Highest Paying States for Clinical Psychologists (2026): Where PhD/PsyDs Earn the Most

The highest paying state for clinical psychologists is Wyoming at $129,546 average median salary in 2026, based on BLS OEWS data across 52 states and 1673+ metro areas. Clinical psychologist pay varies from Puerto Rico ($72,581) to Wyoming ($129,546) — driven by private practice vs VA vs academic mix, specialty (forensic, neuropsych, prescribing psychologist), and APA cert.

Best States for Clinical Psychologist Salary: 2026 Rankings

Clinical psychologist (PhD / PsyD) pay variance is driven by private practice equity, specialty (forensic, neuropsych, prescribing psychologist in IA / IL / NM / LA), VA / DoD federal mix, academic medical center, COL, and state income tax. Wyoming leads at $129,546, Puerto Rico sits at $72,581.

Top-Tier States

California ($120,000-$160,000) — SF Bay Area / LA / San Diego academic + private practice.
Alaska ($120,000-$150,000) — chronic shortage + no state income tax + IHS.
New Jersey ($115,000-$148,000) — Bergen / Morris commuter + private practice.
New York ($112,000-$145,000) — NYC academic + Long Island private.
Connecticut ($110,000-$140,000) — Fairfield + Yale academic.
Hawaii ($110,000-$135,000) — shortage + HCOL.

Mid-Tier Markets

Massachusetts ($105,000-$135,000) — Boston academic + private practice.
Washington ($100,000-$130,000) — Seattle + no state income tax.
Maryland ($100,000-$128,000) — BWI + Johns Hopkins.
Oregon ($95,000-$120,000) — Portland.
Nevada ($95,000-$120,000) — Las Vegas + no state income tax.
Texas ($90,000-$118,000) — Houston Medical Center + no state income tax.
Florida ($85,000-$112,000) — Miami / Tampa + no state income tax.

Specialty Premium Markets

Forensic psychologist — premium $130,000-$200,000+.
Neuropsychologist (ABCN) — premium specialty.
Prescribing psychologist (IA, IL, NM, LA, ID, CO) — premium expanded scope.
Health psychologist (medical centers) — premium.
Pediatric psychologist (children's hospital) — premium.
Private practice owner — equity premium $150,000-$300,000+.
Federal VA / DoD (premier psychology) — pension + PSLF.
Telehealth psychology platforms (BetterHelp, Talkspace, Lyra) — flexibility + supplemental.

2026 State Ranking Methodology

Rankings reflect 2026 projected median from BLS OEWS 2025. Forensic + neuropsych + prescribing psychologist specialty materially shift ceiling. Private practice owner exceeds median.

Wyoming

#1 Highest Paying

$129,546

Top State Avg Salary

$105,689

National Median

States + DC + PR

2021 BLS

$82,510

2025 BLS

$100,580

2026 Current Est.

$105,689

2021–2027 Growth

+34.6%

National Average for Context

2021–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 5.08% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Median Annual Salary	Status
2021	$82,510	Actual
2022	$90,130	Actual
2023	$96,100	Actual
2024	$95,830	Actual
2025	$100,580	Actual
2026(current)	$105,689	Estimated
2027	$111,058	Projected

Understanding the national salary trend helps contextualize state-level differences. The national median provides a baseline for comparing how each state's clinical and counseling psychologist pay stacks up.

Note: BLS actual data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Estimated and projected values are calculated using a 5.08% historical CAGR. Actual compensation may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 10 Highest Paying States for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

Wyoming

$129,546/yr$62.28/hr+22.57% vs national

Top city: Cheyenne · 14 metros · 87 employed

Hawaii

$126,916/yr$61.02/hr+20.08% vs national

Top city: Honolulu · 10 metros · 315 employed

Oregon

$126,000/yr$60.58/hr+19.22% vs national

Top city: Salem · 36 metros · 803 employed

New York

$123,544/yr$59.40/hr+16.89% vs national

Top city: New York · 39 metros · 10,174 employed

New Jersey

$122,830/yr$59.05/hr+16.22% vs national

Top city: Princeton · 61 metros · 940 employed

Massachusetts

$120,171/yr$57.77/hr+13.70% vs national

Top city: Pittsfield · 59 metros · 3,307 employed

Wisconsin

$119,514/yr$57.46/hr+13.08% vs national

Top city: Oshkosh · 46 metros · 1,102 employed

California

$117,045/yr$56.27/hr+10.74% vs national

Top city: Oakland · 157 metros · 15,289 employed

Arizona

$116,280/yr$55.90/hr+10.02% vs national

Top city: Tucson · 33 metros · 1,294 employed

Washington

$115,842/yr$55.69/hr+9.61% vs national

Top city: Vancouver · 49 metros · 876 employed

What Drives State-Level Clinical Psychologist Pay Differences

Five primary factors explain clinical psychologist state-level pay variance.

