SOC 19-3033 · May 2025
Psychologist Salary
Psychologists in the US earn a median of $100,580 a year ($54.21 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Psychologist pay climbed from $99,640 in 2021 to $112,750 in 2025, a +13.2% change in 4 years.
Median annual
$100,580
Half of all Psychologists in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+13.2% since 2021 · +5.5% YoY
Hourly
$54.21
Job growth 2025-35
+11.7%
US workers
75,990
BLS series
Annual median wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Psychologists is $55,170 – $180,960.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$55,170
25th
$73,210
Median
$100,580
75th
$135,200
90th
$180,960
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Psychologists. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $55,170 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $73,210 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $100,580 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $135,200 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $180,960 |
Geography
Psychologist pay by state
Psychologists earn the most in Oregon ($134,350, +34% against the national median) and the least in New Hampshire ($64,270). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 48 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$100,580
Highest-paying states for psychologists
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $134,350 | +34% | 540 |
| New Jersey | $127,090 | +26% | 2,700 |
| New Mexico | $124,800 | +24% | – |
| Alaska | $124,270 | +24% | 40 |
| Arizona | $119,010 | +18% | 730 |
| Hawaii | $117,860 | +17% | 250 |
| North Dakota | $116,130 | +15% | 170 |
| California | $116,000 | +15% | 12,840 |
| Washington | $115,240 | +15% | 1,270 |
| Massachusetts | $115,180 | +15% | 2,860 |
All 48 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $134,350 | 540 |
| New Jersey | $127,090 | 2,700 |
| New Mexico | $124,800 | – |
| Alaska | $124,270 | 40 |
| Arizona | $119,010 | 730 |
| Hawaii | $117,860 | 250 |
| North Dakota | $116,130 | 170 |
| California | $116,000 | 12,840 |
| Washington | $115,240 | 1,270 |
| Massachusetts | $115,180 | 2,860 |
| New York | $114,400 | 8,420 |
| Wisconsin | $113,360 | 1,150 |
| Colorado | $113,290 | 1,170 |
| Delaware | $113,050 | 280 |
| Rhode Island | $107,490 | 420 |
| Minnesota | $107,030 | 1,290 |
| D.C. | $107,000 | 220 |
| Nevada | $102,650 | 680 |
| Ohio | $101,190 | 2,080 |
| Missouri | $99,410 | 840 |
| Utah | $99,170 | 1,020 |
| Kentucky | $99,140 | 710 |
| Idaho | $97,790 | 300 |
| Georgia | $96,060 | 1,120 |
| Nebraska | $94,540 | 770 |
| South Carolina | $92,700 | – |
| North Carolina | $92,130 | 2,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,870 | 3,140 |
| Iowa | $91,690 | 440 |
| Alabama | $90,800 | 260 |
| Wyoming | $89,890 | 50 |
| Virginia | $86,520 | 2,140 |
| Florida | $85,610 | 3,040 |
| Indiana | $84,990 | 1,850 |
| Michigan | $84,730 | 2,170 |
| Illinois | $83,750 | 5,810 |
| Texas | $83,660 | 3,640 |
| Vermont | $83,270 | 190 |
| South Dakota | $80,130 | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $79,950 | 950 |
| Arkansas | $77,520 | 370 |
| West Virginia | $77,040 | 920 |
| Tennessee | $76,820 | 1,180 |
| Kansas | $76,690 | 400 |
| Mississippi | $76,000 | 210 |
| Louisiana | $71,330 | 320 |
| Montana | $68,160 | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $64,270 | 330 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Psychologists
Clinical and counseling psychologists (BLS SOC 19-3033) assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. The role requires a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) and state licensure following supervised post-doctoral hours. Pay varies by setting: VA, hospital, and university pay above private-practice early-career; established private practices and group practices may exceed OEWS figures substantially.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $55,170 – $180,960. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Oregon, New Jersey and New Mexico. Pay in Oregon runs 2.1 times the level in New Hampshire, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as doctoral or professional degree, and projects about 4,100 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 11.7% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Psychologist salary in the US?
How much does a Psychologist make an hour?
How much do Psychologists make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Psychologists the most?
Is the average Psychologist salary higher than the median?
Is Psychologist a growing career?
Open positions
Open Psychologist roles hiring now
Browse current Psychologist listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 19-3033. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.