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: $95,990

Projected job growth: 0.8%

10th Percentile: $63,070

25th Percentile: $77,470

75th Percentile: $120,310

90th Percentile: $142,330

Projected job growth: 0.8%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$75,060	$68,710	$104,720
Alaska	$94,460	$67,140	$104,160
Arizona	$92,380	$66,920	$121,700
Arkansas	$64,030	$31,770	$81,110
California	$127,780	$97,200	$160,170
Colorado	$124,770	$88,090	$161,570
Connecticut	$100,600	$68,350	$126,170
Delaware	$95,990	$68,270	$124,830
District of Columbia	$107,500	$83,470	$164,380
Florida	$84,760	$62,320	$107,540
Georgia	$99,110	$61,980	$132,740
Hawaii	$82,110	$77,190	$92,750
Idaho	$71,700	$51,630	$101,040
Illinois	$84,690	$62,620	$127,640
Indiana	$77,640	$56,260	$105,290
Iowa	$74,410	$45,130	$99,720
Kansas	$73,020	$60,620	$95,810
Kentucky	$75,370	$61,550	$113,760
Louisiana	$69,020	$58,260	$100,940
Maine	$81,650	$66,960	$118,450
Maryland	$109,700	$64,360	$138,250
Massachusetts	$98,670	$65,990	$135,280
Michigan	$83,960	$57,480	$118,560
Minnesota	$85,190	$61,530	$113,330
Mississippi	$61,070	$46,470	$78,180
Missouri	$70,290	$57,290	$100,410
Montana	$80,010	$59,520	$101,380
Nebraska	$88,980	$66,420	$125,050
Nevada	$93,680	$72,250	$136,160
New Hampshire	$73,490	$38,680	$98,850
New Jersey	$95,160	$72,700	$127,910
New Mexico	$110,360	$83,980	$165,830
New York	$106,550	$67,160	$148,790
North Carolina	$73,220	$58,510	$91,970
North Dakota	$68,960	$52,690	$84,660
Ohio	$91,010	$61,100	$122,660
Oklahoma	$64,930	$39,080	$104,190
Oregon	$106,070	$83,710	$146,320
Pennsylvania	$82,190	$62,550	$118,440
Rhode Island	$94,900	$59,640	$107,360
South Carolina	$76,720	$52,340	$104,450
South Dakota	$78,370	$65,930	$127,310
Tennessee	$76,850	$53,290	$102,400
Texas	$83,690	$67,650	$116,180
Utah	$77,820	$60,400	$109,980
Vermont	$82,820	$61,940	$105,920
Virginia	$85,670	$63,130	$132,800
Washington	$108,780	$82,600	$139,110
West Virginia	$75,220	$58,690	$99,610
Wisconsin	$83,330	$60,660	$129,380
Wyoming	$83,740	$60,500	$111,690

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 median salary; projected job growth through 2035. 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	$95,990
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists	$193,950
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors	$64,330
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$100,580

Is there a demand for this career?

Job growth for school psychologists through 2035

0.8%

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 5.6% through 2035, 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 2035

Psychologists—5.6%
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors—18.4%
Social Workers—6.2%
School and Career Counselors—2.9%

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