical license exam.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Certification. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Social Work, Psychology.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years). Strong demand for therapists; insurance reimbursement rates are the main limit.
Low risk for 10 years. AI drafts session notes and handles billing; therapy relies on a licensed human clients trust, though AI chat apps compete for mild cases.
Classes: AP Psychology, Sociology, AP English Language.
Official data: O*NET occupation 21-1029.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.