A licensed psychologist who applies psychological assessment and research to legal questions in courts, prisons, and law enforcement. BLS does not publish separate figures for clinical and counseling psychologists; it counts them within clinical psychologist (SOC 19-3033), whose median pay is $100,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 19-3033
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Forensic Psychologist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $100,580a year, or $48.36/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $55KTop 10% $181K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +11.7%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+11.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +11.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 4,10081,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202581.3K
- Projected 203590.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 81.3K Projected 2035 90.9K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Master's8%
- Doctorate44%
- Post-doctoral training48%
Highest education held by clinical and counseling psychologists Segment Value Master's 8% Doctorate 44% Post-doctoral training 48%
Also advertised as: Board Certified Forensic Psychologist, Correctional Psychologist, Forensic Evaluator, Court Psychologist, Police Psychologist.
Pay
How much do Clinical and Counseling Psychologists make?
Every forensic psychologist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$100,580
Middle half earn $73,210 to $135,200
- 10th
- $55,170
- 25th
- $73,210
- 75th
- $135,200
- 90th
- $180,960
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $55,170 |
| 25th | $73,210 |
| Median | $100,580 |
| 75th | $135,200 |
| 90th | $180,960 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $100,580
- Median hourly wage
- $48.36/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $112,750
- People employed
- 75,990
Versus all US occupations
At $100,580, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn 97% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $49,600 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 22% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $180,960 or more while the bottom 10% earn $55,170, a gap of 3.3×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 73% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Oregon posts the highest raw median ($134,350), but once local prices are taken into account New Mexico leads at $135,340 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Clinical and Counseling Psychologists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Oregon | $134,350 | $129,981 | 540 |
| 2New Jersey | $127,090 | $116,805 | 2,700 |
| 3New Mexico | $124,800 | $135,340 | N/A |
| 4Alaska | $124,270 | $121,406 | 40 |
| 5Arizona | $119,010 | $118,210 | 730 |
| 6Hawaii | $117,860 | $107,193 | 250 |
| 7North Dakota | $116,130 | $130,543 | 170 |
| 8California | $116,000 | $104,769 | 12,840 |
| 9Washington | $115,240 | $107,688 | 1,270 |
| 10Massachusetts | $115,180 | $108,910 | 2,860 |
Job outlook
Is Forensic Psychologist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +11.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | +11.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Clinical and Counseling Psychologists to change 11.7% over 2025–2035, roughly 3.3× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 9,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 4,100 openings are projected each year, 5.0% of the 81,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Forensic Psychologist
Forensic psychologists earn a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in clinical or counseling psychology, often at a program with forensic coursework or a forensic track, complete a supervised internship and postdoctoral year, and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) to obtain a state license.
Many complete a postdoctoral fellowship in forensic psychology. Board certification in forensic psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) is a recognized mark of expertise. The American Psychology-Law Society, Division 41 of the American Psychological Association, provides training and specialty guidelines.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Internship/residency
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as clinical and counseling psychologists.
- Post-Doctoral Training48%
- Doctoral Degree44%
- Master's Degree8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Doctoral Training | 48% |
| Doctoral Degree | 44% |
| Master's Degree | 8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Forensic Psychologist do?
Forensic psychologists answer psychological questions that arise in the legal system. They evaluate whether defendants are competent to stand trial, assess mental state at the time of an offense, estimate the risk of future violence, and evaluate parents in child custody disputes or people claiming psychological injury in civil cases.
An evaluation involves interviews, psychological testing, review of police and medical records, and a written report, followed by testimony as an expert witness when needed. Other forensic psychologists provide treatment in prisons and forensic hospitals, screen police candidates, consult with attorneys on jury selection, or research eyewitness memory and false confessions.
Day-to-day tasks
- Evaluate defendants' competency to stand trial
- Assess mental state and risk of violence for courts
- Administer and interpret psychological tests
- Review police, medical, and legal records for evaluations
- Write forensic reports for judges and attorneys
- Testify as an expert witness in criminal and civil cases
- Provide treatment in correctional and forensic hospital settings
- Conduct pre-employment evaluations for police candidates
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Forensic psychologists work in state forensic hospitals, prisons and jails, court clinics, government agencies, and private practices that serve attorneys and courts. They spend time interviewing people in secure facilities, writing detailed reports, and testifying in court. Private practice involves travel to facilities and deadlines set by court schedules.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.8
- Active Listening4.3
- Writing4.3
- Critical Thinking4.3
- Speaking4.1
- Active Learning3.9
- Monitoring3.8
- Learning Strategies3.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.8 |
| Active Listening | 4.3 |
| Writing | 4.3 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.3 |
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.4
- Service Orientation3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Coordination3.5
- Persuasion3.5
- Instructing3.3
- Time Management3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.4 |
| Service Orientation | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.5 |
| Persuasion | 3.5 |
| Instructing | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video conferencing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Billing and invoicing software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base user interface and query software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Forensic Psychologist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ISC) built on O*NET's Clinical Psychologist profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Forensic Psychologist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 7 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Social6.6
- Investigative5.9
- Conventional4.0
- Artistic3.1
- Enterprising2.6
- Realistic1.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Forensic Psychologist
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Community and Social Service
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker
$60,280median a year
Most earn $40K to $104K
+10.3%Master's - Community and Social Service
- Community and Social Service
Mental Health Counselor
$60,320median a year
Most earn $39K to $101K
+10.9%Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed - Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Community and Social Service
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with clinical and counseling psychologists highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Forensic Psychologist$100,580
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Forensic Psychologist | $100,580 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Forensic Psychologist appears on
Questions
Forensic Psychologist: frequently asked questions
How much do Clinical and Counseling Psychologists make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for clinical and counseling psychologists. It counts them within clinical psychologist, whose median pay is $100,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $73,210 and $135,200, and the top 10% earn $180,960 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Forensic Psychologist?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists. BLS also lists internship/residency as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 48.0% hold post-doctoral training.
Is Forensic Psychologist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 11.7% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 4,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Forensic Psychologist do?
Forensic psychologists answer psychological questions that arise in the legal system. A typical task: evaluate defendants' competency to stand trial. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Medical software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Clinical and Counseling Psychologists the most?
The highest state medians for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists are Oregon ($134,350), New Jersey ($127,090), New Mexico ($124,800) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, New Mexico moves to the top at $135,340.
What personality type suits a Forensic Psychologist?
O*NET scores Clinical and Counseling Psychologists highest on the Social, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INFJ, ENFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.