[USA] Should I pursue a MSW or MA/MS in Clinical Psych?

I have been having a lot of trouble deciding between becoming a LCSW or trying to aim for a Clinical Psychology PhD.

For some background, I graduated with my bachelors in Psychology and Neuroscience. I come from a low income family so I was on several grants and scholarships and typically worked two jobs while in school. Fortunately, I was able to gain some Psychology research in Development and Social Psychology research, but not enough to become a competitive applicant for PhD. I have worked in ABA therapy, have been volunteering as a crisis counselor, and currently work in an inpatient behavioral health unit in a hospital.

My dream career is becoming a Professor in Clinical Psychology. However, due to my limited research, I don’t think I am a competitive applicant for PhD programs.

My main worry with completing a MA/MS in Clinical Psychology is that I won’t end up enjoying research and will be earning the same I am with just a bachelors and won’t want to continue for a PhD.

I have been actively applying for research positions for over a year, but have been getting rejected. I think gaining the research experience through paid positions would be relatively safer than committing to a research intensive program without fully knowing if I like it enough.

My thought process is that if I become a LCSW it may make me more competitive for research positions where I can discover if I like it. If I don’t, then I have several career paths I can decide from, providing me with a safety net for my career.

Although it may be untraditional, would it be achievable to get my MSW, gain clinical psychology research experience, then enter a PhD program? I am not worried about the timeframe for this, as I really enjoy being in school, no matter how long it takes.