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HealthcareTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.

Clinical Psychologist

Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.

Annual openings

166

Median wage

$113,290

Typical education

Doctoral degree

Growth 2026–2032

+20%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

Doctoral degree

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

The type of work can vary by job and employer.

  • With childrenMay vary
  • On a computerMay vary
  • OutdoorsNo
  • With your handsNo

Interests it draws on

  • Healthcare
  • Mental Health

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
  2. Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
  3. Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
  4. Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, modifying plans or diagnoses as necessary.
  5. Use a variety of treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress reduction therapy, psychodrama, or play therapy.
  6. Develop therapeutic and treatment plans based on clients' interests, abilities, or needs.

Also includes

Specializations that share this occupation’s labor-market data.

  • Counseling Psychologist
  • Clinical, Counseling, School, or Neuro-Psychologist Candidate
  • Clinical, Counseling, School, or Neuro-Psychologist
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