Tennessee Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
Nearly 20% of U.S. adults, according to federal mental health data, have at least one diagnosable mental illness. This could include depression, PTSD or schizophrenia, and everything in between.
But while having mental illnesses is very common, getting help for mental health issues is much less common. In fact, less than 15% of adults have received any mental health services in the past year, which means that thousands of people are needlessly suffering from emotional or behavioral disturbances.
Many of them are here in Tennessee; the state is in the bottom half of the nation when it comes to the percentage of adults who have availed themselves of mental health services — 14.9%. Part of the reason Tennessee lags in treatment of mental health could be because typical salaries for licensed clinical psychologists in the state are not among the most generous in the nation.
SEE ALSO: Steps to Becoming a Clinical Psychologist
So what can a clinical psychologist expect to earn here in Tennessee, how do those salaries compare to those in other states or for other jobs in Tennessee, and what types of employers are available for clinical psychologists who want to practice in Tennessee?
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Tennessee?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Tennessee?
- Which Tennessee Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Tennessee?
The typical U.S. clinical psychologist earns a wage of about $77,000 per year, but the median wage for the role in Tennessee is considerably lower, and Tennessee’s wage puts the state in the middle of the Southern region.
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 |
While it may be true that clinical psychologists in Tennessee are likely to earn wages that fall below the national median for the job, they still can expect to make a salary that’s relatively high among other jobs in the state.
Median annual Tennessee wage, select occupations
| All Occupations | $34,890 |
| Animal Control Workers | $32,370 |
| Bailiffs | $34,290 |
| Carpenters | $38,740 |
| Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists | $64,330 |
| Dental Assistants | $37,250 |
| File Clerks | $30,140 |
| Furniture Finishers | $31,940 |
| Graphic Designers | $46,500 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $81,650 |
| Interior Designers | $45,910 |
| Legal Secretaries | $42,820 |
| Machinists | $43,110 |
| Medical Assistants | $31,220 |
| Pharmacy Aides | $24,350 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | $44,270 |
| Procurement Clerks | $41,970 |
| Real Estate Brokers | $80,020 |
| Security Guards | $23,970 |
| Veterinarians | $84,330 |
Salaries in Tennessee for clinical psychologists may be relatively low today, but the state is expected to see double-digit growth in job openings, which could help the most qualified people demand higher wages.
Southern states by projected long- and short-term growth rate for clinical psychologist job openings
| State | Long-term | Short-term |
| Florida | 19.9% | 4.0% |
| Georgia | 17.4% | 3.9% |
| North Carolina | 15.3% | 3.7% |
| District of Columbia | 12.2% | 3.5% |
| Maryland | 15.2% | 3.4% |
| Texas | 20.0% | 3.1% |
| Arkansas | 17.7% | 2.8% |
| Louisiana | 11.4% | 2.7% |
| Mississippi | — | 2.6% |
| Virginia | 18.2% | 2.5% |
| Tennessee | 13.9% | 2.5% |
| Alabama | 12.8% | 2.5% |
| Oklahoma | 15.9% | 2.4% |
| Kentucky | 12.1% | 2.1% |
| South Carolina | 13.7% | 1.3% |
| West Virginia | 13.0% | 0.0% |
| Delaware | 11.8% | 0.0% |
Note: Short-term 2018-2020; long-term 2016-2026
Which Tennessee Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
Most of the major cities and metro areas in the state for which salary data is available have higher wages for clinical psychologists than the state’s median wage, and one exceeds even the national median.
Tennessee cities and metro areas by median annual clinical psychologist wage
| Clarksville | $79,830 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol | $75,800 |
| Memphis | $71,730 |
| Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin | $63,240 |
| Knoxville | $51,240 |
| Chattanooga | $48,760 |
Just as wages vary by geography, job availability is not consistent across the state, with Memphis having a far higher concentration of clinical psychologists than Chattanooga.
Tennessee cities and metro areas by clinical psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs
| Memphis | 1.06 |
| Knoxville | 0.83 |
| Clarksville | 0.60 |
| Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin | 0.52 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol | 0.30 |
| Chattanooga | 0.28 |
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Tennessee?
There is no one single typical job for a clinical psychologists, as roles vary depending on whether they’re in the public or private sector or whether they focus on particular conditions, such as depression or anxiety.
Consequently, there are dozens of different possible employers across Tennessee for clinical psychologists. Here are several examples of real-world organizations that were looking to hire clinical psychologists in the state in summer 2019:
- S. Air Force
- Oak Plains Academy
- PediaStaff
- The Sexual Assault Center
- Omni Community Health
- University of Tennessee
- Murfreesboro City Schools
- Haven of Hope of DeKalb County
- Ballad Health
- Fairhaven Treatment Center
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Luke & Associates
- Chattanooga Autism Center
- Truecore Behavioral Services
- S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Wayne Provision
- Nashville Public Schools
- Siskin Children’s Institute
Conclusion
For individuals who have devoted their lives to the study and treatment of mental, emotional and behavioral health disorders, the desire to help other people lead happier, healthier lives is the primary drive. But earning a fair wage doesn’t hurt, and while the state of Tennessee isn’t yet among the leaders in that area, double-digit job opening growth could change all of that.
SEE ALSO: Best Tennessee Psychology Doctorate Programs
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in Tennessee was gathered from listings posted in October 2019 on Indeed.com and Glassdoor.com
- 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
- 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