Louisiana Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
Nearly 20% of U.S. adults have a mental illness, but most people don’t get help for their emotional and behavioral disorders, according to federal health data. In Louisiana, the rate of adults experiencing mental illness is even higher than in the rest of the U.S., and the utilization rate for mental health services is below average.
What does that mean for psychology students? Clearly, there’s a great need in Louisiana for trained, qualified professionals who can help make a difference in the lives of others by providing mental health services.
SEE ALSO: How to Become a Clinical Psychologist
Aside from the need for their services, what is the career outlook for clinical psychologists in Louisiana? How does it compare to other states, and what types of employers are available in the state?
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Louisiana?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Louisiana?
- Which Louisiana Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Louisiana?
On average, a clinical psychologist in the U.S. earns just over $81,000 per year, but Louisiana is well ahead of that curve. In fact, the state’s average annual clinical psychologist salary is more than $96,000, putting the state at No. 5 nationally.
Average annual clinical psychologist wage, top 10
| Oregon | $112,010 |
| California | $111,750 |
| District of Columbia | $106,900 |
| New York | $96,170 |
| Louisiana | $96,040 |
| New Jersey | $95,680 |
| Colorado | $92,840 |
| Connecticut | $92,790 |
| North Dakota | $92,370 |
| Georgia | $90,760 |
Not only are clinical psychologist salaries in Louisiana ahead of the national average and in the top five among the states, but these professionals make more than double the average worker in Louisiana. The overall average annual wage for all occupations in the state is just over $44,000. Let’s take a look at where clinical psychologists rank among a select group of other jobs that are popular in Louisiana.
Average annual Louisiana wage, select occupations
| All Occupations | $44,170 |
| Air Traffic Controllers | $85,580 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $42,170 |
| Carpenters | $47,160 |
| Chiropractors | $85,360 |
| Clinical, Counseling and School Psychologists | $96,040 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $36,010 |
| Database Administrators and Architects | $77,540 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $55,500 |
| Fence Erectors | $33,370 |
| Gas Plant Operators | $66,130 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $53,360 |
| Industrial Engineers | $95,150 |
| Landscape Architects | $55,910 |
| Lodging Managers | $75,170 |
| Marketing Managers | $98,330 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $50,140 |
| Physical Therapists | $89,560 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $38,690 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $26,980 |
Demand for clinical psychologists in Louisiana is on a clear upward trend. In fact, job openings for the occupation are expected to expand by more than 17% through 2028, which is in the top 15 among all states.
States by projected long-term growth rate for clinical psychologist job openings, top 15
| Utah | 34.0% |
| Georgia | 32.4% |
| Colorado | 26.7% |
| New York | 25.6% |
| Maryland | 23.4% |
| Nevada | 22.2% |
| Oregon | 21.9% |
| South Dakota | 20.0% |
| Arkansas | 19.3% |
| Florida | 19.0% |
| Virginia | 18.8% |
| Indiana | 18.7% |
| Louisiana | 17.2% |
| North Carolina | 16.6% |
| Iowa | 16.1% |
Note: Short-term 2019-2021; long-term 2018-2028
Which Louisiana Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
Louisiana’s average salary for clinical psychologists is high, but job-seekers would be well-advised to consider where in the state they intend to practice, as wages vary quite a bit by city. In fact, even in the major metro area of New Orleans, the average wage is below the overall state average.
Louisiana cities by average annual clinical psychologist wage
| New Orleans-Metairie | $73,020 |
| Monroe | $58,150 |
In addition to varying salary expectations, clinical psychologist job candidates will be much less likely to find work in Baton Rouge than in Monroe, at least for now.
Louisiana cities by average clinical psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs
| Monroe | 0.406 |
| New Orleans-Metairie | 0.235 |
| Baton Rouge | 0.094 |
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Louisiana?
There’s no one single job or possible employer for clinical psychologists in Louisiana. That’s because jobs for trained, licensed professionals can be found in a range of organization types, including ones in both the public and private sector, as well as across a range of industries. In short, if a clinical psychologist has a particular interest area, chances are good they’ll be able to find a job in that field.
New openings are posted all the time, but here’s a look at a few of the employers who were looking to hire clinical psychologists in Louisiana in the summer of 2020:
- Luke & Associates
- S. Department of Justice
- Brentwood Hospital
- Easy Speech Therapy Center
- State of Louisiana
- S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- GEO
- Beacon Hospital Management
- Renew Schools
- Oceans Healthcare
- The Emerge Center
- Ochsner Health System
- Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of Northwest Louisiana
- Tulane University
- Lady of the Sea General Hospital
- Our Lady of the Lake
- Horizon Rehabilitation Center
- ProCare Therapy
- Jefferson Parish Juvenile Services
- Rehabilitation Services of Louisiana
Conclusion
Access to mental healthcare is a crucial aspect of overall health. And while more people are growing to accept the need for this type of care, still too few people are actually accessing these services. But with a high growth rate projected in clinical psychologist jobs, Louisiana looks to remain a fruitful place for professional practice in the field.
SEE ALSO: Best Louisiana Psychology Doctorate Programs
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in Louisiana was gathered from listings posted in summer 2020 on Indeed.com and Glassdoor.com
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2017-2018 NSDUH State Prevalence Estimates. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2017-2018-nsduh-state-prevalence-estimates
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Query System. (2020). Accessed from https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/home
- Projections Managing Partnership, Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections. (Undated). Accessed from https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm