Psychologists make a good living, but their salaries can vary quite a bit depending on a number of factors, such as where they work, their specialties, level of expertise, and the client base and word of mouth that they’ve built up over the years.
Read about comparative psychology salaries and projected job growth below.
Introduction
Median Annual Salary
A school psychologist works in elementary and secondary schools or school district offices to resolve students’ learning and behavior problems. School psychologists are trained in both education and psychology. Here are some statistics on salaries, job growth, and employers.
School Psychologists
National data
Median Salary: $78,780
Projected job growth: N/A
10th Percentile: $49,260
25th Percentile: $62,070
75th Percentile: $100,040
90th Percentile: $124,950
State data
| State | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $82,390 | $62,560 | $105,230 |
| Alabama | $60,840 | $58,360 | $74,780 |
| Arkansas | $62,070 | $47,580 | $155,880 |
| Arizona | $78,210 | $59,260 | $100,040 |
| California | $100,900 | $48,760 | $133,160 |
| Colorado | $99,010 | $76,730 | $133,160 |
| Connecticut | $83,010 | $61,000 | $123,230 |
| District of Columbia | $98,440 | $38,180 | $127,450 |
| Delaware | $73,260 | $47,270 | $103,020 |
| Florida | $75,000 | $46,380 | $100,040 |
| Georgia | $78,870 | $60,500 | $100,260 |
| Iowa | $63,570 | $47,580 | $81,570 |
| Idaho | $50,520 | $37,290 | $76,740 |
| Illinois | $74,870 | $39,120 | $103,590 |
| Indiana | $62,070 | $47,180 | $98,470 |
| Kansas | $63,900 | $49,290 | $94,570 |
| Kentucky | $62,070 | $48,770 | $81,590 |
| Massachusetts | $94,460 | $60,600 | $125,530 |
| Maryland | $94,460 | $61,010 | $118,720 |
| Maine | $78,220 | $62,070 | $103,590 |
| Michigan | $76,730 | $59,260 | $100,260 |
| Minnesota | $78,800 | $49,400 | $103,540 |
| Missouri | $76,160 | $47,580 | $127,690 |
| Mississippi | $58,910 | $47,240 | $78,220 |
| Montana | $62,080 | $39,630 | $81,430 |
| North Carolina | $62,760 | $46,130 | $82,390 |
| North Dakota | $74,370 | $48,770 | $78,870 |
| Nebraska | $78,220 | $59,100 | $103,590 |
| New Hampshire | $76,150 | $48,720 | $94,460 |
| New Jersey | $80,230 | $59,740 | $133,850 |
| New Mexico | $74,370 | $59,260 | $121,180 |
| Nevada | $78,780 | $49,260 | $100,810 |
| New York | $99,040 | $61,000 | $131,050 |
| Ohio | $77,100 | $47,060 | $101,100 |
| Oklahoma | $62,270 | $36,770 | $97,360 |
| Oregon | $81,580 | $62,270 | $105,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,530 | $55,550 | $104,650 |
| Rhode Island | $79,510 | $61,000 | $104,650 |
| South Carolina | $62,070 | $37,410 | $98,670 |
| South Dakota | $64,280 | $60,030 | $78,870 |
| Tennessee | $62,070 | $47,580 | $93,710 |
| Texas | $73,430 | $58,570 | $82,390 |
| Utah | $61,710 | $31,350 | $98,660 |
| Virginia | $79,500 | $61,700 | $128,280 |
| Vermont | $80,500 | $50,510 | $100,040 |
| Washington | $97,980 | $76,060 | $125,560 |
| Wisconsin | $76,980 | $48,720 | $97,910 |
| West Virginia | $60,440 | $39,330 | $83,930 |
| Wyoming | $76,730 | $60,500 | $93,710 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2021 median salary; projected job growth through 2030. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
How does a school psychologist’s salary compare to other psychology careers?
| Career | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| School Psychologists | $78,780 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | $105,310 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $60,510 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $82,510 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2021 Occupational Employment Statistics
Is there demand for this career?
According to the BLS, career employment for school psychologists is expected to right at the average as all other careers, saying demand for psychological services in schools will grow as the number of students grows. School psychologists will be needed especially to work with students with special needs, disabilities, and behavioral problems. Others may assess students, and research how factors—both in- and-out of school—affect learning. This data can help teachers and administrators improve the educational experience.
What is the job growth for the field?
Employment of psychologists is expected to grow 8% through 2030, which is on par with the national average for all occupations. Take a look at how some of the other psychology occupations compare as far as job growth:
Job Outlook Comparison Through 2030
- Psychologists—8%
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors—23%
- Social Workers—12%
- School and Career Counselors—11%
Employment of school psychologists will grow to accommodate the increasing number of children in schools, and many will also be needed to replace school psychologists who are retiring, according to the BLS. Because of the limited number of graduates in this specialty, school psychologists are expected to have good job opportunities.
National long-term projections of employment growth may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.
What kinds of companies hire school psychologists?
According to the BLS, school psychologists can maintain a private practice, but are most frequently employed by the following types of institutions:
- Elementary and secondary schools
- Ambulatory healthcare services
- Government
- Hospitals and clinics
- Private practice
How do I advance in my school psychologist career?
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) suggests whether you select the specialist or doctoral program that you receive your training from a NASP-approved school as many employers prefer to hire individuals who graduate from these programs. Too, you should consider getting nationally certified, because this certification is viewed as a measure of professionalism by employers.
While specialist programs award a master’s degree—and comprise the majority of currently employed school psychologists—in order to advance your career to the highest level, you should consider a doctoral degree program.
NASP lists some of the career advantages of completing your doctorate as the following:
- You’ll be recognized as a member by the American Psychological Association
- You may work in a range of settings
- You’ll be able to choose a career either as a practitioner, consultant, or in academia
Conclusion
As expected, teachers were the highest paid school district employees, averaging $52,000 per year. School librarians were close behind with an average salary of $45,000 per year. Most other jobs in the school district earned salaries that were substantially lower: more specifically, the school’s custodian and maintenance worker jobs averaged only $24,000 per year. Additional information was not provided on all eleven job titles, but some additional insight might be able to be gleaned from this information.
