School Psychologist salary in North Carolina
School Psychologists in North Carolina earn a median of $73,220 a year ($35.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,970 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $95,990. North Carolina ranks 43rd of 51 states for school psychologists pay. There are 0.31 school psychologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $73,080, close to the median.
Pay range for school psychologists in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,510 | $28.13 |
| 25th percentile | $63,580 | $30.57 |
| Median | $73,220 | $35.20 |
| 75th percentile | $80,870 | $38.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,970 | $44.22 |
| Average (mean) | $73,080 | $35.13 |
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 | $6,101.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,050.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,816.15 |
| Weekly | $1,408.08 |
| Hourly | $35.20 |
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 North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $86,510 | 230 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $83,340 | 260 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $80,850 | 410 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $77,230 | 40 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $76,160 | n/a |
| Wilmington, NC | $65,750 | 80 |
| Asheville, NC | $64,020 | 40 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $62,460 | 70 |
| Burlington, NC | $60,970 | 30 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $60,960 | 40 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $92,130 | $44.29 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $81,420 | $39.15 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $81,230 | $39.06 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $126,440 | $60.79 |
| Survey Researcher | $96,560 | $46.43 |
| Economist | $136,150 | $65.46 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $73,130 | $35.16 |
| Sociologist | $126,760 | $60.94 |
| Historian | $73,440 | $35.31 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $86,650 | $41.66 |
| Chemist | $82,620 | $39.72 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $74,130 | $35.64 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $63,710 | $30.63 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for school psychologists in North Carolina is $73,220 a year, or $35.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $91,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid school psychologists make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of school psychologists in North Carolina earn at least $91,970 a year. The top 25% earn $80,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for school psychologists in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,510 a year, and a quarter of school psychologists earn $63,580 or less.
How many school psychologists work in North Carolina?
About 1,540 school psychologists are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.