The median pay for School Psychologists is $95,990 a year ($46.15/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 0.8% through 2035, with about 3,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 19-3034
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
School Psychologist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $95,990a year, or $46.15/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $63KTop 10% $142K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +0.8%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+0.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +0.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,40064,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202564K
- Projected 203564.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 64K Projected 2035 64.5K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Master's23.1%
- Post-master’s certificate57.7%
- Professional degree15.4%
- Doctorate3.9%
Highest education held by school psychologists Segment Value Master's 23.1% Post-master’s certificate 57.7% Professional degree 15.4% Doctorate 3.9%
Also advertised as: Autism Consultant, Bilingual School Psychologist, Challenging Behavior Consultant, Early Intervention School Psychologist, Educational Diagnostician, School Neuropsychologist.
Pay
How much do School Psychologists make?
Every school psychologist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$95,990
Middle half earn $77,470 to $120,310
- 10th
- $63,070
- 25th
- $77,470
- 75th
- $120,310
- 90th
- $142,330
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $63,070 |
| 25th | $77,470 |
| Median | $95,990 |
| 75th | $120,310 |
| 90th | $142,330 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $95,990
- Median hourly wage
- $46.15/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $99,160
- People employed
- 63,940
Versus all US occupations
At $95,990, School Psychologists earn 88% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $45,010 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 17% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $142,330 or more while the bottom 10% earn $63,070, a gap of 2.3×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 69% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($127,780), but once local prices are taken into account Colorado leads at $121,075 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay School 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $127,780 | $115,408 | 8,340 |
| 2Colorado | $124,770 | $121,075 | 1,380 |
| 3New Mexico | $110,360 | $119,681 | 630 |
| 4Maryland | $109,700 | $104,517 | 1,520 |
| 5Washington | $108,780 | $101,651 | 1,420 |
| 6District of Columbia | $107,500 | $97,815 | 250 |
| 7New York | $106,550 | $98,730 | 9,070 |
| 8Oregon | $106,070 | $102,621 | 570 |
| 9Connecticut | $100,600 | $97,095 | 1,140 |
| 10Georgia | $99,110 | $102,925 | 1,650 |
Job outlook
Is School Psychologist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +0.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| School Psychologists | +0.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of School Psychologists to change 0.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,400 openings are projected each year, 5.3% of the 64,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of psychologists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of psychologists varies by occupation (see table).
Employment for psychologists is projected to grow due to demand for psychological services in schools, hospitals, mental health centers, and social service agencies.
Getting in
How to become a School Psychologist
Psychologists typically need an advanced degree, such as a master’s or doctoral degree, in psychology. Licensing requirements vary by state and position.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's 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 school psychologists.
- Post-Master's Certificate57.7%
- Master's Degree23.1%
- First Professional Degree15.4%
- Doctoral Degree3.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Master's Certificate | 57.7% |
| Master's Degree | 23.1% |
| First Professional Degree | 15.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 3.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a School Psychologist do?
Diagnose and implement individual or schoolwide interventions or strategies to address educational, behavioral, or developmental issues that adversely impact educational functioning in a school. May address student learning and behavioral problems and counsel students or families. May design and implement performance plans, and evaluate performance. May consult with other school-based personnel.
Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and to their environments. They use their findings to help improve processes and behaviors.
Day-to-day tasks
- Report any pertinent information to the proper authorities in cases of child endangerment, neglect, or abuse.
- Interpret test results and prepare psychological reports for teachers, administrators, and parents.
- Maintain student records, including special education reports, confidential records, records of services provided, and behavioral data.
- Compile and interpret students' test results, along with information from teachers and parents, to diagnose conditions and to help assess eligibility for special services.
- Collaborate with other educational professionals to develop teaching strategies and school programs.
- Select, administer, and score psychological tests.
- Assess an individual child's needs, limitations, and potential, using observation, review of school records, and consultation with parents and school personnel.
- Collect and analyze data to evaluate the effectiveness of academic programs and other services, such as behavioral management systems.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most psychologists work full time, but part-time work is common. They may work evenings or weekends to accommodate their clients’ schedules.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. 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 Comprehension4.6
- Speaking4.6
- Active Listening4.5
- Writing4.1
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Monitoring4.0
- Active Learning3.9
- Learning Strategies3.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.6 |
| Speaking | 4.6 |
| Active Listening | 4.5 |
| Writing | 4.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 |
| Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.3
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Service Orientation3.9
- Coordination3.8
- Persuasion3.5
- Negotiation3.5
- Time Management3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Persuasion | 3.5 |
| Negotiation | 3.5 |
| Time Management | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video conferencing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Computer based training software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Internet browser software
- Optical character reader OCR or scanning 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 School Psychologist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | School Psychologist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| 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.
- Social6.8
- Investigative5.0
- Conventional4.0
- Artistic3.3
- Enterprising2.8
- Realistic1.0
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 School Psychologist
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Community and Social Service
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor
$64,330median a year
Most earn $45K to $105K
+2.9%Master's - Community and Social Service
- Educational Instruction and Library
Special Education Teacher, Secondary School
$74,260median a year
Most earn $50K to $109K
−0.2%Bachelor's - Community and Social Service
- Community and Social Service
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker
$60,280median a year
Most earn $40K to $104K
+10.3%Master's
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with school psychologists highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- School Psychologist$95,990
- 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 |
| School Psychologist | $95,990 |
| 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 School Psychologist appears on
Questions
School Psychologist: frequently asked questions
How much do School Psychologists make?
School Psychologists earn a median of $95,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 88% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $46.15/hr. The middle half earn between $77,470 and $120,310. The top 10% earn $142,330 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a School Psychologist?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for School Psychologists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. BLS also lists internship/residency as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 57.7% hold post-master's certificate.
Is School Psychologist a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.8% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a School Psychologist do?
Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and to their environments. A core O*NET task: report any pertinent information to the proper authorities in cases of child endangerment, neglect, or abuse. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Presentation software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay School Psychologists the most?
The highest state medians for School Psychologists are California ($127,780), Colorado ($124,770), New Mexico ($110,360) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Colorado moves to the top at $121,075.
What personality type suits a School Psychologist?
O*NET scores School 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 ENFJ, INFJ, ENFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.