How Much Does a Psychologist Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$100,580
Psychologists in the U.S. earn a median of $100,580 a year, or $48.36 an hour. Half of psychologists earn more than $100,580 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $180,960.
Pay percentiles for psychologists
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26.53 | $55,170 |
| 25th | $35.20 | $73,210 |
| 50th (median) | $48.36 | $100,580 |
| 75th | $65.00 | $135,200 |
| 90th | $87.00 | $180,960 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for psychologists
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $134,350 | $64.59 | +34% |
| New Jersey | $127,090 | $61.10 | +26% |
| New Mexico | $124,800 | $60.00 | +24% |
| Alaska | $124,270 | $59.75 | +24% |
| Arizona | $119,010 | $57.22 | +18% |
| Hawaii | $117,860 | $56.66 | +17% |
| North Dakota | $116,130 | $55.83 | +15% |
| California | $116,000 | $55.77 | +15% |
| Washington | $115,240 | $55.40 | +15% |
| Massachusetts | $115,180 | $55.37 | +15% |
| United States | $100,580 | $48.36 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many psychologists are there?
BLS counts about 75,990 psychologists employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Clinical and Counseling Psychologists”. The most jobs are in California (12,840), New York (8,420) and Illinois (5,810).
The mean (average) annual wage is $112,750, higher than the median of $100,580.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $8,382
- Biweekly
- $3,868
- Weekly
- $1,934
- Daily (8 hours)
- $387
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do psychologists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for psychologists is $48.36. The middle 50% earn between $35.20 and $65.00 an hour.
Which state pays psychologists the most?
Oregon has the highest median wage for psychologists at $134,350, +34% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for psychologists?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of psychologists earn less than $55,170 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.