1. Cost of Living (25-35%)

HCOL markets command premium.
RPP from BEA — CA 113, MS 86.
COL-adjusted real income — Texas / Tennessee net often beat California.

2. Setting Mix: Private / VA / Academic (20-30%)

Private practice owner — equity premium.
Group private practice — premium.
VA / DoD federal (premier psychology) — pension + PSLF.
Academic medical center / faculty — premium + PSLF.
Community mental health — base + PSLF.
Correctional psychology — premium.
School psychology — pension + summer + PSLF.
Telehealth (BetterHelp, Talkspace, Lyra) — flexibility.

3. Specialty (15-25%)

Forensic psychologist — premium $130,000-$200,000+.
Neuropsychologist (ABCN) — premium.
Prescribing psychologist (IA, IL, NM, LA, ID, CO) — premium expanded scope.
Health psychologist — premium medical.
Pediatric psychologist — premium.
Geropsychology (ABPP) — premium VA.
Substance abuse / addiction — premium.
Sport psychology (CMPC) — premium niche.

4. State Income Tax (5-10% take-home)

No state income tax — AK, WA, TX, FL, TN, NV, SD, WY, NH.
High state income tax — CA, NY, OR, NJ, MN, HI.
NYC + Philadelphia local — additional.
Property + sales tax — TX, NJ tradeoff.

5. EPPP + State License + ABPP (5-10%)

EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology) — universal.
State psychology license — verify per state.
PSYPACT (Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact) — telehealth multistate.
APA-accredited PhD/PsyD program — required.
1-year clinical internship + 1-year postdoc — required.
ABPP board cert — premium.
ABCN neuropsychology cert — premium specialty.
Prescribing authority cert (IA, IL, NM, LA, ID, CO) — premium expanded scope.

Where Do Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Get Paid the Most?

Complete ranking of all 52 states by average clinical and counseling psychologist salary. Click any state to see city-level breakdowns and detailed data.

Rank	State	Avg Salary	Hourly	Cities	Highest City	vs National
1	Wyoming	$129,546	$62.28	14	Cheyenne	+22.57%
2	Hawaii	$126,916	$61.02	10	Honolulu	+20.08%
3	Oregon	$126,000	$60.58	36	Salem	+19.22%
4	New York	$123,544	$59.40	39	New York	+16.89%
5	New Jersey	$122,830	$59.05	61	Princeton	+16.22%
6	Massachusetts	$120,171	$57.77	59	Pittsfield	+13.70%
7	Wisconsin	$119,514	$57.46	46	Oshkosh	+13.08%
8	California	$117,045	$56.27	157	Oakland	+10.74%
9	Arizona	$116,280	$55.90	33	Tucson	+10.02%
10	Washington	$115,842	$55.69	49	Vancouver	+9.61%
11	Connecticut	$114,247	$54.93	29	Bridgeport	+8.10%
12	Minnesota	$114,167	$54.89	44	Rochester	+8.02%
13	Maryland	$113,903	$54.76	27	Baltimore	+7.77%
14	Rhode Island	$112,643	$54.16	17	Warwick	+6.58%
15	Alaska	$112,526	$54.10	5	Anchorage	+6.47%
16	Colorado	$112,453	$54.06	32	Colorado Springs	+6.40%
17	Delaware	$112,238	$53.96	6	Wilmington	+6.20%
18	Utah	$111,469	$53.59	41	Provo	+5.47%
19	New Mexico	$110,804	$53.27	17	Santa Fe	+4.84%
20	Maine	$110,097	$52.93	10	Portland	+4.17%
21	Pennsylvania	$108,704	$52.26	24	Philadelphia	+2.85%
22	Nevada	$107,555	$51.71	9	Reno	+1.77%
23	District of Columbia	$106,835	$51.36	1	Washington	+1.08%
24	Ohio	$106,769	$51.33	67	Beavercreek	+1.02%
25	North Carolina	$103,155	$49.59	44	Concord	-2.40%
26	Idaho	$102,526	$49.29	16	Boise City	-2.99%
27	Montana	$101,950	$49.01	7	Billings	-3.54%
28	Missouri	$101,542	$48.82	33	Jefferson City	-3.92%
29	Nebraska	$101,130	$48.62	13	Lincoln	-4.31%
30	Georgia	$99,541	$47.86	39	Sandy Springs	-5.82%
31	South Carolina	$98,124	$47.17	26	Columbia	-7.16%
32	Florida	$96,140	$46.22	83	Port St. Lucie	-9.03%
33	North Dakota	$95,309	$45.82	8	Fargo	-9.82%
34	Texas	$94,281	$45.33	109	Dallas	-10.79%
35	Vermont	$93,801	$45.10	9	Bennington	-11.25%
36	Kansas	$92,909	$44.67	22	Kansas City	-12.09%
37	Michigan	$92,351	$44.40	53	Wyoming	-12.62%
38	Alabama	$92,110	$44.28	24	Birmingham	-12.85%
39	Iowa	$91,836	$44.15	26	Cedar Rapids	-13.11%
40	Virginia	$90,860	$43.68	42	Roanoke	-14.03%
41	Kentucky	$89,234	$42.90	21	Louisville	-15.57%
42	Indiana	$89,104	$42.84	43	Columbus	-15.69%
43	Illinois	$88,750	$42.67	64	Peoria	-16.03%
44	South Dakota	$87,795	$42.21	11	Sioux Falls	-16.93%
45	Oklahoma	$85,922	$41.31	27	Broken Arrow	-18.70%
46	Arkansas	$84,249	$40.50	21	Jonesboro	-20.29%
47	Mississippi	$83,726	$40.25	20	Gulfport	-20.78%
48	New Hampshire	$81,563	$39.21	16	Salem	-22.83%
49	West Virginia	$80,225	$38.57	11	Morgantown	-24.09%
50	Louisiana	$80,057	$38.49	20	Lafayette	-24.25%
51	Tennessee	$77,632	$37.32	30	Chattanooga	-26.55%
52	Puerto Rico	$72,581	$34.89	2	Ponce	-31.33%

