Clinical and Counseling Psychologist Salary in California: $117,045 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 157 metropolitan areas, the average median clinical and counseling psychologist pay sits at $117,045/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 19-3033. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $103,488 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Oakland ($170,187), Fremont ($166,433), San Francisco ($166,400).

Clinical and Counseling Psychologist Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California clinical and counseling psychologist salary overview (2026)

$117,045

Avg Median Salary

$56.27

Avg Hourly Rate

15,289

Metro Employed

157

Cities

In California, clinical and counseling psychologists are projected to earn an average median salary of $117,045 in 2026, which is 10.7% higher than the national median of $105,689. The highest-paying city for this profession is Oakland, with an impressive salary of $178,832, while Carlsbad represents the lower end of the spectrum at $75,119, highlighting a significant salary gap driven by factors such as cost of living, local demand for mental health services, and availability of professional opportunities. California's specific licensing requirements and comprehensive scope of practice laws contribute to the state's overall compensation levels. Psychologists in California face rigorous education, training, and licensing processes, which can impact starting salaries. The demand for mental health professionals in the state is further fueled by ongoing public awareness of mental health issues and an increasing need for support services. With a projected annual growth rate of 5.08%, the job market for clinical and counseling psychologists in California is expected to remain strong, offering ample opportunities for new graduates and seasoned professionals alike. The combination of high salaries in urban hubs and an overall expanding job market makes California a viable option for those pursuing a career in psychology.

California Clinical and Counseling Psychologist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$67,571

avg across 157 cities

Median

$117,045

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$194,350

avg across 157 cities

Overall salary range in California: $41,790 (lowest entry-level) to $277,191 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$117,045

National Median

$105,689

California clinical and counseling psychologists earn 10.74% more than the national median (+$11,356/year difference).

California Clinical and Counseling Psychologist Salary Distribution (2026)

Clinical and Counseling Psychologist salaries in California range from $67,571 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $194,350 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $117,045. The California median is $11,356 above the US national median of $105,689. The average hourly rate is $56.27/hr. Approximately 15,289 clinical and counseling psychologists are employed across 157 cities.

2021 BLS Actual

$123,650

2025 BLS Actual

$111,387

2026 Current Est.

$117,045

2021–2027 Growth

+-0.5%

Salary Trajectory for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California (2021–2027)

2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.08% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2021	$123,650	Actual
2022	$123,758	Actual
2023	$129,267	Actual
2024	$118,253	Actual
2025	$111,387	Actual
2026(current)	$117,045	Estimated
2027	$122,991	Projected

Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median clinical and counseling psychologist salary grew -9.9% from $123,650 (2021) to $111,387 (2025). At a 5.08% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $122,991 by 2027 — a total increase of $-659 (-0.53%) from 2021.

Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.08% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Oakland

78 employed · $85.98/hr

$178,832

+52.79% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $84.09/hr

$174,888

+49.42% vs avg

San Francisco

1,540 employed · $84.06/hr

$174,853

+49.39% vs avg

San Luis Obispo

90 employed · $78.79/hr

$163,883

+40.02% vs avg

Folsom

17 employed · $77.84/hr

$161,913

+38.33% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Carlsbad	$75,119	-35.82%	$36.12
San Diego	$75,752	-35.28%	$36.42
Chula Vista	$75,840	-35.20%	$36.46
Riverside	$97,441	-16.75%	$46.84
San Bernardino	$97,562	-16.65%	$46.91

Best Value Cities for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for clinical and counseling psychologists.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Oakland	$178,832	113.1	$158,118
Fremont	$174,888	113.1	$154,631
Hanford	$154,688	101.612	$152,234
San Francisco	$174,853	115.613	$151,240
San Luis Obispo	$163,883	108.596	$150,911

