Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary in the U.S.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in the U.S. earn a median of $100,580 a year ($48.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 75,990 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $180,960 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $112,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for clinical and counseling psychologists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,170 | $26.53 |
| 25th percentile | $73,210 | $35.20 |
| Median | $100,580 | $48.36 |
| 75th percentile | $135,200 | $65.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $180,960 | $87.00 |
| Average (mean) | $112,750 | $54.21 |
Half of clinical and counseling psychologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,381.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,190.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,868.46 |
| Weekly | $1,934.23 |
| Hourly | $48.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $100,580 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $134,350 | 540 |
| New Jersey | $127,090 | 2,700 |
| New Mexico | $124,800 | n/a |
| 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 |
| District of Columbia | $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 | n/a |
| 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 |
| Puerto Rico | $67,660 | 330 |
| New Hampshire | $64,270 | 330 |
Best-paying metro areas for clinical and counseling psychologists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $166,400 | 1,540 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $155,960 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $153,050 | 630 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $147,210 | 40 |
| Salem, OR | $143,980 | 130 |
| Vallejo, CA | $143,600 | 180 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $131,470 | 60 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $130,870 | 50 |
| Green Bay, WI | $130,360 | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $129,860 | 160 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $129,330 | 280 |
| Fresno, CA | $129,120 | 280 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $128,850 | 120 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $126,960 | 50 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $125,030 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most clinical and counseling psychologists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 8,170 | $120,510 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 5,030 | $85,390 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,790 | $99,250 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,920 | $121,270 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,920 | $112,690 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,650 | $72,090 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,550 | $101,670 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,540 | $166,400 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,130 | $92,730 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 950 | $106,480 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 910 | $108,480 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 880 | $88,870 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 830 | $84,990 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 820 | $91,610 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 770 | $97,090 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychologist | $95,990 | $46.15 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $89,320 | $42.94 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $101,110 | $48.61 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $110,840 | $53.29 |
| Economist | $124,720 | $59.96 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $70,770 | $34.02 |
| Survey Researcher | $69,460 | $33.40 |
| Political Scientist | $142,080 | $68.31 |
| Historian | $76,750 | $36.90 |
| Sociologist | $106,030 | $50.98 |
| Geographer | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 | $93.24 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3033. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a clinical and counseling psychologists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in the U.S. is $100,580 a year, or $48.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $180,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid clinical and counseling psychologists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of clinical and counseling psychologists in the U.S. earn at least $180,960 a year. The top 25% earn $135,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for clinical and counseling psychologists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,170 a year, and a quarter of clinical and counseling psychologists earn $73,210 or less.
How many clinical and counseling psychologists work in the U.S.?
About 75,990 clinical and counseling psychologists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.