<p>Is it currently worthwhile to pursue? I do have a strong passion for psychology and the human condition.</p>
<p>I just don't want to get into something that won't net me a decent lifestyle 75k+ no matter how passionate I am about the subject or practice.</p>
<p>You can make a reasonable living as a clinical psychologist but you won’t be rich, that’s for sure. Are you talking about teaching or research, or about being a therapist? If the latter, you will have to work very hard to net 75K in private practice depending on what area of the country you live in. If you work for an agency, you are unlikely to make that much unless you become head of clinical services. If you’re in private practice and you don’t work in a relatively well-to-do area where people are willing to pay for treatment and you have to rely on insurance payments, my experience is that the managed care companies are cutting payments to mental health professionals and that the amount we make is decreasing rather than increasing. On the other hand, I still love my work after many years and I have had a great deal of flexibility in setting my own schedule… which greatly enhances the quality of life if you plan to have a family. You can’t put a price on that, actually.</p>