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$67,571	$32.49	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$117,045	$56.27	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$194,350	$93.44	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 157 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Oakland	$178,832	$85.98	$103,722	$277,191	78
2	Fremont	$174,888	$84.09	$101,435	$271,076	43
3	San Francisco	$174,853	$84.06	$86,397	$211,452	1,540
4	San Luis Obispo	$163,883	$78.79	$99,132	$226,069	90
5	Folsom	$161,913	$77.84	$93,909	$250,965	17
6	Sacramento	$160,825	$77.32	$67,503	$216,087	630
7	Roseville	$160,162	$77.00	$92,894	$248,250	35
8	Hanford	$154,688	$74.37	$96,243	$170,608	40
9	Vallejo	$150,895	$72.55	$74,460	$186,559	180
10	Stockton	$136,457	$65.60	$70,446	$194,913	160
11	Fresno	$135,679	$65.23	$56,890	$170,608	280
12	Lodi	$134,574	$64.70	$78,052	$208,589	14
13	Santa Ana	$129,840	$62.43	$75,308	$201,252	69
14	Modesto	$129,280	$62.15	$82,067	$187,105	70
15	Fontana	$127,438	$61.27	$73,914	$197,528	32
16	Irvine	$127,297	$61.20	$73,832	$197,311	72
17	Pomona	$126,676	$60.90	$73,472	$196,348	36
18	Simi Valley	$126,607	$60.87	$73,432	$196,240	23
19	Escondido	$126,577	$60.85	$73,415	$196,195	31
20	Fairfield	$126,349	$60.75	$73,283	$195,842	25
21	Fullerton	$125,884	$60.53	$73,013	$195,120	25
22	Daly City	$125,774	$60.47	$72,950	$194,951	20
23	El Monte	$125,736	$60.45	$72,927	$194,890	20
24	Vista	$125,666	$60.42	$72,887	$194,783	24
25	Concord	$125,636	$60.40	$72,869	$194,735	29
26	Clovis	$125,448	$60.32	$72,759	$194,444	19
27	Garden Grove	$125,319	$60.25	$72,685	$194,246	37
28	Temecula	$125,290	$60.23	$72,668	$194,199	25
29	Santa Clarita	$125,206	$60.20	$72,620	$194,069	41
30	Lancaster	$125,042	$60.12	$72,524	$193,815	40
31	Inglewood	$125,042	$60.12	$72,524	$193,815	21
32	Corona	$124,883	$60.04	$72,433	$193,569	24
33	Richmond	$124,863	$60.03	$72,421	$193,538	25
34	Rialto	$124,805	$60.00	$72,386	$193,447	17
35	Torrance	$124,646	$59.93	$72,295	$193,201	26
36	Elk Grove	$124,408	$59.81	$72,157	$192,833	25
37	Oceanside	$124,379	$59.80	$72,140	$192,787	28
38	Whittier	$124,342	$59.78	$72,119	$192,730	22
39	San Rafael	$124,333	$59.78	$72,113	$192,716	11
40	Rancho Cucamonga	$124,220	$59.72	$72,048	$192,541	46
41	Hayward	$124,151	$59.69	$72,007	$192,434	23
42	Woodland	$124,118	$59.67	$71,988	$192,384	15
43	Buena Park	$124,099	$59.66	$71,978	$192,354	20
44	Encinitas	$124,090	$59.65	$71,972	$192,339	16
45	Downey	$124,082	$59.65	$71,967	$192,327	22
46	Dublin	$124,012	$59.62	$71,927	$192,219	14
47	Redlands	$123,973	$59.60	$71,904	$192,159	16
48	Chino	$123,905	$59.57	$71,865	$192,053	17
49	Westminster	$123,866	$59.55	$71,842	$191,993	21
50	Santa Monica	$123,857	$59.55	$71,837	$191,978	20
51	San Mateo	$123,844	$59.54	$71,830	$191,958	21
52	Tulare	$123,808	$59.53	$71,809	$191,903	17
53	San Buenaventura	$123,764	$59.51	$71,783	$191,835	19
54	Mission Viejo	$123,682	$59.46	$71,736	$191,708	23
55	Moreno Valley	$123,681	$59.46	$71,735	$191,706	53
56	Pleasanton	$123,662	$59.45	$71,724	$191,676	16
57	Pasadena	$123,488	$59.37	$71,623	$191,406	35
58	Santee	$123,401	$59.33	$71,572	$191,271	9
59	Glendale	$123,289	$59.28	$71,508	$191,098	36
60	Mountain View	$123,226	$59.24	$71,471	$191,001	13
61	Pittsburg	$123,216	$59.23	$71,465	$190,984	19
62	Novato	$123,178	$59.22	$71,443	$190,926	11
63	Costa Mesa	$123,131	$59.20	$71,416	$190,853	23
64	Berkeley	$123,002	$59.14	$71,341	$190,654	23
65	Huntington Beach	$122,973	$59.12	$71,324	$190,608	50
66	Oxnard	$122,902	$59.09	$51,605	$232,521	300
67	Jurupa Valley	$122,864	$59.07	$71,261	$190,439	24
68	Hemet	$122,828	$59.05	$71,240	$190,384	14
69	Union City	$122,819	$59.04	$71,235	$190,369	11
70	West Covina	$122,804	$59.04	$71,226	$190,346	25
71	Chino Hills	$122,770	$59.02	$71,206	$190,294	21
72	Chico	$122,606	$58.95	$71,112	$190,039	20
73	Gilroy	$122,595	$58.94	$71,104	$190,021	10
74	Santa Rosa	$122,544	$58.92	$54,820	$201,733	200
75	San Marcos	$122,527	$58.91	$71,066	$189,917	17
76	Bakersfield	$122,471	$58.88	$45,994	$174,181	180
