School Psychologist salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
School Psychologists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $130,520 a year ($62.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $181,910 for the top 10%. That is 36% higher than the national median of $95,990. Pay here is 2% higher than the California statewide median of $127,780. There are 0.23 school psychologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $137,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for school psychologists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,990 | $40.38 |
| 25th percentile | $122,940 | $59.11 |
| Median | $130,520 | $62.75 |
| 75th percentile | $159,980 | $76.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $181,910 | $87.46 |
| Average (mean) | $137,350 | $66.03 |
Half of school 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 | $10,876.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,438.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,020 |
| Weekly | $2,510 |
| Hourly | $62.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $130,520 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
School Psychologist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | $145,400 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $139,400 | 760 |
| Merced, CA | $133,230 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $131,920 | 460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $131,070 | 850 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,540 | 680 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $129,610 | 220 |
| Modesto, CA | $128,750 | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $128,630 | 200 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $128,110 | 110 |
| Visalia, CA | $128,020 | 170 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $126,710 | 70 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $126,430 | 170 |
| Yuba City, CA | $125,860 | 40 |
| Chico, CA | $124,980 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $123,920 | 400 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $122,450 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $122,390 | 3,060 |
| Vallejo, CA | $121,340 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for school psychologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $127,780 |
| Colorado | $124,770 |
| New Mexico | $110,360 |
| Maryland | $109,700 |
| Washington | $108,780 |
| District of Columbia | $107,500 |
| New York | $106,550 |
| Oregon | $106,070 |
| Connecticut | $100,600 |
| Georgia | $99,110 |
See School Psychologist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $102,710 | $49.38 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $139,360 | $67.00 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $92,060 | $44.26 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $175,160 | $84.21 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $76,010 | $36.55 |
| Survey Researcher | $109,350 | $52.57 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $159,300 | $76.59 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $128,980 | $62.01 |
| Biological Technician | $72,940 | $35.07 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $133,790 | $64.32 |
| Chemist | $114,890 | $55.24 |
| Chemical Technician | $67,140 | $32.28 |
| Physicist | $173,450 | $83.39 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $83,160 | $39.98 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3034. 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 school psychologist make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for school psychologists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $130,520 a year, or $62.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $181,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid school psychologists make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of school psychologists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $181,910 a year. The top 25% earn $159,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for school psychologists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,990 a year, and a quarter of school psychologists earn $122,940 or less.
How many school psychologists work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 260 school psychologists are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.