How much do psychologists make?
Psychologists earn a median of about $94,310 per year, which works out to roughly $45 per hour (BLS, May 2024 data). Pay ranges from under $54,860 for the lowest 10 percent to more than $157,330 for the top 10 percent.
Cost breakdown
| Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (lowest 10%) | Under $54,860 | About $26/hour; early-career or lower-paying settings |
| Median (national) | $94,310 | About $45/hour (BLS, May 2024) |
| Clinical & counseling psychologists | ~$96,100 | Median for the most common specialty |
| Industrial-organizational psychologists | ~$139,280 | Highest-paid specialty (median) |
| School psychologists | ~$84,940 | Lower-paying specialty (median) |
| Top earners (highest 10%) | Over $157,330 | About $76/hour; senior, specialized, or high-cost markets |
Typical psychologist pay
The median annual wage for psychologists is about $94,310, or roughly $45 per hour, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median means half of psychologists earn more and half earn less. The middle of the field clusters near six figures, but the spread is wide.
At the lower end, the bottom 10 percent earn under $54,860 (about $26 per hour), typically early in their careers or in lower-paying settings. The top 10 percent earn over $157,330 (about $76 per hour), usually senior practitioners, specialists, or those in high-demand markets.
Specialty makes a big difference
Specialty is one of the strongest predictors of pay. Industrial-organizational psychologists are the highest-paid group, with a median around $139,280, reflecting demand in business, consulting, and human-resources settings. Clinical and counseling psychologists, the most common type, have a median near $96,100.
School psychologists earn the least among the main specialties, with a median around $84,940. Within any specialty, working in private practice, hospitals, government, or schools also shifts earnings, as does whether the role is salaried or fee-for-service.
Geography and outlook
Where you practice matters. New Jersey leads with a mean annual wage around $148,370, followed by California (about $132,410) and Oregon (about $129,470). Higher-paying states also tend to have a higher cost of living, so the real value of the pay varies.
The outlook is solid: BLS projects employment of psychologists to grow about 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for mental-health services and organizational expertise supports continued growth.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median psychologist salary?
- About $94,310 per year, or roughly $45 per hour, according to BLS data, with half of psychologists earning more and half earning less.
- Which psychology specialty pays the most?
- Industrial-organizational psychologists are the highest paid, with a median near $139,280, well above clinical/counseling and school psychologists.
- Which states pay psychologists the most?
- New Jersey leads at about $148,370 mean annual wage, followed by California (~$132,410) and Oregon (~$129,470).
Researched and edited by Calvin Lauderdale, Lead Researcher & Editor. Figures on this page were verified against the sources above as of June 23, 2026.