Psychologist Salary 2026 — Take-Home Pay by State
Psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions through psychotherapy, neuropsychological assessment, research, and consultation across clinical, school, and organizational settings.
National Median
$110,000
Best State (Net)
$89,733
Alaska
Take-Home TX
$86,215
No state tax
Job Growth
6%
Key Facts — Psychologist 2026
BLS median: $117,750 for clinical/counseling/school psychologists (BLS May 2023 OES)
PhD/PsyD path is 5–7 years before licensure — substantial time investment
Manhattan cash-pay practitioners charge $300–$500/hour, full caseloads
NYC psychoanalytic training tradition is uniquely concentrated globally
Telehealth has expanded practice options; PSYPACT compact eases multi-state work
Salary by Experience Level
Postdoctoral Fellow
$65,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$54,408
1–2 years post-PhD; required for licensure
Licensed Psychologist (Early)
$95,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$75,663
First 1–5 years post-licensure
Senior Clinician (5+ yrs)
$130,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$100,121
Cash-pay urban or specialty practice
Practice Owner / Director
$175,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$130,879
Group practice owner or hospital director
Specialties & Salary Premiums
| Specialty | Est. Salary | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Neuropsychologist | $154,000 | +40% |
| Industrial-Organizational (I/O) | $143,000 | +30% |
| Forensic Psychologist | $137,500 | +25% |
| Health Psychology | $132,000 | +20% |
| Clinical (Cash-Pay Urban) | $148,500 | +35% |
| School Psychologist | $99,000 | -10% |
Best States for Psychologists — Real Take-Home Pay
Ranked by estimated take-home pay (single filer, no additional deductions). The highest gross salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
▲Top 5 — Highest Take-Home
Psychologist Salary by State — All 50 States
Take-home estimates for a single filer with no additional deductions. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Gross Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $115,000 | $89,733 | |
| $115,000 | $89,733 | |
| $128,000 | $89,431 | |
| $120,000 | $87,470 | |
| $120,000 | $86,767 | |
| $118,000 | $86,021 | |
| $115,000 | $83,783 | |
| $105,000 | $82,698 | |
| $108,000 | $80,764 | |
| $102,000 | $80,587 | |
| $102,000 | $80,587 | |
12Virginia | $108,000 | $79,359 |
13Maryland | $110,000 | $78,901 |
14Arizona | $102,000 | $78,440 |
| $105,000 | $78,212 | |
| $98,000 | $77,773 | |
17Hawaii | $108,000 | $77,653 |
18Illinois | $105,000 | $77,645 |
| $102,000 | $77,456 | |
20Delaware | $105,000 | $77,109 |
| $105,000 | $77,081 | |
22Ohio | $100,000 | $76,865 |
23Oregon | $108,000 | $76,696 |
| $100,000 | $75,699 | |
25Michigan | $100,000 | $75,181 |
| $94,000 | $74,959 | |
27Georgia | $100,000 | $74,939 |
| $100,000 | $74,715 | |
| $92,000 | $73,552 | |
30Utah | $98,000 | $73,412 |
| $95,000 | $73,188 | |
| $92,000 | $73,039 | |
33Missouri | $95,000 | $72,220 |
34Nebraska | $95,000 | $72,044 |
35Idaho | $95,000 | $71,736 |
| $95,000 | $71,679 | |
37Vermont | $95,000 | $71,503 |
38Kansas | $95,000 | $71,161 |
39Indiana | $92,000 | $70,868 |
| $88,000 | $70,738 | |
41Iowa | $92,000 | $70,668 |
42Maine | $95,000 | $70,484 |
43Kentucky | $92,000 | $70,450 |
| $92,000 | $70,375 | |
45Oklahoma | $92,000 | $69,958 |
46Alabama | $92,000 | $69,763 |
47Montana | $92,000 | $69,715 |
48Arkansas | $88,000 | $67,941 |
| $85,000 | $65,624 | |
| $85,000 | $65,320 |
Maximize Your Take-Home
401(k) — $24,500 max
Reduces taxable income dollar-for-dollar
HSA — $4,400 single
Triple tax advantage — deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawals
FSA — $3,300 max
Medical expenses with pre-tax dollars
State consideration
Moving to TX, FL, WA can save $5,000–$15,000/year in taxes
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home as a Psychologist
Add 401(k), HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home in your state.
Open Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.
Psychologist Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$69,763
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$89,733
net
Arizona
$78,440
net
Arkansas
$67,941
net
California
$89,431
net
Colorado
$80,764
net
Connecticut
$83,783
net
Delaware
$77,109
net
FloridaNo state tax
$77,773
net
Georgia
$74,939
net
Hawaii
$77,653
net
Idaho
$71,736
net
Illinois
$77,645
net
Indiana
$70,868
net
Iowa
$70,668
net
Kansas
$71,161
net
Kentucky
$70,450
net
Louisiana
$73,188
net
Maine
$70,484
net
Maryland
$78,901
net
Massachusetts
$87,470
net
Michigan
$75,181
net
Minnesota
$77,081
net
Mississippi
$65,320
net
Missouri
$72,220
net
Montana
$69,715
net
Nebraska
$72,044
net
NevadaNo state tax
$80,587
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$82,698
net
New Jersey
$86,021
net
New Mexico
$70,375
net
New York
$86,767
net
North Carolina
$75,699
net
North Dakota
$73,039
net
Ohio
$76,865
net
Oklahoma
$69,958
net
Oregon
$76,696
net
Pennsylvania
$77,456
net
Rhode Island
$78,212
net
South Carolina
$71,679
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$70,738
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$74,959
net
TexasNo state tax
$80,587
net
Utah
$73,412
net
Vermont
$71,503
net
Virginia
$79,359
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$89,733
net
West Virginia
$65,624
net
Wisconsin
$74,715
net
WyomingNo state tax
$73,552
net