SOC 19-3039 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Psychologists, All Other — California
California · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Psychologists, All Other in California is $157,540 per year, well above the national median of $110,840.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Psychologists, All Other in California is $157,540 per year, well above the national median of $110,840. The gap of 42.1% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $45,150 at the tenth percentile to more than $198,950 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $95,160 to $177,260.
Employment stands at 1,600, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 42 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 1st by median wage. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $175,160. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 55th of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,150 | −59.3% |
| 25th | $95,160 | −14.1% |
| Median (50th) | $157,540 | +42.1% |
| 75th | $177,260 | +59.9% |
| 90th | $198,950 | +79.5% |
| Mean | $139,610 | +26.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $175,160 | 110 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $168,040 | 300 | |
| 3 | Sacramento | $166,480 | 170 | |
| 4 | Los Angeles | $153,630 | 470 | |
| 5 | San Diego | $148,820 | 250 | |
| 6 | Riverside | $148,530 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $157,540 buys what $142,313 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 28.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$157,540as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$142,313US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $157,540 a year, 42.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,150 to $198,950 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,600 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 1st of 42 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $175,160.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Psychologists, All Other in California?
The median annual wage is $157,540, or $75.74 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $110,840, so pay in California is 42.1% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $198,950 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $45,150 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $175,160 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,600 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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