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.
US Average
$112,750
BLS, May 2025
Best State (Net)
$105,268
Washington
Take-Home TX
$73,643
on $92,130 · No state tax
Job Growth
6%
Source: BLS, May 2025 · Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033)
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
US Pay Range
Pay percentiles for Psychologists across the US (BLS, May 2025), with the estimated take-home in Texas.
Bottom 10%
$55,170
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$46,509
25th percentile
$73,210
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$60,333
Median
$100,580
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$79,588
75th percentile
$135,200
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$103,675
Top 10%
$180,960
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$134,952
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
BLS average pay in each state (BLS, May 2025) and the estimated take-home for a single filer with no additional deductions. BLS publishes no figure for 3 states: they show the US average, marked "US figure", at the end of the table. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Average Pay (BLS) | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $137,530 | $105,268 | |
| $122,210 | $94,797 | |
| $131,590 | $94,463 | |
| $126,480 | $92,858 | |
| $118,480 | $92,181 | |
| $124,560 | $90,395 | |
| $122,330 | $90,215 | |
| $129,590 | $89,687 | |
| $114,680 | $89,507 | |
10New York | $124,380 | $89,348 |
| $121,440 | $88,563 | |
12Arizona | $115,230 | $87,416 |
| $123,570 | $86,873 | |
| $109,570 | $85,057 | |
15Idaho | $114,380 | $84,342 |
16Hawaii | $117,510 | $83,981 |
17Delaware | $114,760 | $83,331 |
18Kentucky | $109,760 | $82,322 |
| $108,710 | $81,970 | |
20Alabama | $110,120 | $81,803 |
| $102,760 | $81,122 | |
| $110,480 | $80,563 | |
| $106,270 | $79,859 | |
24Ohio | $103,950 | $79,535 |
25Montana | $106,980 | $79,407 |
26Iowa | $104,130 | $78,780 |
| $104,670 | $77,995 | |
| $98,030 | $77,794 | |
29Utah | $104,390 | $77,623 |
30Georgia | $102,950 | $76,867 |
31Missouri | $99,190 | $74,977 |
32Nebraska | $99,180 | $74,970 |
33Vermont | $99,780 | $74,964 |
34Oklahoma | $97,850 | $73,810 |
| $92,130 | $73,643 | |
36Virginia | $98,460 | $73,249 |
37Michigan | $95,160 | $71,982 |
38Illinois | $95,590 | $71,491 |
| $88,560 | $71,132 | |
40Indiana | $91,480 | $70,517 |
| $91,790 | $69,634 | |
| $90,120 | $68,991 | |
| $84,350 | $68,170 | |
| $83,860 | $65,203 | |
45Kansas | $85,550 | $65,040 |
46Arkansas | $82,100 | $64,037 |
| $79,510 | $62,755 | |
| $112,750US figure | $82,335 | |
49Maine | $112,750US figure | $81,952 |
50Maryland | $112,750US figure | $80,637 |
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
$81,803
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$94,797
net
Arizona
$87,416
net
Arkansas
$64,037
net
California
$86,873
net
Colorado
$92,858
net
Connecticut
$82,335
net
Delaware
$83,331
net
FloridaNo state tax
$92,181
net
Georgia
$76,867
net
Hawaii
$83,981
net
Idaho
$84,342
net
Illinois
$71,491
net
Indiana
$70,517
net
Iowa
$78,780
net
Kansas
$65,040
net
Kentucky
$82,322
net
Louisiana
$62,755
net
Maine
$81,952
net
Maryland
$80,637
net
Massachusetts
$90,395
net
Michigan
$71,982
net
Minnesota
$80,563
net
Mississippi
$65,203
net
Missouri
$74,977
net
Montana
$79,407
net
Nebraska
$74,970
net
NevadaNo state tax
$89,507
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$77,794
net
New Jersey
$94,463
net
New Mexico
$90,215
net
New York
$89,348
net
North Carolina
$79,859
net
North Dakota
$85,057
net
Ohio
$79,535
net
Oklahoma
$73,810
net
Oregon
$89,687
net
Pennsylvania
$81,970
net
Rhode Island
$77,995
net
South Carolina
$69,634
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$71,132
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$68,170
net
TexasNo state tax
$73,643
net
Utah
$77,623
net
Vermont
$74,964
net
Virginia
$73,249
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$105,268
net
West Virginia
$68,991
net
Wisconsin
$88,563
net
WyomingNo state tax
$81,122
net