Lowest Paying States for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

Even the lowest-paying states offer clinical and counseling psychologist salaries well above the national average for all occupations. Here are the 5 lowest-paying states:

#48New Hampshire$81,563-22.83% vs national #49West Virginia$80,225-24.09% vs national #50Louisiana$80,057-24.25% vs national #51Tennessee$77,632-26.55% vs national #52Puerto Rico$72,581-31.33% vs national

Top Earner Potential by State

The 90th percentile represents what experienced, highly-skilled clinical and counseling psychologists earn in each state. These are the 10 states with the highest earning ceilings:

#	State	Top Earner (P90)	Median	Upside
1	District of Columbia	$253,316	$106,835	+$146,481
2	Massachusetts	$226,763	$120,171	+$106,592
3	Oklahoma	$219,410	$85,922	+$133,488
4	New York	$210,914	$123,544	+$87,370
5	Wyoming	$200,796	$129,546	+$71,250
6	California	$194,350	$117,045	+$77,305
7	North Carolina	$191,744	$103,155	+$88,589
8	Pennsylvania	$191,488	$108,704	+$82,784
9	Georgia	$190,106	$99,541	+$90,565
10	Maryland	$187,155	$113,903	+$73,252

How to Move to a Higher-Paying State for Clinical Psychologist Work

Relocating for clinical psychologist pay requires balancing nominal salary against private practice opportunity, specialty, state tax, PSYPACT membership, and license portability.

1. Verify EPPP + State License + PSYPACT

EPPP — universal entry.
State psychology license — verify per state.
PSYPACT (multi-state telehealth Compact) — 40+ states.
APA-accredited PhD/PsyD program — required.
APA-accredited internship + postdoc — required.
State endorsement — 4-12 weeks.
ABPP board cert — premium.
Specialty cert (ABCN, CMPC, etc.) — premium.

2. Calculate Real Take-Home, Not Nominal

COL-adjusted income — Texas psychologist at $110,000 may exceed California psychologist at $140,000 net.
State + local income tax — effective rate at $100K+.
Property + sales tax — TX tradeoff.
Self-employment SE tax (private) — 15.3%.
Childcare cost spread — major.
Health + benefits — VA / academic vs private.
401(k) + pension — federal + academic.
Practice ownership equity — long-term wealth.

3. Target Forensic / Neuropsych / Prescribing

Forensic psychologist — premium $130,000-$200,000+.
Neuropsychologist (ABCN) — premium.
Prescribing psychologist (IA, IL, NM, LA, ID, CO) — premium expanded scope.
Health psychologist (medical centers) — premium.
Pediatric psychologist — premium.
Private practice owner — equity premium.
Federal VA / DoD — pension + PSLF.
Telehealth (PSYPACT multi-state) — flexibility.

