How Much Do Developmental Psychologists Make?
Studying developmental psychology is vital to understand how people mature. Developmental psychologists study how human beings grow and adapt to different stages of life. They perform psychological research to help people in all age groups to reach their top potential.
Many developmental psychologists focus on children and adolescents in private practice. Some also study aging and the many problems that older adults have in their 50s, 60s, and beyond.
For instance, a baby who is not able to walk by 15 months could have a developmental delay or a more severe health problem. A developmental psychologist can work with the parents and physicians to better understand the problem and treat any related health or psychological issues. With early intervention, the developmental psychologist can get the child back on track for healthy growth and development.
To have a career in developmental psychology, it is generally necessary to earn a doctoral degree. If you choose to earn this prestigious degree, it is critical to understand your salary potential. It can take at least four or five years to earn a Ph.D. in developmental psychology. Is it worth it?
Developmental Psychologist Salary Information
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the median salary for all psychologists is $92,740. Professionals in the top 10% with the most education and experience are looking at a salary that starts at $151,880.
While the BLS doesn’t track statistics specifically for developmental psychologists, it does for closely-related school psychologists.
To get a sense for developmental psychologist salaries, we can cross reference school psychologist salaries with average salary statistics for workplaces that are common for developmental psychologists:
- Childcare services – $142,500
- Offices of other health practitioners – $105,140
- Educational support services – $102,230
- Employment services – $94,140
- Elementary and secondary schools – $90,940
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools – $88,100
- Junior colleges – $84,650
- Individual and family services – $73,510
- Other residential care facilities – $63,790
These are average salaries by sector for school psychologists, the BLS career category most closely related to developmental psychologists. The BLS also has state-specific data for this occupation, listed here by average hourly and annual salary:
| Hourly | Annual | |
| Colorado | $53.71 | $111,720 |
| California | $52.80 | $109,830 |
| New Mexico | $51.41 | $106,940 |
| New York | $51.02 | $106,130 |
| Washington | $50.57 | $105,190 |
| Massachusetts | $50.09 | $104,180 |
| Alaska | $49.32 | $102,590 |
| Oregon | $49.00 | $101,920 |
| District of Columbia | $48.72 | $101,350 |
| Connecticut | $46.87 | $97,480 |
| Maryland | $46.26 | $96,210 |
| New Jersey | $45.22 | $94,060 |
| Ohio | $44.35 | $92,240 |
| Wyoming | $43.67 | $90,830 |
| Georgia | $43.08 | $89,610 |
| Nevada | $43.00 | $89,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $42.99 | $89,410 |
| Wisconsin | $41.26 | $85,820 |
| Rhode Island | $41.17 | $85,630 |
| Virginia | $40.96 | $85,200 |
| Arizona | $40.46 | $84,160 |
| Maine | $40.34 | $83,900 |
| Minnesota | $40.26 | $83,740 |
| Illinois | $39.93 | $83,060 |
| Delaware | $39.55 | $82,260 |
| New Hampshire | $39.41 | $81,960 |
| Nebraska | $39.13 | $81,390 |
| Michigan | $39.01 | $81,140 |
| South Dakota | $38.95 | $81,020 |
| Texas | $38.76 | $80,610 |
| Vermont | $38.00 | $79,040 |
| Indiana | $37.44 | $77,870 |
| Florida | $37.19 | $77,360 |
| Montana | $37.10 | $77,160 |
| South Carolina | $36.84 | $76,620 |
| Utah | $35.30 | $73,430 |
| Idaho | $35.13 | $73,070 |
| Kentucky | $34.85 | $72,480 |
| Tennessee | $33.82 | $70,340 |
| Kansas | $33.51 | $69,690 |
| West Virginia | $33.31 | $69,280 |
| North Dakota | $33.21 | $69,070 |
| North Carolina | $33.20 | $69,060 |
| Mississippi | $32.96 | $68,560 |
| Iowa | $32.81 | $68,250 |
| Oklahoma | $32.68 | $67,970 |
| Missouri | $32.61 | $67,830 |
| Alabama | $32.32 | $67,230 |
| Louisiana | $32.14 | $66,850 |
| Arkansas | $29.15 | $60,630 |
With a PhD in developmental psychology, you may also want to pursue a career as a college professor. BLS reports the median salary for post-secondary psychology teachers is $82,140.
Job Outlook For Developmental Psychologists
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that psychology jobs in general will increase by 7% between 2023 and 2033, which is nearly double the average rate for all jobs combined. The employment of psychologists should increase as there is a higher demand for mental health services in hospitals, schools, mental health services, and social service agencies. People are living longer and healthier lives than ever, so more people want to have their mental health problems treated so they can enjoy life.
The BLS also reports that jobs for postsecondary teachers should grow by 5% over that same time frame. Experts believe more students will attend college in the next decade to enhance their job skills in a competitive marketplace.
Also, with higher demand for psychological services, more students will pursue college degrees in psychology. This influx of students will cause a greater need for professors of psychology.
Demand at the state-level for school psychologists is tracked closely. The following shows the anticipated job growth for school psychologist jobs between 2022 and 2032:
| Utah | 17.3% |
| Tennessee | 16.5% |
| Colorado | 15.9% |
| Texas | 14.1% |
| Florida | 13.5% |
| Massachusetts | 12.1% |
| Wyoming | 11.1% |
| Maryland | 11% |
| Ohio | 10.4% |
| North Dakota | 10% |
| North Carolina | 9.7% |
| South Carolina | 9.3% |
| Georgia | 9.2% |
| New Mexico | 7.4% |
| Delaware | 7.3% |
| Iowa | 7.1% |
| Vermont | 6.7% |
| District of Columbia | 6.5% |
| Oregon | 6.5% |
| California | 6.2% |
| Oklahoma | 5.8% |
| Montana | 5.3% |
| Connecticut | 5.2% |
| Nebraska | 5.2% |
| Wisconsin | 5% |
| Kansas | 4.7% |
| Arizona | 4.6% |
| New Jersey | 4.4% |
| Arkansas | 4.2% |
| Indiana | 4.2% |
| Nevada | 3.8% |
| Virginia | 3.8% |
| New Hampshire | 3.7% |
| Minnesota | 3.5% |
| Alabama | 3.2% |
| Louisiana | 2.9% |
| West Virginia | 2.8% |
| Illinois | 2.3% |
| Kentucky | 2% |
| Michigan | 0.9% |
| Alaska | 0% |
| Maine | 0% |
| Mississippi | 0% |
| Pennsylvania | 0% |
| Rhode Island | 0% |
| South Dakota | 0% |
SEE ALSO: Online Doctorate in Developmental Psychology Programs
Summary
With a Ph.D. in developmental psychology, it is possible to earn a starting salary of $60,000 or $70,000 per year. With enough experience, this wage can rise to well above $100,000. Developmental psychologists who desire maximum earning power may consider working in private practice with individual patients.
Also, federal agencies tend to be among the best-paying in the psychological field. Getting one’s foot in the door in the US government is difficult, but once you have established yourself in civil service, it can be a very lucrative career.
If your interest is to work in academia or research, you can make a salary of $70,000 or $80,000 as a college professor. However, full-time, tenured college professorships are highly competitive. Many Ph.D.s in psychology who teach in universities may hold two or more part-time teaching positions to earn as much money as possible.