How much do psychologists make?

Psychologist salary 2026 · BLS occupation: Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033) · Updated October 28, 2026

Answer

Psychologists in the US earned a median of $100,580 a year ($48.36 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $73,210 to $135,200.

Median annual pay: $100,580; Mean $112,750
Median hourly pay: $48.36; Mean $54.21
Typical range (10th–90th): $55.2K–$181K; $55,170 to $180,960
US jobs: 75,990; +11.7% projected, 2025–35

BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology

How to become a psychologist: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: New Mexico

Psychologist pay range

Annual wages, May 2025

10th percentile$55,170
25th percentile$73,210
Median$100,580
75th percentile$135,200
90th percentile$180,960

Half of all psychologists earned more than $100,580 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $55,170; the top 10% made over $180,960. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $73,210 to $135,200.

These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.

Percentile	Annual	Hourly	Monthly
10th	$55,170	$26.53	$4,598
25th	$73,210	$35.20	$6,101
Median (50th)	$100,580	$48.36	$8,382
75th	$135,200	$65.00	$11,267
90th	$180,960	$87.00	$15,080
Mean (average)	$112,750	$54.21	$9,396

Psychologist salary by state

Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024

Median annual pay for psychologists by state. Darker tiles pay more. A dash means BLS did not publish a figure.

Highest-paying states

1. Oregon $134,350
2. New Jersey $127,090
3. New Mexico $124,800
4. Alaska $124,270
5. Arizona $119,010

Lowest-paying states

48. New Hampshire $64,270
47. Montana $68,160
46. Louisiana $71,330
45. Mississippi $76,000
44. Kansas $76,690

Best after cost of living: New Mexico. Its median of $124,800 is worth about $135,340 at national-average prices, more than in Oregon once prices are counted.


Alabama	$90,800	30	$102,226	24	$43.65	260	0.12
Alaska	$124,270	4	$121,406	4	$59.75	40	0.13
Arizona	$119,010	5	$118,210	6	$57.22	730	0.23
Arkansas	$77,520	41	$89,168	35	$37.27	370	0.29
California	$116,000	8	$104,769	20	$55.77	12,840	0.70
Colorado	$113,290	13	$109,935	10	$54.46	1,170	0.41
Connecticut	—	—	—	—	—	660	0.39
Delaware	$113,050	14	$113,267	8	$54.35	280	0.57
District of Columbia	$107,000	17	$97,360	29	$51.44	220	0.32
Florida	$85,610	33	$82,784	45	$41.16	3,040	0.31
Georgia	$96,060	24	$99,758	26	$46.18	1,120	0.23
Hawaii	$117,860	6	$107,193	16	$56.66	250	0.40
Idaho	$97,790	23	$102,404	23	$47.01	300	0.35
Illinois	$83,750	36	$83,785	43	$40.27	5,810	0.95
Indiana	$84,990	34	$91,065	32	$40.86	1,850	0.58
Iowa	$91,690	29	$104,476	21	$44.08	440	0.28
Kansas	$76,690	44	$85,147	41	$36.87	400	0.28
Kentucky	$99,140	22	$109,961	9	$47.66	710	0.36
Louisiana	$71,330	46	$80,867	46	$34.29	320	0.17
Maine	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Maryland	—	—	—	—	—	2,140	0.77
Massachusetts	$115,180	10	$108,910	13	$55.37	2,860	0.79
Michigan	$84,730	35	$88,061	36	$40.74	2,170	0.49
Minnesota	$107,030	16	$108,527	14	$51.46	1,290	0.44
Mississippi	$76,000	45	$87,404	37	$36.54	210	0.18
Missouri	$99,410	20	$109,462	11	$47.79	840	0.29
Montana	$68,160	47	$72,016	47	$32.77	150	0.30
Nebraska	$94,540	25	$104,924	19	$45.45	770	0.75
Nevada	$102,650	18	$102,672	22	$49.35	680	0.44
New Hampshire	$64,270	48	$61,700	48	$30.90	330	0.48
New Jersey	$127,090	2	$116,805	7	$61.10	2,700	0.63
New Mexico	$124,800	3	$135,340	1	$60.00	—	—
New York	$114,400	11	$106,003	17	$55.00	8,420	0.87
North Carolina	$92,130	27	$97,672	28	$44.29	2,770	0.56
North Dakota	$116,130	7	$130,543	2	$55.83	170	0.40
Ohio	$101,190	19	$109,072	12	$48.65	2,080	0.38
Oklahoma	$79,950	40	$91,015	33	$38.44	950	0.56
Oregon	$134,350	1	$129,981	3	$64.59	540	0.27
Pennsylvania	$91,870	28	$94,156	31	$44.17	3,140	0.52
Rhode Island	$107,490	15	$105,094	18	$51.68	420	0.84
South Carolina	$92,700	26	$98,881	27	$44.57	—	—
South Dakota	$80,130	39	$90,454	34	$38.52	120	0.25
Tennessee	$76,820	43	$83,618	44	$36.93	1,180	0.36
Texas	$83,660	37	$86,197	38	$40.22	3,640	0.26
Utah	$99,170	21	$100,310	25	$47.68	1,020	0.59
Vermont	$83,270	38	$85,006	42	$40.04	190	0.63
Virginia	$86,520	32	$85,575	40	$41.60	2,140	0.52
Washington	$115,240	9	$107,688	15	$55.40	1,270	0.36
West Virginia	$77,040	42	$86,081	39	$37.04	920	1.31
Wisconsin	$113,360	12	$120,474	5	$54.50	1,150	0.39
Wyoming	$89,890	31	$96,978	30	$43.22	50	0.16

BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure (3 states). State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.

Best-paying metro areas for psychologists

208 metro areas with published pay

Highest median pay
Metro area	Median	Adjusted	Jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$166,400	$143,928	1,540
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$155,960	$143,615	90
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$153,050	$143,480	630
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$147,210	$144,875	40
Salem, OR	$143,980	$138,911	130
Vallejo, CA	$143,600	$132,376	180
Santa Fe, NM	$131,470	$133,111	60
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	$130,870	$140,828	50
Green Bay, WI	$130,360	$140,043	50
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$129,860	$123,571	160

Most jobs
Metro area	Jobs	Median	Adjusted
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	8,170	$120,510	$107,060
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	5,030	$85,390	$82,427
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	4,790	$99,250	$87,394
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	1,920	$121,270	$112,011
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	1,920	$112,690	$109,884
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	1,650	$72,090	$64,431
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	1,550	$101,670	$93,375
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	1,540	$166,400	$143,928
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	1,420	—	—
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	1,130	$92,730	$87,118

BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).

What moves psychologist pay: employers and settings

Work setting moves psychologist pay noticeably. In our data, outpatient care centers pay a median of $108,210 and general hospitals $107,770 while private and group practices (offices of other health practitioners), where 43% of psychologists work, pay $98,820. Individual and family services agencies are lowest of the big settings at $89,120. Government jobs do well: local government has a median of $123,070 and state government $106,440 against $99,160 for private employers.

State also matters. Oregon leads at $134,350, followed by New Jersey at $127,090, New Mexico at $124,800, Alaska at $124,270, and Arizona at $119,010. The lowest are Louisiana at $71,330, Montana at $68,160, and New Hampshire at $64,270. New Mexico comes out best after living costs, at $135,340.

The full range runs from $55,170, the 10th percentile, to $180,960, the 90th. Those percentiles describe the spread of pay across all psychologists, not steps in a career. Private practice income depends on caseload, fees and insurance rates.

Where psychologists work
Industry	Share of jobs	Median pay
Offices of Other Health Practitioners	43%	$98,820
Outpatient Care Centers	10%	$108,210
Individual and Family Services	8.9%	$89,120
Offices of Physicians	7.3%	$102,530
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	6.4%	$107,770
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals	4.7%	$109,530

Private employers and government
Employer type	Jobs	Median pay
Private employers	65,960	$99,160
State government (incl. schools and hospitals)	7,260	$106,440
Local government (incl. schools and hospitals)	2,770	$123,070

BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).

Psychologist pay over time

Median annual pay, 2021–2025

$101K $82.5K

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Nominal median (dollars of each year)In May 2025 dollars (adjusted with CPI-U)

The median rose from $82,510 in 2021 to $100,580 in 2025, up 22% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2021 median is worth $98,531 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay grew 2% over the period.

The series starts in 2021 because BLS changed how it defines or publishes this occupation before then, so earlier figures are not comparable.

BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.

What psychologists do

A clinical or counseling psychologist evaluates and treats mental health problems with talk therapy and psychological testing. A typical week mixes therapy sessions with individuals, couples, families or groups, intake interviews with new clients, and testing for conditions such as ADHD, learning disorders, dementia or trauma, followed by long written reports. Psychologists do not usually prescribe medication; they coordinate with psychiatrists and primary care doctors who do, although a handful of states let specially trained psychologists prescribe.

Clinical psychologists tend to see more serious and long-term conditions, while counseling psychologists often focus on life stress, relationships and adjustment, though the two overlap heavily in practice. The largest share works in private and group practices, listed in our data as offices of other health practitioners. Others work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, physicians' offices, social service agencies, prisons and state mental health systems. Some work evenings or weekends to fit clients' schedules, and documentation, insurance paperwork and risk assessments take up a real part of the day.