4. Negotiate Sign-On + Loan Forgiveness

Sign-on bonus ($10,000-$30,000) — common at shortage + VA.
Relocation assistance ($5,000-$20,000) — standard.
HRSA NHSC loan forgiveness — up to $100,000 mental health HPSA.
PSLF stack (501(c)(3) + government + VA) — 10-year forgiveness on high doctoral loans.
VA EDRP (Education Debt Reduction Program) — premium federal.
IHS loan repayment — premium federal.
State psychology loan repayment — varies.
Postdoc + specialty board fellowship stipend — premium.

5. Choose Setting Based on Career Plan

Forensic psychologist (premier specialty) — top pay.
Neuropsychologist (ABCN) — premium.
Prescribing psychologist (IA, IL, NM, LA, ID, CO) — premium.
Private practice owner — equity premium long-term.
VA / DoD (premier psychology) — pension + PSLF + EDRP.
Academic medical center — premium + PSLF.
Pediatric psychologist (children's hospital) — premium.
Health psychologist — premium medical.
Telehealth (PSYPACT multi-state) — flexibility + scale.
Group private practice partnership — premium equity.

Additional Geographic + Lifestyle Considerations

Climate fit + lifestyle preference — extreme heat (TX, FL, AZ) vs winter (MN, ME, AK) — major lifestyle differential beyond paycheck.
School district quality (for families with children) — major hidden cost. Top suburban districts in NJ / NY / MA / CA add significant value.
Healthcare access + cost-of-living index — verify metro-specific data on BLS / BEA.
Spousal employment market — coordinate timing with partner career.
Aging parent proximity — major life consideration.
Network + alumni density (professional + social) — major.
Recreation + outdoor access — varies dramatically by state.
State + local political climate fit — major lifestyle differential.

More Salary Resources

National OverviewComplete salary data for 1673+ cities Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay for new graduates Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates, part-time calculations Salary by StateAll 52 states compared

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest paying state for clinical and counseling psychologists?

Wyoming is the highest paying state for clinical and counseling psychologists with an average salary of $129,546 per year across 14 metro areas in 2026. The top states are Wyoming ($129,546), Hawaii ($126,916), Oregon ($126,000). These states consistently rank at the top due to high demand and expanded scope-of-practice laws.

What is the best state to be a clinical and counseling psychologist?

The best state depends on your priorities. For highest salary, Wyoming leads at $129,546/year. For most job opportunities, California employs approximately 15,289 clinical and counseling psychologists. For best purchasing power after cost of living, Wyoming offers an adjusted salary of $135,226. States like Alaska, Washington, and Nevada also benefit from no state income tax, boosting take-home pay by 5-10%.

Which state has the most clinical and counseling psychologist jobs?

California has the most clinical and counseling psychologist jobs with approximately 15,289 employed across 157 metro areas.

Do clinical and counseling psychologists make six figures?

Yes. Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn six-figure average salaries in 29 states: Wyoming ($129,546), Hawaii ($126,916), Oregon ($126,000), New York ($123,544), New Jersey ($122,830), Massachusetts ($120,171), Wisconsin ($119,514), California ($117,045), Arizona ($116,280), Washington ($115,842), Connecticut ($114,247), Minnesota ($114,167), Maryland ($113,903), Rhode Island ($112,643), Alaska ($112,526), Colorado ($112,453), Delaware ($112,238), Utah ($111,469), New Mexico ($110,804), Maine ($110,097), Pennsylvania ($108,704), Nevada ($107,555), District of Columbia ($106,835), Ohio ($106,769), North Carolina ($103,155), Idaho ($102,526), Montana ($101,950), Missouri ($101,542), Nebraska ($101,130). Many individual metro areas in other states also exceed $100,000.

What is the lowest paying state for clinical and counseling psychologists?

Puerto Rico is the lowest paying state for clinical and counseling psychologists with an average salary of $72,581 per year. However, even the lowest-paying states offer salaries well above the national average for all occupations.

Written by Maria Gonzalez, PhD, LPC

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience in clinical psychology. She specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy. Maria works at a mental health clinic in Chicago.

Clinically reviewed by James Wu, PsyD, LCSWData verified by Fatima Khan, PhD, LCPC

Methodology & Data Source

State salary rankings on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.08% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each state's average salary. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS 2025, released May 2026.

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, PhD, LPC, a licensed clinical and counseling psychologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov