California Median
$116,000
per year
Hourly Rate
$55.77
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+15% vs US median
US median $100,580
State Rank
#8 of 48
12,840 employed here
How much do Clinical and Counseling Psychologists make in California?
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists working in California earn a median salary of $116,000 per year, or about $55.77 per hour. That is 15% above the national median of $100,580 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $62,900 while the top 10% make $188,050 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $77,050 and $162,360 a year.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,900 | $30.24 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $77,050 | $37.04 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $116,000 | $55.77 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $162,360 | $78.06 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,050 | $90.41 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 8th out of 48 states and territories for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary in other states
Oregon $134,350New Jersey $127,090New Mexico $124,800Alaska $124,270Arizona $119,010Hawaii $117,860North Dakota $116,130Washington $115,240Massachusetts $115,180New York $114,400Wisconsin $113,360Colorado $113,290Delaware $113,050Rhode Island $107,490Minnesota $107,030District of Columbia $107,000Nevada $102,650Ohio $101,190Missouri $99,410Utah $99,170Kentucky $99,140Idaho $97,790Georgia $96,060Nebraska $94,540South Carolina $92,700North Carolina $92,130Pennsylvania $91,870Iowa $91,690Alabama $90,800Wyoming $89,890Virginia $86,520Florida $85,610Indiana $84,990Michigan $84,730Illinois $83,750Texas $83,660Vermont $83,270South Dakota $80,130Oklahoma $79,950Arkansas $77,520West Virginia $77,040Tennessee $76,820Kansas $76,690Mississippi $76,000Louisiana $71,330Montana $68,160New Hampshire $64,270
Working as Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California
Nationally, about 76,000 people work as Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in the United States. A doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($116,000) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Clinical and Counseling Psychologists make in California?
The median Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary in California is $116,000 per year, or about $55.77 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $62,900 at the entry level to $188,050 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Clinical and Counseling Psychologists about 15% more than the national median of $100,580. California ranks 8th out of 48 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $116,000 a year. About 12,840 Clinical and Counseling Psychologists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.