Psychologist Earnings

The median annual wage for psychologists was $80,370 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,380, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $132,070.

Median annual wages for psychologists in May 2019 were as follows:

• Psychologists, all other: $101,790
• Industrial-organizational psychologists: $92,880
• Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists: $78,200

In May 2019, the median annual wages for psychologists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

• Government: $96,870
• Hospitals; state, local, and private: $88,480
• Ambulatory healthcare services: $82,250
• Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private: $76.960

Psychologists in private practice often set their own hours, and many work part time as independent consultants. They may work evenings or weekends to accommodate clients. Those employed in hospitals or other healthcare facilities also may have evening or weekend shifts. Most psychologists in clinics, government, industry, or schools work.

Source: BLS, USDOL