77	Tustin	$122,420	$58.86	$71,004	$189,751	18
78	San Ramon	$122,411	$58.86	$70,998	$189,737	19
79	Thousand Oaks	$122,405	$58.84	$70,994	$189,727	32
80	Eastvale	$122,294	$58.79	$70,931	$189,556	10
81	Murrieta	$122,289	$58.79	$70,928	$189,548	25
82	Vacaville	$122,289	$58.79	$70,928	$189,548	15
83	Brentwood	$122,236	$58.77	$70,897	$189,467	13
84	Hesperia	$122,178	$58.74	$70,863	$189,375	14
85	Lake Elsinore	$122,168	$58.74	$70,858	$189,360	18
86	Citrus Heights	$122,013	$58.66	$70,767	$189,120	19
87	El Cajon	$121,903	$58.60	$70,704	$188,951	18
88	San Clemente	$121,868	$58.59	$70,683	$188,895	10
89	Bellflower	$121,818	$58.57	$70,655	$188,818	11
90	Palmdale	$121,765	$58.54	$70,623	$188,735	29
91	La Mirada	$121,764	$58.54	$70,623	$188,733	10
92	Apple Valley	$121,741	$58.53	$70,610	$188,700	19
93	Menifee	$121,706	$58.51	$70,590	$188,644	20
94	Yucaipa	$121,653	$58.49	$70,559	$188,563	14
95	Norwalk	$121,646	$58.49	$70,555	$188,551	22
96	Yuba City	$121,595	$58.46	$70,525	$188,473	10
97	Rancho Cordova	$121,538	$58.43	$70,492	$188,383	20
98	Montebello	$121,421	$58.37	$70,425	$188,202	16
99	Compton	$121,373	$58.35	$70,396	$188,128	25
100	Petaluma	$121,373	$58.35	$70,396	$188,128	12
101	Porterville	$121,284	$58.31	$70,345	$187,991	11
102	Lompoc	$121,269	$58.30	$70,335	$187,966	8
103	Hawthorne	$121,082	$58.21	$70,227	$187,676	13
104	Antioch	$121,042	$58.19	$70,204	$187,615	17
105	Burbank	$121,032	$58.19	$70,199	$187,600	22
106	Redding	$120,839	$58.10	$70,086	$187,300	13
107	Napa	$120,809	$58.08	$70,727	$187,255	17
108	Alhambra	$120,751	$58.06	$70,600	$187,163	13
109	Livermore	$120,751	$58.06	$70,036	$187,163	21
110	Orange	$120,715	$58.04	$70,015	$187,108	21
111	South Gate	$120,713	$58.04	$70,022	$187,104	25
112	Victorville	$120,685	$58.03	$69,998	$187,062	30
113	West Sacramento	$120,644	$58.00	$69,974	$186,999	9
114	Poway	$120,613	$57.98	$69,956	$186,950	8
115	San Leandro	$120,450	$57.91	$69,861	$186,698	23
116	Indio	$120,314	$57.85	$69,783	$186,488	23
117	Lake Forest	$120,314	$57.85	$69,783	$186,488	14
118	Carson	$120,101	$57.74	$69,659	$186,157	21
119	Rocklin	$120,081	$57.73	$69,647	$186,126	10
120	Newport Beach	$119,877	$57.64	$69,529	$185,810	12
121	Redwood City	$119,868	$57.63	$69,523	$185,795	13
122	Turlock	$119,838	$57.62	$69,506	$185,750	17
123	Manteca	$119,800	$57.59	$69,484	$185,689	13
124	Perris	$119,790	$57.59	$69,478	$185,674	12
125	Madera	$119,693	$57.54	$69,422	$185,525	8
126	Baldwin Park	$119,480	$57.45	$69,298	$185,194	19
127	Palo Alto	$119,480	$57.45	$69,298	$185,194	15
128	Lakewood	$119,431	$57.42	$69,270	$185,117	19
129	Beaumont	$119,082	$57.25	$69,068	$184,577	9
130	Merced	$119,062	$57.24	$69,055	$184,546	20
131	Tracy	$119,052	$57.24	$69,050	$184,531	14
132	Alameda	$119,014	$57.22	$69,028	$184,471	12
133	Laguna Niguel	$118,984	$57.21	$69,011	$184,426	16
134	Milpitas	$118,926	$57.17	$68,978	$184,336	16
135	Camarillo	$118,674	$57.06	$68,831	$183,945	13
136	Oakley	$118,626	$57.03	$68,803	$183,870	8
137	Davis	$118,596	$57.02	$68,786	$183,825	14
138	Santa Cruz	$118,593	$57.02	$66,326	$187,683	60
139	Upland	$118,509	$56.97	$68,735	$183,689	18
140	La Habra	$118,335	$56.89	$68,634	$183,419	16
141	Lynwood	$118,285	$56.87	$68,606	$183,343	16
142	Brea	$116,267	$55.90	$67,435	$180,213	10
143	Sunnyvale	$110,462	$53.11	$64,068	$171,216	26
144	Santa Clara	$109,736	$52.76	$63,647	$170,091	32
145	San Jose	$107,928	$51.89	$41,916	$207,501	590
146	Santa Maria	$107,308	$51.59	$52,256	$182,429	150
147	Anaheim	$106,149	$51.04	$61,566	$164,530	51
148	Visalia	$104,639	$50.31	$41,790	$171,669	70
149	Long Beach	$104,639	$50.31	$60,690	$162,190	89
150	Los Angeles	$104,292	$50.14	$67,461	$190,153	4,790
151	Salinas	$103,430	$49.72	$53,570	$184,184	90
152	Ontario	$98,754	$47.48	$57,277	$153,069	42
153	San Bernardino	$97,562	$46.91	$56,586	$151,221	33
154	Riverside	$97,441	$46.84	$78,715	$176,902	1,130
155	Chula Vista	$75,840	$36.46	$43,988	$117,553	51
156	San Diego	$75,752	$36.42	$52,529	$197,267	1,650
157	Carlsbad	$75,119	$36.12	$43,568	$116,434	23

