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: $86,930

Projected job growth: 0.7%

10th Percentile: $60,880

25th Percentile: $73,240

75th Percentile: $108,210

90th Percentile: $132,320

Projected job growth: 0.7%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$71,660	$62,700	$81,000
Alaska	$92,140	$64,260	$100,670
Arizona	$82,250	$63,640	$105,620
Arkansas	$61,440	$29,990	$78,250
California	$118,310	$81,170	$154,100
Colorado	$111,060	$82,820	$153,130
Connecticut	$98,080	$65,130	$130,220
Delaware	$80,290	$63,970	$102,660
District of Columbia	$100,720	$79,890	$131,060
Florida	$82,710	$62,080	$107,960
Georgia	$96,810	$50,070	$127,050
Idaho	$61,600	$45,570	$97,140
Illinois	$80,220	$59,290	$119,250
Indiana	$74,760	$52,890	$102,780
Iowa	$70,300	$39,460	$89,790
Kansas	$68,020	$53,360	$96,690
Kentucky	$69,130	$57,660	$92,080
Louisiana	$65,290	$58,520	$95,750
Maine	$76,450	$59,390	$107,970
Maryland	$108,710	$64,970	$132,320
Massachusetts	$98,150	$64,120	$149,390
Michigan	$76,980	$50,930	$104,390
Minnesota	$82,540	$62,700	$107,170
Mississippi	$60,200	$41,600	$80,790
Missouri	$60,270	$51,090	$79,580
Montana	$76,350	$57,560	$101,820
Nebraska	$79,690	$62,800	$112,100
Nevada	$84,850	$67,260	$110,450
New Hampshire	$84,110	$62,240	$99,550
New Jersey	$90,900	$66,950	$122,520
New Mexico	$100,100	$81,820	$128,930
New York	$99,310	$63,490	$142,500
North Carolina	$70,090	$56,550	$82,170
North Dakota	$69,410	$53,050	$85,590
Ohio	$86,930	$57,920	$119,750
Oklahoma	$61,420	$39,240	$101,780
Oregon	$113,180	$77,640	$133,840
Pennsylvania	$86,050	$63,000	$123,330
Rhode Island	$87,890	$56,490	$103,490
South Carolina	$75,280	$45,900	$102,870
South Dakota	$76,990	$62,180	$120,600
Tennessee	$68,530	$50,250	$89,810
Texas	$78,150	$62,850	$105,320
Utah	$75,870	$56,920	$103,850
Vermont	$78,260	$56,620	$99,980
Virginia	$81,030	$56,700	$127,760
Washington	$106,440	$81,370	$133,190
West Virginia	$69,870	$40,060	$87,280
Wisconsin	$79,740	$60,850	$128,020
Wyoming	$88,120	$69,970	$129,630

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. 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	$86,930
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists	$109,840
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors	$65,140
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$95,830

Is there a demand for this career?

Job growth for school psychologists through 2034

0.7%

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 5.8% through 2034, 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 2034

Psychologists—5.8%
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors—16.8%
Social Workers—5.5%
School and Career Counselors—3.5%

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