Oklahoma Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
Just over 1 in 5 adults in Oklahoma is dealing with a diagnosable mental illness, including things like addiction, substance use disorder, anxiety, OCD and more. This puts Oklahoma above the national average for adult mental illness (20.4% vs. 19% nationally).
Not only are Oklahoma adults slightly more than their counterparts across the U.S. to be dealing with mental health issues, but they’re less likely to get help for their troubles. About 14.6% of Oklahoma adults received mental healthcare services in the most recent year for which data is available, according to federal sources. This compares with about 15% of all U.S. adults.
SEE ALSO: Oklahoma Psychology Doctorate Programs
One reason for a lag in receiving mental health services could be a lack of trained, licensed professionals, such as clinical psychologists in the state. Let’s explore the salary outlook for clinical psychologists in Oklahoma, as well as what the future could hold.
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Oklahoma?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Oklahoma?
- Which Oklahoma Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Oklahoma?
The average U.S. clinical psychologist earns just over $81,000 per year, which is more than 20% higher than the average clinical psychologist in Oklahoma, where the typical wage for these professionals is one of the country’s lowest.
Average annual clinical psychologist wage, bottom 10
| West Virginia | $54,780 |
| Idaho | $60,880 |
| Montana | $64,160 |
| Arizona | $65,400 |
| Oklahoma | $66,400 |
| Kentucky | $66,940 |
| South Carolina | $68,040 |
| Alabama | $69,190 |
| Kansas | $69,530 |
| Vermont | $70,120 |
Still, while clinical psychologist wages in Oklahoma may be on the low end of the scale, these jobs still pay more than the average occupation in the state. Clinical psychologists in Oklahoma earn about 45% more than the average wage for all occupations in the state.
Average annual Oklahoma wage, select occupations
| All Occupations | $45,620 |
| Agricultural Inspectors | $41,820 |
| Bartenders | $22,570 |
| Carpenters | $42,290 |
| Clinical, Counseling and School Psychologists | $66,400 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $65,930 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $65,420 |
| Firefighters | $44,860 |
| Graphic Designers | $41,800 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $62,100 |
| Legislators | $56,530 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | $66,490 |
| Medical Assistants | $31,610 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $76,060 |
| Parking Enforcement Workers | $44,530 |
| Postal Service Mail Carriers | $51,120 |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $55,850 |
| Security Guards | $32,220 |
| Traffic Technicians | $41,560 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $32,250 |
Through 2028, clinical psychologist jobs are expected to grow by an average of 15.5% in the United States, and Oklahoma should see a similar growth rate of about 14.3% in that period.
States by projected long-term growth rate for clinical psychologist job openings, top 25
| 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% |
| Idaho | 15.8% |
| New Hampshire | 15.5% |
| Tennessee | 15.5% |
| Montana | 15.1% |
| Nebraska | 15.1% |
| Hawaii | 14.9% |
| District of Columbia | 14.8% |
| North Dakota | 14.8% |
| United States | 14.7% |
| Oklahoma | 14.3% |
Note: Short-term 2019-2021; long-term 2018-2028
Which Oklahoma Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
Clinical psychologist wages vary depending on the area of the state in question. They’re highest in Tulsa and lowest in Oklahoma City. But, in both cases, wages for this job are still considerably higher than for the average Oklahoma occupation.
Oklahoma cities by average annual clinical psychologist wage
| Tulsa | $83,570 |
| Oklahoma City | $61,730 |
Professionals in the area are most likely to find work in the Tulsa area, in addition to finding their most generous salary packages.
Oklahoma cities and nonmetro areas by average clinical psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs
| Tulsa | 0.708 |
| Northwest Oklahoma | 0.406 |
| Oklahoma City | 0.353 |
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Oklahoma?
Clinical psychologist jobs certainly can consist of helping patients via a private practice. But that’s far from the only form a rewarding clinical psychologist career can take, and there are tons of options for types of jobs, employers and industries.
Here’s a look at some of the Oklahoma organizations that were seeking to hire clinical psychologists in the summer of 2020:
- Pinnacle Care Oklahoma
- Legacy Counseling Services
- The GEO Group
- CREOKS Behavioral Health Services
- US Army
- Jackson County Memorial Hospital
- Grand Lake Mental Health Center
- Project Break Through
- University of Oklahoma
- Ponca City Schools
- Healing Hearts of SW Oklahoma
- Saratoga Medical
- The Chickasaw Nation
- Carl Albert Community Mental Health Center
- Oklahoma Forensic Center
- Edmond Public Schools
- Family & Children’s Services
- Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs
- Oklahoma City Public Schools
- Fairfax Medical Facilities
Conclusion
Access to mental healthcare is a crucial aspect of overall well-being. And while more people are aware of their need for this type of care, still too few people are actually accessing these services, especially in Oklahoma. But with a healthy rate of growth projected for clinical psychologist employment, the future of the industry in Oklahoma is bright.
SEE ALSO: Oklahoma Psychology Doctorate Programs
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in Oklahoma 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