How much do school psychologists make?
Answer
School psychologists in the US earned a median of $95,990 a year ($46.15 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $77,470 to $120,310.
- Median annual pay
- $95,990
- Mean $99,160
- Median hourly pay
- $46.15
- Mean $47.67
- Typical range (10th–90th)
- $63.1K–$142K
- $63,070 to $142,330
- US jobs
- 63,940
- +0.8% 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 school psychologist: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: Colorado
School Psychologist pay range
Annual wages, May 2025
- 10th percentile$63,070
- 25th percentile$77,470
- Median$95,990
- 75th percentile$120,310
- 90th percentile$142,330
Half of all school psychologists earned more than $95,990 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $63,070; the top 10% made over $142,330. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $77,470 to $120,310.
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 | $63,070 | $30.32 | $5,256 |
| 25th | $77,470 | $37.25 | $6,456 |
| Median (50th) | $95,990 | $46.15 | $7,999 |
| 75th | $120,310 | $57.84 | $10,026 |
| 90th | $142,330 | $68.43 | $11,861 |
| Mean (average) | $99,160 | $47.67 | $8,263 |
School Psychologist salary by state
Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024
Highest-paying states
- 1. California $127,780
- 2. Colorado $124,770
- 3. New Mexico $110,360
- 4. Maryland $109,700
- 5. Washington $108,780
Lowest-paying states
- 51. Mississippi $61,070
- 50. Arkansas $64,030
- 49. Oklahoma $64,930
- 48. North Dakota $68,960
- 47. Louisiana $69,020
Best after cost of living: Colorado. Its median of $124,770 is worth about $121,075 at national-average prices, more than in California once prices are counted.
| Alabama | $75,060 | 40 | $84,505 | 31 | $36.09 | 370 | 0.17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $94,460 | 15 | $92,283 | 17 | $45.42 | 120 | 0.38 |
| Arizona | $92,380 | 17 | $91,759 | 18 | $44.42 | 1,100 | 0.34 |
| Arkansas | $64,030 | 50 | $73,651 | 49 | $30.78 | 440 | 0.34 |
| California | $127,780 | 1 | $115,408 | 3 | $61.43 | 8,340 | 0.46 |
| Colorado | $124,770 | 2 | $121,075 | 1 | $59.98 | 1,380 | 0.48 |
| Connecticut | $100,600 | 9 | $97,095 | 12 | $48.37 | 1,140 | 0.67 |
| Delaware | $95,990 | 12 | $96,175 | 13 | $46.15 | 280 | 0.58 |
| District of Columbia | $107,500 | 6 | $97,815 | 11 | $51.68 | 250 | 0.36 |
| Florida | $84,760 | 22 | $81,962 | 38 | $40.75 | 2,020 | 0.20 |
| Georgia | $99,110 | 10 | $102,925 | 5 | $47.65 | 1,650 | 0.34 |
| Hawaii | $82,110 | 30 | $74,679 | 47 | $39.48 | 90 | 0.14 |
| Idaho | $71,700 | 45 | $75,083 | 46 | $34.47 | 310 | 0.36 |
| Illinois | $84,690 | 23 | $84,726 | 28 | $40.72 | 3,590 | 0.59 |
| Indiana | $77,640 | 35 | $83,190 | 37 | $37.33 | 710 | 0.22 |
| Iowa | $74,410 | 41 | $84,786 | 26 | $35.77 | 400 | 0.26 |
| Kansas | $73,020 | 44 | $81,072 | 40 | $35.11 | 630 | 0.44 |
| Kentucky | $75,370 | 38 | $83,597 | 36 | $36.24 | 590 | 0.29 |
| Louisiana | $69,020 | 47 | $78,248 | 42 | $33.18 | 670 | 0.35 |
| Maine | $81,650 | 31 | $84,132 | 33 | $39.25 | 120 | 0.19 |
| Maryland | $109,700 | 4 | $104,517 | 4 | $52.74 | 1,520 | 0.55 |
| Massachusetts | $98,670 | 11 | $93,299 | 15 | $47.44 | 3,300 | 0.91 |
| Michigan | $83,960 | 24 | $87,261 | 23 | $40.36 | 1,480 | 0.34 |
| Minnesota | $85,190 | 21 | $86,381 | 24 | $40.96 | 1,060 | 0.36 |
| Mississippi | $61,070 | 51 | $70,233 | 51 | $29.36 | — | — |
| Missouri | $70,290 | 46 | $77,397 | 45 | $33.79 | 520 | 0.18 |
| Montana | $80,010 | 32 | $84,537 | 30 | $38.47 | 170 | 0.32 |
| Nebraska | $88,980 | 19 | $98,754 | 8 | $42.78 | 440 | 0.43 |
| Nevada | $93,680 | 16 | $93,700 | 14 | $45.04 | 290 | 0.19 |
| New Hampshire | $73,490 | 42 | $70,552 | 50 | $35.33 | 360 | 0.53 |
| New Jersey | $95,160 | 13 | $87,459 | 22 | $45.75 | 2,130 | 0.50 |
| New Mexico | $110,360 | 3 | $119,681 | 2 | $53.06 | 630 | 0.72 |
| New York | $106,550 | 7 | $98,730 | 9 | $51.22 | 9,070 | 0.94 |
| North Carolina | $73,220 | 43 | $77,624 | 43 | $35.20 | 1,540 | 0.31 |
| North Dakota | $68,960 | 48 | $77,519 | 44 | $33.15 | 90 | 0.20 |
| Ohio | $91,010 | 18 | $98,099 | 10 | $43.76 | 2,050 | 0.37 |
| Oklahoma | $64,930 | 49 | $73,916 | 48 | $31.22 | 510 | 0.30 |
| Oregon | $106,070 | 8 | $102,621 | 6 | $50.99 | 570 | 0.29 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,190 | 29 | $84,235 | 32 | $39.51 | 2,600 | 0.43 |
| Rhode Island | $94,900 | 14 | $92,785 | 16 | $45.62 | 210 | 0.42 |
| South Carolina | $76,720 | 37 | $81,836 | 39 | $36.89 | 720 | 0.31 |
| South Dakota | $78,370 | 33 | $88,468 | 21 | $37.68 | 110 | 0.23 |
| Tennessee | $76,850 | 36 | $83,651 | 35 | $36.95 | 900 | 0.27 |
| Texas | $83,690 | 26 | $86,228 | 25 | $40.24 | 4,250 | 0.30 |
| Utah | $77,820 | 34 | $78,714 | 41 | $37.42 | 490 | 0.28 |
| Vermont | $82,820 | 28 | $84,546 | 29 | $39.82 | 180 | 0.58 |
| Virginia | $85,670 | 20 | $84,735 | 27 | $41.19 | 1,200 | 0.29 |
| Washington | $108,780 | 5 | $101,651 | 7 | $52.30 | 1,420 | 0.40 |