A typical day

Interview new clients about symptoms, history and goals, and screen for risk of self-harm or violence
Give and score tests of personality, intelligence, memory or attention
Diagnose conditions and write a treatment plan with the client
Hold therapy sessions using approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy
Write session notes, evaluation reports and letters for schools, courts or doctors
Talk with psychiatrists, physicians and case managers about shared patients
Track whether treatment is working and change the plan when it is not

Also called: clinical psychologist, counseling psychologist, case manager, counselor, licensed clinical psychologist, licensed psychologist, lpc (licensed professional counselor), psychotherapist.

How to become a psychologist

Full guide

To become a clinical or counseling psychologist, you earn a bachelor's degree, then a doctorate (PhD or PsyD) that includes a one-year internship, complete the supervised hours your state requires, and pass the EPPP licensing exam. Plan on about 9 years or more after high school.

Typical time: 9 years or more after high school; Fastest: About 8 years after high school
Minimum education: Doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in clinical or counseling psychology, preferably from an APA-accredited program
License: Required in all 50 states and DC to practice independently; most states also limit use of the title psychologist to licensees
Typical training cost: $81.0K–$133K; See the guide for what it includes

Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a psychologist: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.

Is it worth it? Training cost against pay

Compare careers

Training time: 9 years or more after high school; Typical path in our guide
Training cost: $81.0K–$133K; Tuition and exam fees, before aid
Median pay: $100,580; $49,600 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
Cost vs. one year's pay: 81–133%; Training cost as a share of a year at the median

Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($49,600 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in about 1.6–2.7 years after training ends (9 years or more after high school in our guide). This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.

Job outlook for psychologists

BLS Employment Projections 2025–35

Projected growth: +11.7%; All occupations +3.5%
Jobs in 2025: 81,300; 90,900 projected for 2035
Openings each year: 4,100; New jobs plus replacements
Self-employed: 4.8%; Not in the pay figures above

BLS projects clinical and counseling psychologist jobs to grow 11.7% from 2025 to 2035, from 81,300 to 90,900. That is more than three times the 3.5% average for all occupations, with about 4,100 openings a year. Demand comes from more people seeking mental health care and from hospitals, clinics and social service agencies hiring psychologists. Many of the openings will come from psychologists who retire or leave the occupation.

Related careers and their pay

Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Psychologist salary FAQ

How much do psychologists make an hour?

The median hourly wage for psychologists was $48.36 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $26.53 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $87.00. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.

Which state pays psychologists the most?

Oregon has the highest median pay for psychologists, $134,350 a year, followed by New Jersey ($127,090) and New Mexico ($124,800). After adjusting for each state's price level, New Mexico comes out ahead at about $135,340 in national-average dollars.

Do psychologists make $200,000 a year?

Few do: based on the BLS percentiles, fewer than 10% of psychologists earn more than $200,000 a year. The median is $100,580, and the top 10% earn more than $180,960. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

A psychologist has a doctorate in psychology (PhD or PsyD) and treats people mainly with therapy and psychological testing. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who finished medical school and a psychiatry residency and can prescribe medication in every state. Many patients see both: the psychiatrist manages medication while the psychologist provides therapy. Only a few states let psychologists with extra training in psychopharmacology prescribe.

Do psychologists earn more in hospitals or private practice?

In our data, hospitals and outpatient clinics pay a bit more than private practice. General hospitals have a median of $107,770 and outpatient care centers $108,210 compared with $98,820 for offices of other health practitioners, which includes private and group practices. Private practice earnings vary widely, because income depends on how many clients you see, your fees and how much insurance pays.

Has psychologist pay kept up with inflation?

Yes, slightly. The median rose from $82,510 in 2021 to $100,580 in 2025. Adjusted to 2025 dollars, the 2021 median was $98,531 and the real gain over those four years was modest. Most of the nominal increase matched rising prices rather than a large jump in buying power.

Sources

Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 19-3033
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
O*NET 31.0 Database (19-3033.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
Psychologists, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychology, American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · checked October 28, 2026
EPPP Registration Fees, Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards · checked October 28, 2026
Match Overview, Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) · checked October 28, 2026
Application for Licensure as a Psychologist, California Board of Psychology · checked October 28, 2026
Updates on the EPPP's Accessibility, Eligibility, and Cost for 2028, Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards · checked October 28, 2026
About prescribing psychologists, APA Services · checked October 28, 2026
License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
Cal. Code Regs. tit. 16, § 1387, Supervised Professional Experience, California Board of Psychology regulations (via Cornell Legal Information Institute) · checked October 28, 2026

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