Median Salary
$95,990
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$46.15
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$142,330
entry level starts ~$63,070
Pay Grade
B+
strong pay · 64,000 employed
How much does a School Psychologist make?
School Psychologists in the United States bring home a median salary of $95,990 a year, or around $46.15 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $63,070, while the top 10% earn $142,330.
That is $34,600 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
School Psychologist salary range by percentile
Half of all School Psychologists earn between $77,470 and $120,310 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,070 | $30.32 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $77,470 | $37.25 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $95,990 | $46.15 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $120,310 | $57.84 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $142,330 | $68.43 |
|
Highest-paying states for School Psychologist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for School Psychologist pay at $127,780 a year, followed by Colorado ($124,770) and New Mexico ($110,360). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $61,070 — a gap of $66,710 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
School Psychologist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
California $127,780Colorado $124,770New Mexico $110,360Maryland $109,700Washington $108,780District of Columbia $107,500New York $106,550Oregon $106,070Connecticut $100,600Georgia $99,110Massachusetts $98,670Delaware $95,990New Jersey $95,160Rhode Island $94,900Alaska $94,460Nevada $93,680Arizona $92,380Ohio $91,010Nebraska $88,980Virginia $85,670Minnesota $85,190Florida $84,760Illinois $84,690Michigan $83,960Wyoming $83,740Texas $83,690Wisconsin $83,330Vermont $82,820Pennsylvania $82,190Hawaii $82,110Maine $81,650Montana $80,010South Dakota $78,370Utah $77,820Indiana $77,640Tennessee $76,850South Carolina $76,720Kentucky $75,370West Virginia $75,220Alabama $75,060Iowa $74,410New Hampshire $73,490North Carolina $73,220Kansas $73,020Idaho $71,700Missouri $70,290Louisiana $69,020North Dakota $68,960Oklahoma $64,930Arkansas $64,030Mississippi $61,070
Workforce and education
About 64,000 people work as School Psychologists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $99,160 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a School Psychologist make in the United States?
The median School Psychologist salary in the United States is $95,990 per year, or about $46.15 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $63,070, while the top 10% of earners make $142,330 or more.
How does School Psychologist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B+ (strong pay), the School Psychologist median of $95,990 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays School Psychologists the most?
California is the highest-paying state for School Psychologists, with a median salary of $127,780 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a School Psychologist?
Becoming a School Psychologist typically requires around 6 years of college. A master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required.
How many School Psychologists work in the United States?
About 64,000 people were employed as School Psychologists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.