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School psychologist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$95,990median pay per year, or $46.15 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $63,070lowest 10% earn less
  2. $77,47025th percentile
  3. $95,990median
  4. $120,31075th percentile
  5. $142,330top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

The median school psychologist earned $95,990 a year in May 2025, well above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Jobs are projected to grow only 0.8% by 2035, but openings still come up each year[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+0.8%[3]
Openings per year
3,400[4]
Typical entry education
Master's degree[6]

How much do school psychologists make?

The median wage for school psychologists was $95,990 a year, or $46.15 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean (average) was $99,160 a year, or $47.67 an hour[7]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

Pay spreads widely around the middle. Here are the annual percentiles:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[5][8] $63,070 $30.32
25th[5][8] $77,470 $37.25
50th (median)[1] $95,990 $46.15
75th[5][8] $120,310 $57.84
90th[5][8] $142,330 $68.43

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of school psychologists earned less than $63,070[5]. BLS publishes percentile wages and not a starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not count bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

Where you work changes the pay a lot. California had the highest state median at $127,780, followed by Colorado at $124,770 and New Mexico at $110,360[11]. Mississippi was last in the list at $61,070[11].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Boulder, CO had the highest median at $143,020[12]. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA was next at $139,400, then Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $131,920[12].

The most jobs were in New York (9,070), California (8,340) and Texas (4,250)[13]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area had 7,890 jobs and a median of $117,540[14].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[11]$127,7808,340
Colorado$124,7701,380
New Mexico$110,360630
Maryland$109,7001,520
Washington$108,7801,420
District of Columbia$107,500250
New York$106,5509,070
Oregon$106,070570
Connecticut$100,6001,140
Georgia$99,1101,650
Massachusetts$98,6703,300
Delaware$95,990280
New Jersey$95,1602,130
Rhode Island$94,900210
Alaska$94,460120
Nevada$93,680290
Arizona$92,3801,100
Ohio$91,0102,050
Nebraska$88,980440
Virginia$85,6701,200
Minnesota$85,1901,060
Florida$84,7602,020
Illinois$84,6903,590
Michigan$83,9601,480
Wyoming$83,740120
Texas$83,6904,250
Wisconsin$83,3301,180
Vermont$82,820180
Pennsylvania$82,1902,600
Hawaii$82,11090
Maine$81,650120
Montana$80,010170
South Dakota$78,370110
Utah$77,820490
Indiana$77,640710
Tennessee$76,850900
South Carolina$76,720720
Kentucky$75,370590
West Virginia$75,220250
Alabama$75,060370
Iowa$74,410400
New Hampshire$73,490360
North Carolina$73,2201,540
Kansas$73,020630
Idaho$71,700310
Missouri$70,290520
Louisiana$69,020670
North Dakota$68,96090
Oklahoma$64,930510
Arkansas$64,030440
Mississippi$61,070n/a

How to become a school psychologist

The training details here come from a federal profile that covers a wider group of psychologists, so some points describe the group and not only this job[15].

Other degrees exist too, including the education specialist and doctoral degrees[16]. In an ONET survey of 26 workers, 58% said a post-master's certificate was required, 23% said a master's degree and 15% said a first professional degree[19]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Five, meaning extensive preparation is needed[20]. Psychologists must also keep up continuing education to keep a license[21]. Certification from professional associations may be optional or required by an employer[22].

What school psychologists do

School psychologists work on learning, behavior and development problems that affect students in school[23]. Typical tasks include:

Workers in O*NET reported job titles such as bilingual school psychologist and educational diagnostician[25].

Where they work

The wider psychologists profile says some psychologists work alone and others work in teams with specialists[26]. It says most work full time, though part-time work is common, and some work evenings or weekends[27]. Only 0.3% of school psychologists were self-employed in 2025[28].

Job outlook

BLS projects school psychologist employment to grow 0.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 64,000 to 64,500 jobs[3]. That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations[29].

Still, about 3,400 openings are projected each year[4]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch careers, not only new jobs[4]. Each year, 1.9% of workers leave the labor force and 3.2% move to another occupation[30].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show pay well above the all-occupation median, but several steps to get in: a master's degree, an internship and a state credential[1][2][6][17]. Job growth is slow at 0.8%, so openings come mostly from turnover[3][4]. Pay differs a lot by state, so check your own state's median before you decide[11]. Related jobs such as clinical and counseling psychologists show faster projected growth at 11.7% but typically need a doctoral or professional degree[31].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[31].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a school psychologist make an hour?
The median was $46.15 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $47.67[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a school psychologist?
BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education[6]. The wider psychologists profile says school psychologists typically need a master's degree or higher in school psychology[16].
Is school psychologist a growing job?
BLS projects 0.8% growth from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% for all occupations, with about 3,400 openings a year[3][29][4].
What is the highest paying state for school psychologists?
California had the highest median at $127,780, followed by Colorado at $124,770[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for School Psychologists in the US was $95,990 per year and $46.15 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of School Psychologists is projected to grow 0.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 64,000 to 64,500 jobs (a change of +500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,400 openings for School Psychologists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for School Psychologists: 10th percentile $63,070, 25th percentile $77,470, 75th percentile $120,310, 90th percentile $142,330. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into School Psychologists: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for School Psychologists was $99,160 per year and $47.67 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for School Psychologists: 10th percentile $30.32, 25th percentile $37.25, 75th percentile $57.84, 90th percentile $68.43. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for School Psychologists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for School Psychologists (areas with at least 100 jobs): Boulder, CO $143,020; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $139,400; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $131,920; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $131,070; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $130,540; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $130,520; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $129,610; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $129,340. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most School Psychologists jobs: New York 9,070; California 8,340; Texas 4,250; Illinois 3,590; Massachusetts 3,300. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most School Psychologists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 7,890 (median $117,540); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,060 (median $122,390); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,770 (median $90,620); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 2,340 (median $98,670); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,690 (median $82,190); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,590 (median $106,550). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Psychologists" covers School Psychologists together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. O*NET 19-3034.00 survey of workers (26 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Master's Certificate 58%, Master's Degree 23%, First Professional Degree 15% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET 19-3034.00: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. O*NET OnLine
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of School Psychologists. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for School Psychologists. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 19-3034.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Autism Consultant, Bilingual School Psychologist, Challenging Behavior Consultant, Early Intervention School Psychologist, Educational Diagnostician, School Neuropsychologist, School Psychometrist. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Employment Projections: 0.3% of School Psychologists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  29. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for School Psychologists: 1.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  31. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.