How Much Does a Criminal Psychologist Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$110,840
Criminal psychologists in the U.S. earn a median of $110,840 a year, or $53.29 an hour. Half of criminal psychologists earn more than $110,840 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $168,520.
Pay percentiles for criminal psychologists
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26.44 | $54,990 |
| 25th | $33.10 | $68,850 |
| 50th (median) | $53.29 | $110,840 |
| 75th | $70.79 | $147,240 |
| 90th | $81.02 | $168,520 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Psychologists, All Other (SOC 19-3039). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for criminal psychologists
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $157,540 | $75.74 | +42% |
| Kentucky | $149,990 | $72.11 | +35% |
| Nevada | $146,850 | $70.60 | +32% |
| Oklahoma | $141,290 | $67.93 | +27% |
| Virginia | $140,640 | $67.61 | +27% |
| Iowa | $138,420 | $66.55 | +25% |
| Tennessee | $138,070 | $66.38 | +25% |
| Arizona | $137,510 | $66.11 | +24% |
| South Carolina | $136,990 | $65.86 | +24% |
| Alabama | $136,070 | $65.42 | +23% |
| United States | $110,840 | $53.29 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many criminal psychologists are there?
BLS counts about 18,820 criminal psychologists employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Psychologists, All Other”. The most jobs are in California (1,600), Illinois (1,120) and Wisconsin (1,080).
The mean (average) annual wage is $111,210, higher than the median of $110,840.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $9,237
- Biweekly
- $4,263
- Weekly
- $2,132
- Daily (8 hours)
- $426
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do criminal psychologists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for criminal psychologists is $53.29. The middle 50% earn between $33.10 and $70.79 an hour.
Which state pays criminal psychologists the most?
California has the highest median wage for criminal psychologists at $157,540, +42% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for criminal psychologists?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of criminal psychologists earn less than $54,990 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.