What does it take to become a child psychologist in Sacramento? How about a forensic psychologist, or a clinical psychologist?
For those interested in entering the growing health care sector in Sacramento, there are a wealth of opportunities available when it comes to psychiatric, psychological, and mental health care.
In the following article, learn more about what it takes to become a psychologist in Sacramento, including potential jobs and the average annual salary for workers in this field. There’s also information about the current state of mental health care in Sacramento, as well as clarifying the difference between a Master’s in Psychology and a Doctorate in Psychology – and why someone might choose to pursue an MA or MS instead of a Psy.D or Ph.D.
Welcome to California’s Capital City
Located in Northern California, Sacramento is the nexus of California politics: here, major state decisions are made by both the Governor of California and the California Legislature.
Though less than 530,000 people live in Sacramento proper, the larger metro area is home to some 2.7 million people, making it the fourth-most populous metropolitan region in the state.
In addition to Sacramento’s impressive political landscape, this city is also renowned for its universities: California State University, Sacramento (CSUS, Sacramento State, or Sac State) and University of California Davis (UC Davis) are two major public institutions located within this relatively small area.
Mental Health Care in Sacramento, CA
Though politics has long been the focal point of Sacramento’s economy, health care is a rapidly-growing industry within the “City of Trees.” Today, a number of respected medical centers operate in the city, including the UC Davis Medical Center, the UC Davis School of Medicine, and Sutter Health.
As the center of California politics, Sacramento is often the place mental health care advocates go to make arguments for greater resources and speak up for underserved communities. Though these activists are largely approaching the same issue – access to mental health care – they tackle the topic from a range of vantage points, including the prison system; LGBTQ+ youth; and young people with autism.
In California, the mental health care system is largely paid for as part of the Mental Health Services Act, legislation that has been in place for 20 years. This law allocates tax money from wealthy residents to go toward public mental health care infrastructure.
Most recently, voters in California elected to pass Proposition 1, a new measure that will re-allocate an estimated $140 million generated by the Mental Health Services Act to go toward the state of California, rather than to individual counties. In the proposition, the state commits to spending over $4 billion on mental health and substance abuse care facilities.
Still, local critics argue that the proposition – by reducing county budgets – will have a negative impact on harm-reduction services in mental health care, including early intervention for those at-risk of developing severe mental illness, as well as general treatment for those with mild to moderate mental illnesses. Instead, they suggest, the funding will prioritize those with severe, currently active mental illnesses and worsen situations for others who are not in a state of emergency. Some critics fear that this group, which includes individuals whose conditions have been improved through regular treatment, will be overlooked in the reconfiguration, potentially eroding their progress toward stability.
Becoming a Psychologist in Sacramento, CA
For years, there has been a dramatic need for more mental health care professionals in the state of California.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were just 11,840 psychologists (clinical and counseling) active in California in 2023. In a state with about 39 million residents, this is a staggering disconnect – particularly if one considers that California has more active psychologists than any other state in the country.
In other words: now is a great time to pursue becoming a mental health care professional in Sacramento.
Whether it’s in child, clinical, forensic, or educational psychology, skilled workers prepared to provide services to people in need not only have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in their communities, but also to earn a six-figure income. (Read more to learn just how much psychologists in Sacramento earn!)
Jobs for Psychologists in Sacramento
Psychology is a wonderfully diverse field. As part of the educational process of becoming a psychologist, students can choose a specialization: a focused series of courses that help them develop expertise on a specific topic or set of needs in the field.
These specializations can lead to roles like:
- Child psychologist
- Clinical psychologist
- Educational psychologist
- Forensic psychologist
- School psychologist
- Marriage and family therapist
- Neuropsychologist
- Industrial-organizational psychologist
- Sports psychologist
- Addiction psychologist
Is It Necessary To Get a Phd To Be A Psychologist?
No! Several positions in psychology are attainable with a terminal Master’s degree in psychology.
Generally speaking, there are two kinds of Master’s degrees in psychology: a Master of Arts (MA) and a Master of Sciences (MS). An MA in psychology is largely focused on theories related to psychology, as well as how psychology may be practiced in the real world (i.e., counseling, therapy). Conversely, an MS is more research-focused, with an emphasis on skills like lab work, quantitative reasoning, and mathematics.
That being said, there is a much wider variety of potential jobs for psychologists equipped with a Phd: for example, a Phd applicant for every role listed in the above section would be qualified for any of those positions, while an MA or MS-qualified applicant would only be licensed to perform a handful of them.
The Value of Master’s in Psychology Programs
So, is it still worth it to get a Master’s in psychology, even if it limits one’s job options?
In fact, many doctoral programs in psychology require a Master’s in psychology to graduate – but, simultaneously, many doctoral programs include students attaining a Master’s degree along the way. As such, it would generally not be necessary to enroll in two separate courses – first a Master’s, then a Ph.D or Psy.D – in order to become a licensed psychologist able to practice widely. Instead, applicants could jump directly to Ph.D or Psy.D programs.
Notably, however, these programs tend to be extremely competitive. As such, applicants who do not already have a background in psychology – say, for example, that an applicant completed a Bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field, and has never completed coursework in related fields – may have a more difficult time during the admissions process than applicants who have a robust educational history with the subject.
Completing a Terminal Master’s Degree in Psychology
There are many reasons why an aspiring psychologist may choose to pursue an MA or MS in Psychology instead of a Phd or Psy.D, despite the limitations this path may pose.
First, Master’s programs are a fraction of the time commitment (and thus, cost) of longer-term academic degrees like doctorates. A student is likely able to graduate with an MA or MS in two to three years, while the average doctoral student needs between five and seven years to complete their studies.
Simultaneously, completing an MA is an attractive option for less-qualified aspiring psychologists with a long-term goal of attaining a doctoral degree. While doctoral programs tend to be very competitive, master’s programs are less so, and do not require applicants to have an academic background in psychology. (In some cases, though, prospective students may need to complete prerequisite courses in topics like sociology before applying.)
This pathway may be an appealing option for prospective students who are concerned about their chances during the doctorate-level admissions process. It’s also an option for students who find accessible master’s programs that are either cost- or time-effective for them, or that can help them build a network on the way to becoming a Doctor of Psychology.
Salaries for Psychologists in Sacramento, CA
According to a 2023 report conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, psychologists in Sacramento earned comfortably above $100,000, on average, over the course of the year.
At the low end are school psychologists, commanding an average annual salary of $114,810. While this is the minimum average salary for qualified psychologists in Sacramento, it’s helpful to note that individuals with MA or MS degrees in psychology are qualified to become school psychologists.
In the middle are clinical and counseling psychologists, earning a mean income of $124,510 between January and December, 2023.
Finally, the highest-earning psychologists in the state fall into the category of “Psychologists, all other” (forensic, sports, clinical, addiction, education, etc.), with a mean annual salary of $148,210.
Notably, these salaries are well above the average income in Sacramento. In 2023, across all surveyed occupations, the average salary for workers in California’s capital city was $72,720.
2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2024.