Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

How can I become a rich clinical psychologist?

80 replies

mumsy23baby · 08/01/2022 00:36

Hey,

I earn £43k in HR and I'm looking to level up. I've been in HR for 10 years and going nowhere. I'm thinking either to career change into law and do a TC (if I can - I know v competitive) or clinical psych.

Law is better paid but clinical psych does pay £30k whilst working. Long term I think clin psych js better with kids but I don't know how I'm going to be financially ok in that career?

What would you choose?

OP posts:
Original poster
mumsy23baby · 08/01/2022 12:18

@Oblomov22

What was the feedback from the 6 interviews? What do you need to do / what qualification did they say you needed to get promoted?
They said I need to be at the firm longer! I've been there for coming up to 4 years and in HR for 10. Interview feedback is that another person was better. I'm not sure HR is for me. I'm quite academic and I find HR not so! I'm not sure I'm stimulated enough which is why I'm not getting anywhere with it that's why I'm looking at clin psych or law because they have set career paths
OP posts:
Original poster
mumsy23baby · 08/01/2022 12:18

@SilverRingahBells

Have you looked elsewhere?
Lots!
OP posts:
ISeeTheLight · 08/01/2022 12:19

My mother is a clinical children's psych - very very experienced, well known in her field, very senior role. She works all hours of the day including weekends, sees some truly awful stuff and gets paid decently but is by no means rich. I earn more or less the same working in advertising without the mental trauma and do 9-6 Mon-Fri with flexibility.
It's a vocation, not just a job.

SweetMidWinter · 08/01/2022 12:27

I'm smiling at the thought of pursuing a CP career to become rich Grin. It's pretty much a calling kind of job and I doubt you'd get selected for a doctorate with the above outlook.

if you wanna be rich, go into the tech sector.

Summerhillsquare · 08/01/2022 12:38

@eggsfor1 when you say construction, what do you mean? I have done a few redevelopment/eco retrofit projects outside of work, and work in energy - would that be an acceptable skill set for construction project management?

daretodenim · 08/01/2022 12:54

I agree that your age (and that of your kids) is a factor here.

If your children are about to go to university they will require less of you than 5 year old twins!

Fedupofballs · 08/01/2022 12:56

Have you looked at civil service HR roles at grade 7? Lots of variety and offers a different type of career path?

G0ldfinch · 08/01/2022 13:00

How can I become a rich clinical psychologist?

I have been asking myself this for years. I am a clinical psychologist!

eggsfor1 · 08/01/2022 13:00

@Stellaaaaaaaah

Hi eggsfor1,

What types of jobs are available in construction? Thanks Smile

Hi so I work as a quantity surveyor. I started on the trainee scheme (most larger companies hire on these on a yearly basis) my company take on any back round you don't even need a degree as there is such a skills shortage.

We have so many vacancies at the moment and it is the same across the industry.

I would look at the cost control side of things ( I don't have very much knowledge on the actual construction side of things) that is for the contracts manager to handle. So quantity surveyors / project managers.

Hope this helps.

SweetMidWinter · 08/01/2022 13:03

@TicTacHoh

To get anywhere near interview stage for a Clinical Psychology Doctorate you need to have had years of relevant experience (which is almost always low-paid/voluntary) and even then, it's extremely competitive. Friends who have completed theirs for 9/10 years ago are now earning £48-£55k, it's not a quick money earner.
I feel this system needs a real overhaul so it doesn't favour the well off middle classes. Not many people can afford working such a long time for hardly any money.
eggsfor1 · 08/01/2022 13:07

[quote Summerhillsquare]@eggsfor1 when you say construction, what do you mean? I have done a few redevelopment/eco retrofit projects outside of work, and work in energy - would that be an acceptable skill set for construction project management? [/quote]
Yes definitely, that's more than I had when I started.

I would look at trainee surveyor and trainee project manager roles. My company takes on around 20 each year all across the country.

They make it sound intimidating on the job description but I honestly think anyone with common sense and basic excel skills would manage.

FredaFox · 08/01/2022 13:31

My friend is a psychologist and works nhs but she also does a lot of private work, this is where she makes her money. The hours she works to get this are extremely long and she often forgos nights out to catch up on paperwork etc

You earn a good salary for your age by the way

timeforteaforyouandme · 08/01/2022 14:14

It's difficult for anyone to be specific because the clin psych career path usually depends on getting quality experience and getting a training place and who know how long that could take or if you would get through selection.

With much luck on your side (and aptitude) you might be able to eg be in a band 8a NHS job in about 10years which currently pays approx £47k (outside London) for the first 5 years and rises to approx £53k (outside London) after that.
Do you consider that rich?

Well done on your masters,
Have you looked into occupational psychology btw?

DeliaDinglehopper · 08/01/2022 15:42

How do the benefits compare to private work I wonder?
Private clin psychs near me charge approx £150ph, probably capped around 25 hours client work but will have costs to pay out of that and no pension, holidays sick pay etc.

