Virginia Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
According to federal health data, nearly 20% of American adults have a diagnosable mental illness, from depression to bipolar disorder. But a much smaller percentage of adults have sought mental health services in the past year, meaning millions of people could be suffering needlessly from mental or emotional health issues. Virginia has slightly higher percentages both of adults with mental illnesses and percentages who have sought mental health services in the past year.
One group of professionals is uniquely qualified to help make a difference in the everyday lives of people dealing with emotional, behavioral or mental health challenges — clinical psychologists.
SEE ALSO: Clinical Psychology Phd vs PsyD
Whether they’re working in medical settings or even for the military, licensed clinical psychologists can help people learn to cope with their mental health challenges and improve their day-to-day lives. What does the job market look like for such individuals here in Virginia?
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Virginia?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Virginia?
- Which Virginia Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Virginia?
Clinical psychologists in Virginia earn a median wage of $73,930, which is not far below the overall U.S. median of around $77,000, and Virginia’s median wage is fourth-highest among all Southern states.
Median annual clinical psychologist wage, Southern states
| District of Columbia | $84,780 |
| Maryland | $78,980 |
| Delaware | $74,390 |
| Virginia | $73,930 |
| Georgia | $71,200 |
| Florida | $69,650 |
| Texas | $66,070 |
| Tennessee | $64,330 |
| Louisiana | $63,540 |
| North Carolina | $62,470 |
| Arkansas | $62,200 |
| South Carolina | $61,030 |
| Alabama | $60,370 |
| Kentucky | $59,300 |
| Mississippi | $57,780 |
| West Virginia | $50,890 |
| Oklahoma | $49,830 |
Virginia’s typical wage for clinical psychologists does lag slightly behind the overall national median, but such professionals in the commonwealth tend to be better paid that workers in many other common jobs.
Median annual Virginia wage, select occupations
| All Occupations | $40,820 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,490 |
| Bailiffs | $41,110 |
| Cashiers | $20,770 |
| Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists | $73,930 |
| Dental Hygienists | $81,240 |
| Editors | $65,050 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations | $32,520 |
| Graphic Designers | $55,560 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $40,620 |
| Interior Designers | $50,380 |
| Librarians | $63,310 |
| Machinists | $49,320 |
| Nuclear Technicians | $57,250 |
| Order Clerks | $32,610 |
| Pest Control Workers | $38,350 |
| Real Estate Brokers | $74,480 |
| Security Guards | $32,740 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks | $33,430 |
| Tire Builders | $42,520 |
In addition to offering the fourth-highest median wage in the South, job openings for clinical psychologists in Virginia should experience rapid growth over the next decade.
Southern states by projected long- and short-term growth rate for clinical psychologist job openings
| State | Long-term | Short-term |
| Alabama | 12.8% | 2.5% |
| Arkansas | 17.7% | 2.8% |
| Delaware | 11.8% | 0.0% |
| District of Columbia | 12.2% | 3.5% |
| Florida | 19.9% | 4.0% |
| Georgia | 17.4% | 3.9% |
| Kentucky | 12.1% | 2.1% |
| Louisiana | 11.4% | 2.7% |
| Maryland | 15.2% | 3.4% |
| Mississippi | — | 2.6% |
| North Carolina | 15.3% | 3.7% |
| Oklahoma | 15.9% | 2.4% |
| South Carolina | 13.7% | 1.3% |
| Tennessee | 13.9% | 2.5% |
| Texas | 20.0% | 3.1% |
| Virginia | 18.2% | 2.5% |
| West Virginia | 13.0% | — |
Note: Short-term 2018-2020; long-term 2016-2026
Which Virginia Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
Salaries vary widely across the commonwealth, with the Washington, D.C. area’s median wage surpassing Virginia’s overall median wage for this job as well as the national median.
SEE ALSO: Highest Paying Clinical Psychology Careers & Jobs
Virginia cities and metro areas by median annual clinical psychologist wage
| Washington, DC | $79,360 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News | $77,200 |
| Charlottesville | $74,480 |
| Winchester | $74,020 |
| Richmond | $70,030 |
| Staunton-Waynesboro | $69,280 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $67,960 |
| Roanoke | $61,270 |
| Harrisonburg | $61,170 |
| Lynchburg | $60,260 |
Clinical psychologist job openings are strongest in Winchester and least prevalent in Harrisonburg.
Virginia cities and metro areas by clinical psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs
| Winchester | 0.93 |
| Staunton-Waynesboro | 0.88 |
| Washington, DC | 0.81 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | 0.77 |
| Roanoke | 0.75 |
| Richmond | 0.72 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News | 0.70 |
| Charlottesville | 0.68 |
| Lynchburg | 0.66 |
| Harrisonburg | 0.58 |
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Virginia?
Whether they have a particular specialty, such as addiction or childhood mental health, clinical psychologists should find ample job opportunities here in the commonwealth of Virginia. Here are several real-life examples of organizations that were looking to hire clinical psychologists in the summer of 2019:
SEE ALSO: 15 Great Places to Work Anywhere in Clinical Psychology
- City of Alexandria
- Deloitte
- Sentara Healthcare
- S. Air Force
- Valley Health
- Peak Wellness Group
- State of Virginia
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Kaiser Permanente
- Mynd Matters Counseling
- Bridges Therapy and Wellness Center
- Distinctive Home & Health Care
- Prince William Family Counseling
- Tri-Area Community Health
- The Three Seas Psychology Group
- Shenandoah Psychological Services
- Old Dominion University
- Loudoun County
Conclusion
A deep passion for helping other people understand and learn how to cope with their emotional, behavioral and mental health issues is the primary drive for most people who pursue careers as clinical psychologists. But making a comfortable salary doesn’t hurt, which helps make Virginia an attractive place for such professionals.
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in Virginia was gathered from listings posted in August 2019 on Indeed.com and Glassdoor.com
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Query System. (2019). Accessed from https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/home
- Projections Managing Partnership, Projections Central, Short Term Occupational Projections. (Undated). Accessed from https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/ShortTerm
- Projections Managing Partnership, Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections. (Undated). Accessed from https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2016-2017 NSDUH State Prevalence Estimates. (Undated). Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2016-2017-nsduh-state-prevalence-estimates
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychologists. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm#tab-5
- Average Clinical Psychologist Salary by State. (2019). Retrieved from https://psydprograms.org/average-clinical-psychologist-salary-by-state/
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make? (2019). Retrieved from https://psydprograms.org/how-much-do-clinical-psychologists-make/