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore clinical and counseling psychologist hourly pay in California cities.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new clinical and counseling psychologists.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced clinical and counseling psychologists.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Compare Cities in California

Los Angeles, CAvsSan Diego, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSan Francisco, CA Los Angeles, CAvsRiverside, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSacramento, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSan Jose, CA Los Angeles, CAvsOxnard, CA

View all comparisons →

Explore More Clinical and Counseling Psychologist Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make in California in 2026?

The average median clinical and counseling psychologist salary in California is $117,045/year across 157 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $75,119 in Carlsbad to $178,832 in Oakland. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 10.74% above the national median of $105,689. The state employs approximately 15,289 clinical and counseling psychologists.

What is the highest paying city for clinical and counseling psychologists in California?

Oakland offers the highest clinical and counseling psychologist salary in California at $178,832/year ($85.98/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Oakland ($178,832), Fremont ($174,888), San Francisco ($174,853). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for psychology services, and competition among employers for licensed clinical and counseling psychologists.

How does California clinical and counseling psychologist pay compare to the national average?

California's average clinical and counseling psychologist salary of $117,045 is 10.74% above the national median of $105,689 in 2026. The state employs approximately 15,289 clinical and counseling psychologists across 157 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level clinical and counseling psychologist salary in California?

Entry-level clinical and counseling psychologists (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $67,571/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $41,790 in lower-paying areas to $103,722 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many clinical and counseling psychologists are employed in California?

California employs approximately 15,289 clinical and counseling psychologists across 157 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of clinical and counseling psychologists nationally. Demand continues to grow as the psychology field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for clinical and counseling psychologists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Oakland offers the highest purchasing power for clinical and counseling psychologists in California, with an adjusted salary of $158,118 (nominal: $178,832, CoL index: 113.1). This means your dollar goes 12% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

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

Statewide salary figures 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 metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 clinical and counseling psychologist compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 157 metro areas — larger metro areas with more clinical and counseling psychologistscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (2021–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.08%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for clinical and counseling psychologists (SOC 19-3033).

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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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