How Much Do School Psychologists Earn?

Read about salary and job outlook predictions for school psychologists.

school counselor works with young boy during session

Median Annual School Psychologist 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: $84,940

Projected job growth: 1.3%

10th Percentile: $59,250

25th Percentile: $70,520

75th Percentile: $107,400

90th Percentile: $131,470

Projected job growth: 1.3%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$65,400	$60,130	$82,290
Alaska	$92,760	$65,850	$148,880
Arizona	$81,280	$62,230	$109,420
Arkansas	$57,120	$47,980	$80,000
California	$106,790	$77,430	$140,570
Colorado	$109,800	$83,050	$139,200
Connecticut	$95,900	$63,960	$135,380
Delaware	$82,710	$60,910	$103,480
District of Columbia	$93,200	$79,430	$138,200
Florida	$77,990	$49,930	$102,610
Georgia	$89,920	$62,310	$118,980
Idaho	$74,160	$42,160	$106,280
Illinois	$78,330	$52,750	$115,190
Indiana	$76,440	$45,200	$108,680
Iowa	$69,020	$48,470	$92,250
Kansas	$65,740	$53,310	$94,240
Kentucky	$68,380	$54,310	$89,870
Louisiana	$64,260	$53,390	$77,520
Maine	$83,000	$59,950	$99,330
Maryland	$98,370	$63,690	$125,450
Massachusetts	$101,570	$67,680	$145,600
Michigan	$80,580	$55,850	$105,540
Minnesota	$82,580	$58,250	$104,680
Mississippi	$65,220	$43,740	$96,760
Missouri	$58,740	$53,890	$103,770
Montana	$75,350	$54,640	$87,850
Nebraska	$78,270	$55,200	$107,860
Nevada	$83,940	$66,680	$108,020
New Hampshire	$80,310	$59,470	$105,840
New Jersey	$93,380	$67,560	$122,150
New Mexico	$100,980	$72,650	$142,630
New York	$98,960	$63,480	$156,000
North Carolina	$67,530	$49,510	$83,450
North Dakota	$67,880	$51,710	$83,700
Ohio	$94,160	$52,600	$121,650
Oklahoma	$62,540	$41,610	$101,120
Oregon	$99,840	$64,550	$136,120
Pennsylvania	$84,140	$62,230	$124,180
Rhode Island	$88,850	$55,780	$105,150
South Carolina	$74,450	$54,230	$105,600
South Dakota	$73,440	$60,870	$117,540
Tennessee	$66,400	$51,810	$90,980
Texas	$77,940	$63,490	$104,360
Utah	$74,730	$45,330	$97,140
Vermont	$77,000	$55,000	$102,260
Virginia	$79,870	$56,920	$127,650
Washington	$105,720	$81,100	$130,250
West Virginia	$69,640	$39,040	$96,470
Wisconsin	$80,000	$59,440	$124,780
Wyoming	$85,810	$70,070	$126,340

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. 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	$84,940
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists	$147,420
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors	$61,710
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$96,100

Is there a demand for this career?

According to the BLS, employment growth for school psychologists is expected to be right above the national average for all other careers, saying demand for psychological services in schools will grow as the number of students grows.

Job growth for school psychologists through 2032

1.3%

slightly above the 3% average for all careers

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 6.1% through 2032, 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 2032

Psychologists—6.1%
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors—18.4%
Social Workers—7.4%
School and Career Counselors—5.4%

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