The Salary of a Psychoanalyst

by Roger Thorne J.D.
Psychoanalysis was the first school of psychology.

Psychoanalysis was the first school of psychology.

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Psychoanalysis was created by Sigmund Freud during the latter part of the 19th century and early 20th century. Psychoanalysis involves repeated conversations between an analyst and a patient in which the psychoanalyst tries to analyze and treat any psychological problems the patient has. Psychoanalysts are professionals who use psychoanalysis in their practices. They are typically either psychiatrists, psychologists or sociologists.


Psychoanalysis is a form of psychological therapy that involves conversations between the therapist and the patient. A psychoanalyst will make observations from these conversations and use his knowledge of unconscious mental factors to aid the patient in better understanding and dealing with emotional or behavioral problems. Psychoanalysts tend to focus on unconscious mechanisms as the source of psychological problems, though it is not the only form of psychological therapy or counseling psychoanalysts use.


A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental disorders. As with other physicians, psychiatrists must attend medical school. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average income for a psychiatrist in 2010 was $174,170. Psychiatrists in the lowest 10th percentile of earners earned as little as $67,460 per year, while the top earners earned more than $190,000 per year.

Clinical Psychologists

Like psychiatrists, clinical psychologists also specialize in diagnosing and treating people with mental disorders and might use psychoanalysis as one of their tools. These workers typically have an advanced academic degree such as a master's or Ph.D. but are not licensed physicians. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there were about 100,850 clinical and counseling psychologists in 2010. They earned an average of $73,090 per year, though salaries ranged from between about $39,000 and $110,000.

Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Social Workers

Mental health and substance abuse workers, a category that also includes mental health social workers, are trained to treat individuals with mental disorders, emotional disorders or substance abuse problems. These workers might use psychoanalysis in the course of their duties. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports mental health and substance abuse social workers earned an average of $42,650 per year in 2010. Salaries ranged from between about $25,520 per year to $65,600 per year.

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