School Psychologist salary in California
School Psychologists in California earn a median of $127,780 a year ($61.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $97,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,170 for the top 10%. That is 33% higher than the national median of $95,990. California ranks 1st of 51 states for school psychologists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.46 school psychologists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $127,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for school psychologists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $97,200 | $46.73 |
| 25th percentile | $109,940 | $52.86 |
| Median | $127,780 | $61.43 |
| 75th percentile | $140,980 | $67.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,170 | $77.01 |
| Average (mean) | $127,830 | $61.46 |
Half of school psychologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,648.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,324.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,914.62 |
| Weekly | $2,457.31 |
| Hourly | $61.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
School Psychologist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | $145,400 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $139,400 | 760 |
| Merced, CA | $133,230 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $131,920 | 460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $131,070 | 850 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,540 | 680 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $130,520 | 260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $129,610 | 220 |
| Modesto, CA | $128,750 | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $128,630 | 200 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $128,110 | 110 |
| Visalia, CA | $128,020 | 170 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $126,710 | 70 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $126,430 | 170 |
| Yuba City, CA | $125,860 | 40 |
| Chico, CA | $124,980 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $123,920 | 400 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $122,450 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $122,390 | 3,060 |
| Vallejo, CA | $121,340 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for school psychologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $127,780 |
| Colorado | $124,770 |
| New Mexico | $110,360 |
| Maryland | $109,700 |
| Washington | $108,780 |
| District of Columbia | $107,500 |
| New York | $106,550 |
| Oregon | $106,070 |
| Connecticut | $100,600 |
| Georgia | $99,110 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $109,610 | $52.70 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $97,900 | $47.07 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,240 | $34.73 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $157,540 | $75.74 |
| Survey Researcher | $83,520 | $40.16 |
| Economist | $119,410 | $57.41 |
| Sociologist | $125,770 | $60.47 |
| Historian | $97,420 | $46.84 |
| Geographer | $114,460 | $55.03 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3034. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a school psychologist make in California?
The median salary for school psychologists in California is $127,780 a year, or $61.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $97,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid school psychologists make in California?
The top 10% of school psychologists in California earn at least $160,170 a year. The top 25% earn $140,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for school psychologists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $97,200 a year, and a quarter of school psychologists earn $109,940 or less.
How many school psychologists work in California?
About 8,340 school psychologists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.