| West Virginia | $75,220 | 39 | $84,048 | 34 | $36.16 | 250 | 0.36 |
| Wisconsin | $83,330 | 27 | $88,559 | 20 | $40.06 | 1,180 | 0.40 |
| Wyoming | $83,740 | 25 | $90,343 | 19 | $40.26 | 120 | 0.45 |
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. State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.
Best-paying metro areas for school psychologists
208 metro areas with published pay
| Metro area | Median | Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | $145,400 | $152,773 | 50 |
| Boulder, CO | $143,020 | $135,948 | 110 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $139,400 | $130,963 | 760 |
| Merced, CA | $133,230 | $135,569 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $131,920 | $123,671 | 460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $131,070 | $117,145 | 850 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,540 | $112,911 | 680 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $130,520 | $118,200 | 260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $129,610 | $117,258 | 220 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $129,340 | $122,270 | 770 |
| Metro area | Jobs | Median | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 7,890 | $117,540 | $104,422 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,060 | $122,390 | $107,770 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,770 | $90,620 | $87,475 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,340 | $98,670 | $91,137 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,690 | $82,190 | $80,143 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,590 | $106,550 | $97,856 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,300 | $99,110 | $99,053 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,300 | $84,850 | $86,029 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 930 | $84,200 | $81,676 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 850 | $131,070 | $117,145 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).
What moves school psychologist pay: employers and settings
Because 53,670 of the 63,940 school psychologists work in elementary and secondary schools, most pay is set by district salary schedules. Those schedules usually pay more for each year of service and for degrees beyond the specialist level, and some districts pay a stipend for the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential or for extra contract days. The school-based median is $94,120.
Some settings pay more. Staffing and employment services firms, which place contract school psychologists in districts with shortages, have a median of $106,740. Educational support services, such as regional service agencies, pay $104,680 and local government outside schools pays $104,020. Health practitioner offices ($82,190) and colleges and universities ($84,450) pay less. Private employers as a group pay a median of $98,710 against $95,530 for local government.
State matters more than anything else. California, at $127,780, and Colorado, at $124,770, lead, followed by New Mexico, Maryland and Washington, while Mississippi ($61,070), Arkansas and Oklahoma are lowest. Colorado also comes out on top after adjusting for living costs, at $121,075. Across the field, the 10th percentile is $63,070, and the 90th is $142,330, a spread that reflects differences in state, employer and extra duties in a single year, not a ladder of years on the job.
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 83.9% | $94,120 |
| Educational Support Services | 4.2% | $104,680 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 2.5% | $82,190 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 1.7% | $84,450 |
| Employment Services | 1.7% | $106,740 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals | 1.1% | $104,020 |
| Employer type | Jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Private employers | 10,110 | $98,710 |
| State government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 960 | $89,700 |
| Local government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 52,860 | $95,530 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).
School Psychologist pay over time
Median annual pay, 2021–2025
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
The median rose from $78,780 in 2021 to $95,990 in 2025, up 22% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2021 median is worth $94,077 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 school psychologists do
A school psychologist helps students who are struggling to learn, behave or cope at school, and helps the adults around them respond well. Much of the job is evaluation: testing a child's cognitive, academic, social and emotional functioning, then explaining what the results mean at a meeting with parents, teachers and administrators. Those evaluations often decide whether a student qualifies for special education services and what goes into an individualized education program (IEP).
