Psychologists play a key function for mental health care of people. Their role is crucial for maintaining good emotional state. So, what is the remuneration of their work? How much does a psychologist earn in Spain? And a online psychologist?
The branch to which each psychologist is dedicated influences the salary range
He scope of action of Psychology professionals is very wideas it covers everything from the resolution of interpersonal conflicts to individual help to improve a person's health.
The degree of specialization and the branch to which each professional is dedicated influences the salary range they obtain. There is no fixed rate that applies to the entire sector.although the Professional Colleges of Psychology do establish their own indicative scales to set fees per hour or per job depending on the type of service they offer.
The salary depends, therefore, on the field in which the psychologist works and whether he or she works as a freelancer or as an employee, as well as whether he or she works in the public or private sector. However, it can be established that the average salary of a psychologist in Spain is ranges between 18,000 and 21,000 euros gross per year.
Beyond Clinical Psychology
Although the best-known branch of this profession is Clinical Psychology -oriented to the health of the patient-, There are other specializationsFor example, a psychology professional can intervene in the conflict resolution between groups of people within a school (bullying or other types of problems), a company, a family, etc.
It should not be forgotten that a psychologist position is also required in legal and forensic fieldswhen preparing profiles for civil, criminal or family proceedings. In the same way, they are also essential for personnel selection processes in companies.
In this sense, the legislation on free competition allows these professionals freely set their rates at their own discretionIn accordance with what has already been said, the Professional Colleges of Psychology also set indicative fees per service that prevent the profession from being degraded or delegitimized.
What are the rates for psychologists?
Regarding Clinical Psychology, when the psychologist works independently in his private clinic, the rates usually vary. between 40 and 120 euros per session. As we have said, It is each professional who sets his or her rate. according to their criteria, duration of the session, frequency with which they should be repeated and the needs of the patient, as well as following the scales established by the Colleges.
However, in these cases we would be talking about a gross hourly rate, from which we would have to deduct Social Security, Taxes, rental of the premises, investment in marketing and advertising, tools, hours dedicated to training and follow-up, essential for the monitoring of treatments, free information visits, etc.
In the case of psychological reports of the legal fieldIn a civil or family process, the analysis of a person is established in a few 750 euros. If it is a criminal process, the fee for carrying out the psychological profile can reach 1.2000 eurosThere are also fees for attending oral hearings in these proceedings, which range from 200 to 500 euros. The price depends on the time and the number of kilometres required to travel.
How much does a psychologist charge after the PIR?
A psychology professional can work in both the private and public sectors. To work in the latter, in Spain, an official training process is required: the Resident Internal Psychologist or PIR program.
The monthly salary of a PIR is in the 1,200 euros per month, with 14 payments per yearIt should be noted that remuneration varies according to the scale set by the Autonomous Community in which the employee works. This salary is increased by a percentage of the base salary for each year of residence and is supplemented by payments for on-call duty or overtime work.
Lack of psychologists in Spain
Despite the demand for services and the average salary, in Spain there is a shortage of specialized personnel in the public sector. Most countries, including Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece and Croatia, do not exceed the ratio of 20 psychologists per 100,000 inhabitants. Such is the problem that Spain has the lowest ratio with 5.14 psychologists per 100,000 inhabitants.
According to the report by CIVIO, psychologists working in public health are a “tiny fraction” of the 32,516 registered psychologists listed by the National Institute of Statistics.
In Spain, according to the data provided in the statistics of specialized care centers, integrated under the name «other higher health graduates», The number of psychologists is 2,397 (6 per 100,000 inhabitants) in the staff of hospitals of the Public Health System.
In this regard, the Ombudsman indicates that communities such as Madrid, the Canary Islands and Navarra have doubled the number of psychologists that intervene in mental health, while in other territories there has been minimal variation “and certainly far from the idea of strengthening this specific type of health care.”
Besides, no concrete intention is observed (excepting some autonomous communities such as Asturias or Madrid) to increase the pace of integration of professionals psychologists in the coming years in Public Health Security.