Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Master's degree
None
Internship/residency
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Psychologists, all other represent a specialized segment of the psychology field with a national median salary of $117,580 and employment of about 55,000. The role typically requires a master’s degree, reflecting the advanced knowledge and training involved. Employment is projected to grow by 4.3%, with around 4,000 openings each year, suggesting a steady flow of opportunities from new positions and turnover. This career rewards a broad skill set that blends critical and analytical thinking, strong interpersonal abilities, and clear speaking and listening. Writing and reading skills, adaptability, and problem solving and decision making are also central, making the field a good match for people who enjoy both people-focused and intellectually demanding work. Creativity and innovation, combined with grounding in mathematics and science, further support success. Overall, this path can appeal to students and professionals seeking a psychology career that combines strong earnings, graduate-level education, and diverse skill use.
Earnings for psychologists, all other are strong at the national level, with a median annual salary of $117,580. Pay varies by location, with several states and metros offering notably higher median salaries. Among states, California stands out at $157,540, followed by Massachusetts at $129,410 and New York at $128,320. At the metro level, salaries are even higher in some areas: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports a median of $175,160, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $168,040. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro shows a median of $132,220, while Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV offers $129,730. These differences highlight how pay can shift significantly with geography, giving candidates room to weigh potential earnings against location preferences and other factors when planning their careers or considering relocation.
Psychologists, all other have a national employment base of about 55,000, with projected growth of 4.3%. This growth rate, combined with approximately 4,000 annual openings, indicates a consistent level of opportunity over time. The annual openings figure reflects a mix of new positions and replacement needs, which can be relevant for both new graduates and experienced professionals considering a change. Growth of 4.3% is also reflected consistently across the top states and metro areas listed, suggesting that expansion is not limited to a single region. For students and career changers, this means planning for a market where opportunities are expected to continue, but where competition and employer expectations will still make education and skill development important. Overall, the employment outlook points to steady rather than volatile conditions, supporting long-term career planning in this field.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for psychologists, all other, with measurable differences across states and metro areas. California ranks highest among states by opportunity score (67.38), combining a median salary of $157,540 with employment of 1,600. Massachusetts and New York follow, with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78 and median salaries above $128,000. Colorado and Washington also appear as strong options, with opportunity scores in the mid-50s and median salaries around or above $120,000. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $175,160, though employment there is relatively small at 110. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro offers both a high opportunity score (77.27) and the largest listed employment at 790. Other metros such as San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH provide a mix of strong salaries and mid-60s opportunity scores.
Psychologists, all other typically need a master’s degree, indicating that this is a graduate-level profession with substantial academic preparation. People considering this path should be ready for advanced study that builds a strong foundation in both theory and applied skills. The highlighted skill profile is broad and intellectually demanding. Critical and analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making, and science and mathematics point to the importance of rigorous, evidence-based work. At the same time, interpersonal skills, speaking and listening, and customer service emphasize direct interaction and effective communication with others. Writing and reading are also essential, aligning with the documentation, analysis, and synthesis commonly associated with graduate-level work. Creativity and innovation round out the profile, suggesting value in developing new ideas and approaches within the field. Together, these skills and the master’s degree requirement support a career suited to individuals committed to advanced education and multifaceted professional capabilities.
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