Psychologist Salary in District Of Columbia (2026)
The average Psychologist in District Of Columbia earns around $115,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $82,926/year ($6,911/month).
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $82,926 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $6,911 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $3,189 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $40/hr |
Federal Tax | $16,470 |
State Tax | $6,807 |
FICA Taxes | $8,798 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 27.89% |
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Psychologist Salary Ranges in District Of Columbia
Not all Psychologists earn the same — not even close
DC's psychologist market is anchored by Saint Elizabeths Hospital DC (the only DC state psychiatric hospital + civil commitment + forensic + the substantial Saint Elizabeths as one of country's substantial US public psychiatric hospitals post-1855 founding), MedStar Washington Hospital Center BH + GW Hospital BH + Howard University Hospital BH + Sibley Memorial Johns Hopkins BH + the substantial DC academic medical center BH, Children's National Hospital pediatric psychology + the substantial Children's National pediatric BH leadership, George Washington University Department of Psychology + Howard University Department of Psychology + Catholic University Department of Psychology + American University Department of Psychology + Georgetown University Department of Psychology + the substantial DC academic clinical psychology PhD as one of country's substantial US clinical PhD concentrations, post-2020 DC private practice + cash-pay UHNW + telehealth via DC PsyPact since 2020 (the substantial DC federal employee + Capitol Hill + lobbyist BH private practice growth), federal psychology (Walter Reed BH + NIH NIMH + VA Washington DC + the substantial DC federal civilian + military psych).
Sr Clinical Psychologist (Hospital)
$135,000–$215,000+ bonus
Saint Elizabeths + MedStar BH + GW BH + Howard BH + Sibley BH
Sr Neuropsychologist
$145,000–$225,000+ bonus
Neuropsych at MedStar + Children + GW + Sibley + private TBI + dementia
Sr Forensic Psychologist (Saint Elizabeths)
$135,000–$225,000+ bonus
Saint Elizabeths + DC DOC + federal forensic + private + expert witness
Sr Child / Pediatric Psychologist (Children's National)
$118,000–$182,000+ bonus
Peds psych at Children's National + MedStar peds + community peds
Sr Federal Psychologist (Walter Reed / NIH NIMH / VA)
$135,000–$215,000+ GS-13/14
Walter Reed + NIH NIMH + VA Washington · federal GS / VA pay band
Sr Health / Rehabilitation Psychologist
$118,000–$182,000+ bonus
Health psych at DC major systems + rehab + pain + transplant
Sr Private Practice / Cash-Pay (DC UHNW)
$135,000–$315,000+ bonus
DC Georgetown + Foxhall + Chevy Chase + Capitol Hill UHNW · PsyPact
Sr School Psychologist (DCPS / DC Charter)
$82,000–$125,000+ bonus
DCPS + DC Public Charter Schools · master + doctorate
Mid-Level Psychologist (3-6 yrs)
$98,000–$148,000+ bonus
Functional psych at DC major systems · transitioning to senior band
New Grad Psychologist (PhD / PsyD)
$88,000–$118,000+ bonus
DC new grad · GW + Howard + Catholic + American + Georgetown doctoral
Worth knowing: Saint Elizabeths Hospital + DC academic medical center BH (GW + Howard + Sibley + MedStar) + DC academic clinical psychology PhD cluster (GW + Howard + Catholic + American + Georgetown) + Walter Reed + NIH NIMH federal psychology tetra-anchor is one of the country's distinctive concentrated US single-state heritage public psychiatric + multi-academic medical center BH + 5+ DC clinical PhD + cross-border federal psychology cluster and a feature most national psychologist surveys understate for DC. Saint Elizabeths Hospital DC (the only DC state psychiatric hospital + civil commitment + forensic + post-1855 founding as one of country's oldest US public psychiatric hospitals). MedStar Washington + GW + Howard + Sibley Memorial + MedStar Georgetown BH. Children's National pediatric psychology. DC academic clinical psychology PhD cluster (GW + Howard + Catholic + American + Georgetown + the substantial DC clinical PhD as one of country's substantial US clinical PhD concentrations). post-2020 DC private practice + cash-pay UHNW (the substantial DC federal employee + Capitol Hill + lobbyist BH + the substantial post-2020 NYC-DC migration). DC PsyPact since 2020. DC is NOT a RxP state — DC psychologists do NOT have prescribing authority. Walter Reed Bethesda cross-border + NIH NIMH + VA Washington DC federal psych. DC progressive top 10.75% + DC NLC since 2024 anchor the DC psychologist proposition.
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More on District Of Columbia
Salaries by profession, top-paying roles by industry, and an economic breakdown for District Of Columbia in 2026.
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