How Much Do School Psychologists Earn

How Much Do School Psychologists Earn Student Resources Careers Print How Much Do School Psychologists Earn? By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on July 23, 2019 Michaela Begsteiger / Getty Images More in Student Resources Careers APA Style and Writing Study Guides and Tips School psychologists work in educational settings to help young people with academic, social, and emotional problems. Being a psychologist is often identified as a hot career due to expected growth in job demand in the coming years, thanks to an increased need within the educational system, as well as an expected increase in the number of psychologists retiring. In 2014, 25% of psychologists worked in schools. School Psychologist Ranks as a Top Career In 2017, U.S. News and World Report ranked school psychology as one of their 50 best careers of the year. School psychologists made their list thanks to good salaries for professionals in the field  and a strong projected job outlook. Of course, salary should never be your only consideration when selecting a career. Other factors such as quality of life, type of work, and job demand should also factor into your decision. That said, school psychology is expected to continue to grow in the coming years as the demand for psychological services in educational settings rises. According to projections by the U.S. Department of Labor, the demand for school psychologists is expected to grow by an estimated 20 percent from 2014 to 2024, which is considered much faster than the average for all other occupations. So just how much might you expect to earn each year as a school psychologist? Salaries The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reports that in May 2016, psychologists employed in both private and public elementary and secondary schools earned a mean annual salary of $72,910. Specific salaries vary depending on a number of factors including geographic location and years of experience. Annual salaries tend to be higher in major  metropolitan areas, although its important to note that these areas also generally have a higher cost of living. How to Become a School Psychologist Youll need a doctorate or a specialist-level degree to become a school psychologist. After youve completed your graduate degree, youll need to become certified or licensed by the state in which you are working. Salaries Versus Other Education-Related Fields How do earnings for school psychologists compare to others employed in the field of education? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, school psychologists  average more per year than school counselors  ($54,560 average per year), elementary school teachers ($55,490 average per year), high school teachers ($58,030 average per year), and special education teachers ($57,910 average per year). Miscellaneous Statistics Other statistics regarding school psychologists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics report of May 2016: The best salaries for school psychologists were in New Jersey, South Dakota, California, New York, and Oregon.The states with the highest number of jobs for school psychologists were California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.