Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary in California
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California earn a median of $116,000 a year ($55.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,050 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $100,580. California ranks 8th of 48 states for clinical and counseling psychologists pay. There are 0.70 clinical and counseling psychologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $123,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for clinical and counseling psychologists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| 25th percentile | $77,050 | $37.04 |
| Median | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| 75th percentile | $162,360 | $78.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,050 | $90.41 |
| Average (mean) | $123,570 | $59.41 |
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 | $9,666.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,833.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,461.54 |
| Weekly | $2,230.77 |
| Hourly | $55.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $116,000 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary in cities in California
| 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 |
| Vallejo, CA | $143,600 | 180 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $129,860 | 160 |
| Fresno, CA | $129,120 | 280 |
| Modesto, CA | $123,030 | 70 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $116,960 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $116,620 | 200 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $116,550 | 180 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $112,860 | 60 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $102,710 | 590 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $102,120 | 150 |
| Visalia, CA | $99,580 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $99,250 | 4,790 |
| Salinas, CA | $98,430 | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $92,730 | 1,130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $72,090 | 1,650 |
Highest-paying states for clinical and counseling psychologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $134,350 |
| New Jersey | $127,090 |
| New Mexico | $124,800 |
| Alaska | $124,270 |
| Arizona | $119,010 |
| Hawaii | $117,860 |
| North Dakota | $116,130 |
| California | $116,000 |
| Washington | $115,240 |
| Massachusetts | $115,180 |
See Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychologist | $127,780 | $61.43 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $109,610 | $52.70 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $97,900 | $47.07 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,240 | $34.73 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $157,540 | $75.74 |
| Survey Researcher | $83,520 | $40.16 |
| Economist | $119,410 | $57.41 |
| Sociologist | $125,770 | $60.47 |
| Historian | $97,420 | $46.84 |
| Geographer | $114,460 | $55.03 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in California is $116,000 a year, or $55.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid clinical and counseling psychologists make in California?
The top 10% of clinical and counseling psychologists in California earn at least $188,050 a year. The top 25% earn $162,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for clinical and counseling psychologists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,900 a year, and a quarter of clinical and counseling psychologists earn $77,050 or less.
How many clinical and counseling psychologists work in California?
About 12,840 clinical and counseling psychologists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.