The rest of the week goes to consultation, short-term counseling, behavior plans, crisis response and schoolwide prevention work such as screening and anti-bullying programs. School psychologists work closely with special education teachers, school counselors, speech-language pathologists, nurses and principals, and often split their time between two or more schools in a district. More than four in five work for elementary and secondary schools. Others work for education service agencies, health practices, universities and staffing firms that place them in districts. Most follow the school calendar, with summers off unless they choose extended-year contracts.
A typical day
- Give and score tests of intelligence, achievement, memory, attention and behavior
- Watch students in class or at recess to see what triggers a problem
- Write evaluation reports and present them at special education eligibility and IEP meetings
- Advise teachers on classroom strategies and behavior plans for specific students
- Meet with students one-on-one or in small groups about anxiety, anger or social skills
- Respond to crises such as threats, self-harm concerns or a death in the school community
- Keep confidential records and meet legal deadlines for evaluations
Also called: autism consultant, bilingual school psychologist, challenging behavior consultant, early intervention school psychologist, educational diagnostician, school neuropsychologist, school psychometrist.
How to become a school psychologist
Full guideTo become a school psychologist, earn a bachelor's degree, then complete a specialist-level school psychology program of at least 60 graduate semester hours, including a 1,200-hour internship, pass the Praxis School Psychologist (5403) exam if your state requires it, and get your state education credential. Expect about 7 years after high school.
- Typical time
- 7 to 9 years after high school
- Fastest: 7 years after high school
- Minimum education
- Specialist-level degree in school psychology (Ed.S., Psy.S. or master's plus post-master's certificate, at least 60 graduate semester hours)
- License
- Required in all states: a school psychologist credential (certificate or license) from the state education agency; independent practice outside schools needs a separate psychology license
- Typical training cost
- $45.7K–$133K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a school 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
- 7 to 9 years after high school
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $45.7K–$133K
- Tuition and exam fees, before aid
- Median pay
- $95,990
- $45,010 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
- Cost vs. one year's pay
- 48–138%
- Training cost as a share of a year at the median
Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($45,010 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in about 1.0–2.9 years after training ends (7 to 9 years 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 school psychologists
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +0.8%
- All occupations +3.5%
- Jobs in 2025
- 64,000
- 64,500 projected for 2035
- Openings each year
- 3,400
- New jobs plus replacements
- Self-employed
- 0.3%
- Not in the pay figures above
BLS expects school psychologist jobs to stay nearly flat, growing 0.8% from 64,000 in 2025 to 64,500 in 2035, well below the 3.5% average for all occupations. Even so, about 3,400 openings a year are projected, almost all from people retiring or leaving the field. Schools are paying more attention to how mental health affects learning, and students whose behavioral or developmental problems get in the way of schoolwork still need evaluation and support. Working against growth, BLS points to fewer school-age children and falling enrollment over the decade.
Related careers and their pay
- Psychologist$100,580
- School Counselor$64,330
- Marriage and Family Therapist$66,940
- Psychiatrist$281,870
- Elementary School Teacher$63,970
- School Principal$105,870
Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
School Psychologist salary FAQ
How much do school psychologists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for school psychologists was $46.15 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $30.32 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $68.43. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.
Which state pays school psychologists the most?
California has the highest median pay for school psychologists, $127,780 a year, followed by Colorado ($124,770) and New Mexico ($110,360). After adjusting for each state's price level, Colorado comes out ahead at about $121,075 in national-average dollars.
Do school psychologists make six figures?
Some do: based on the BLS percentiles, between 25% and 50% of school psychologists earn more than $100,000 a year. The median is $95,990, and the top 10% earn more than $142,330. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.
What is the difference between a school psychologist and a school counselor?
School psychologists focus on evaluation and intervention for students with learning, behavioral or emotional problems, and their test results drive special education decisions. They need a specialist-level degree of at least 60 graduate semester hours. School counselors work with all students on academic planning, college and career choices and everyday social problems, and usually need a master's degree in school counseling. The two often work side by side on the same students.
Is a school psychologist a doctor?
Usually not. Most school psychologists hold a specialist-level degree, such as an Ed.S. or a master's plus a post-master's certificate, which takes about three years of graduate study. Some earn a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in school psychology, which takes longer and adds research and advanced practice training. Only those with a doctorate and a state psychology license can typically call themselves a psychologist outside school settings.
Do school psychologists work in the summer?
Most work on a school-year contract, often a few days longer than teachers' contracts to finish evaluations and reports. Summers are usually off unless the district offers extended-year days or summer evaluation work, which is typically paid extra. Those employed by staffing firms, clinics or service agencies may work year-round.
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 19-3034
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
- O*NET 31.0 Database (19-3034.00), 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
- NCSP Eligibility, National Association of School Psychologists · checked October 28, 2026
- School Psychologist (5403), ETS Praxis · checked October 28, 2026
- Selecting a Graduate Program, National Association of School Psychologists · checked October 28, 2026
- National Certification, National Association of School Psychologists · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) · checked October 28, 2026
Careers and Salaries is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Found an error? Tell us; corrections are listed on the editorial policy page.