EdPsy · 08/01/2022 15:55

@G0ldfinch

How can I become a rich clinical psychologist?

I have been asking myself this for years. I am a clinical psychologist!

Solidarity!
JennieTheZebra · 08/01/2022 16:31

@SweetMidWinter
A not-so-middle class way of getting into clinical psychology is through mental health nursing. It’s perfectly possible to do a conversion psychology masters while working and then apply; mental health nursing is looked at extremely favourably as MH work experience, especially if you have therapy CPD. The question is, why would you want to? There’s therapy focused band 7 jobs in MH nursing without all of the fuss of clin psych-and MH nursing is much much much less competitive. You really would have to be academically driven-or in it for the private hours ( —the problems of the rich and boring— ).

cloudtree · 08/01/2022 16:35

I've been in HR for 10 years now and I feel at the mercy of HR Managers who promote me based on their own opinion of me

Oh come off it OP. Surely if you work in hr you’re not naive enough to think that in other sectors people don’t get promoted based on what their managers think of them! It’s always going to be the main factor.

HR involves a significant amount of employment law at the higher levels and so it’s odd to say it doesn’t stimulate you mentally. You need to work your way up. But whilst it will sound harsh, if your managers don’t promote you because of their opinion of you then perhaps you need to focus on what it is about you that prevents your progression.

Very clever people in law are ten a penny. In fact it’s no more than the basic pre requisite. You must know that working in a law firm. So in law your good academics won’t make you stand out.

Stick with what you’re doing and move jobs. HR can be very lucrative. My DSis earns £150k plus bonus and car.

Oblomov22 · 09/01/2022 07:14

All your views on all of this are just wierd. I agree with Cloudtree, I think you are in denial. You've been fobbed off with interview appraisal aswell. If you go for 6 interviews and you don't get it, then something is seriously very wrong. It's the easy option for them to tell you that you haven't been at the firm, 4 years, long enough.
Have you been for external interviews aswell? How many and what is the feedback given there for job refusal?
And to say it's not academic enough? Seriously? Many top HR jobs would stretch anyone mentally and academically. And you'd be paid top money for it aswell. My 3 closest friends are in HR, all earn £100k plus, but by god they work for it.

WhyYesYABU · 10/01/2022 15:05

What about occupational psychology, looking into companies like MindGym, Lane4 EY, Big 4 consulting, Franklin Covey...etc? Would you be interested in executive coaching/talent consulting etc? Can be very lucrative - my experience is there is a heady mix of very capable experienced academics/industry leaders and a lot of bullshitters but either way the opportunity is out there. Don't want to be too outing but I've worked in this space and think if you tailored your CV you'd walk into a role like that.

D4c3 · 10/01/2022 15:21

Like other corporate administrative functions HR is competitive since only a few make the top, everyone else are operators/dogsbodies

Anecdotal observation: rarely are top HR jobs filled by smart psychologists/genteel/lovely/highly academic types. There are some experienced veterans especially those who rose through another business function but mostly filled with bullshittrs who suck up big time to the CEO

pawpatrolneedaunion · 10/01/2022 15:24

Have a look at the association of business psychologists, it's an easier route than occupational psychologist (which is a protected title)

Superstar22 · 10/01/2022 22:41

Agree with all posts re difficulties of getting into clinical psychology.

Also, admissions tutors would be looking for research and/or clinical experience (usually as a Assistant psychologist or Researcher or similar) which means you may take a massive pay cut before you can even apply for the course doing jobs to get you experience to get on the course.

Also what others have said re aptitude and interest, helping people & committing to a life of CPD.

Also, most do stuck/achieve up to 8a unless they go private. There are only a few 8b’s (£55-63k) and above (£63/75k) etc in each Trust max. However, yes if you go full time private you could be earning £100k (after geniunely 10 years in uni and another 5-20 years experience).

JudyGemstone · 10/01/2022 22:55

Unfortunately an MSc and a year as a support worker won’t get you anywhere near a clin psych doctorate. I’d honestly scrap that idea if I were you.

Some of them earn B9/consultant wage which is big bucks, most are B7/8a which is not that different from what you’re earning now.

I know HR managers on a lot more money, plus company car/other benefits.

ClickClackClock · 18/01/2022 10:57

Become a rich Clinical psychologist by marrying someone who is a millionaire, as it won't happen by just being a clinical psychologist!

Fleur405 · 18/01/2022 11:06

I have a friend who is in the process of achieving her clinical psychologist qualifications. As far as I can tell it’s extremely competitive and a very long process. And I say that as a solicitor who did 7 years in total just to qualify. As a (non-partner) regional solicitor I earn a reasonable amount more than you but it took over 10 years to get there. If you want to work in the city then you can earn a big salary but you will basically have to work all the time even as a trainee. I suppose if you specialise in employment you can move through the ranks a bit quicker than normal but it’s still a long process.

Swipe left for the next trending thread