Career Explorer Science
Grows with AI
Clinical and counseling psychologists
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.
More resilient than most: more resilient than 63% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by +11.7% by 2035, much faster than average. The work leans on emotional intelligence and creative vision.
AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.
- Median pay (2025)
- $100,580
- Job growth to 2035
- +11.7%
- Openings a year
- 4,100
- People doing it (2025)
- 81,300
- Usual route in
- Doctorate or professional degree, then an internship or residency
Where people already use AI for this work
- Counsel others about personal matters
- Present research or technical information
- Advise others on healthcare or wellness issues
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Develop educational programs, plans, or procedures
- Collect information about patients or clients
- Evaluate patient or client condition or treatment options
What the work looks like
- Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
- Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
- Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
- Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
- Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- More of these jobs, as more departments add career counselors and psychologists to help students.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Marriage and family therapistsGrows with AI, Index 90, +13.5%
- PsychiatristsGrows with AI, Index 67, +7.2%
- Speech-language pathologistsGrows with AI, Index 77, +16.6%
- Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselorsGrows with AI, Index 83, +18.4%
Also known as: Clinical Psychologist, Counseling Psychologist, Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Case Manager, Counselor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Psychologist.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.