Quick answer: The Boston metro employs about 1,920 clinical and counseling psychologists (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state board of psychology.
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Licensing
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Licensed clinical work runs through each state’s board of psychology - in most states a doctorate, supervised hours and the EPPP examination - and master’s-level counseling licenses run through separate behavioral health boards. The bachelor’s is the required first step and the standard admission ticket to those graduate programs, not a license itself.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
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This page lists 10 schools
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1 does not have enough federal
outcome data to score, and appears last rather than being hidden.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
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What Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Earn in Boston
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in the Boston area earn a median $121,270 per year, above the national median of $100,580 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Psychology Pay in Boston, MA
Metric
Boston metro
Massachusetts
National
Median annual wage
$121,270
$115,180
$100,580
10th percentile
$60,090
$60,250
$55,170
25th percentile
$86,470
$84,610
$73,210
75th percentile
$164,150
$159,570
$135,200
90th percentile
$233,890
$216,570
$180,960
Employment
1,920
2,860
75,990
Location quotient
1.45
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Boston median of $121,270 is above the national median of $100,580, and above the Massachusetts statewide median of $115,180 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.45 means clinical and counseling psychologists are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Behavioral health employment follows the treatment system: hospitals, community mental health centers, school districts and residential programs are the employers, so demand tracks the local health system.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make in Boston?
The median annual wage for clinical and counseling psychologists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $121,270, above the national median of $100,580 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many clinical and counseling psychologists work in the Boston area?
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area employs about 1,920 clinical and counseling psychologists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do clinical and counseling psychologists in Boston need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Licensed clinical work runs through each state's board of psychology - in most states a doctorate, supervised hours and the EPPP examination - and master's-level counseling licenses run through separate behavioral health boards. The bachelor's is the required first step and the standard admission ticket to those graduate programs, not a license itself. Confirm current requirements with your state board of psychology.
Can I study psychology online from Boston?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state board of psychology.
Is Boston a better market than the rest of Massachusetts?
The Boston metro median is $121,270 against a statewide median of $115,180 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
