Connecticut Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
An estimated 19% of Connecticut adults report dealing with a mental illness. That means that about 1 in 5 adults in the state has a diagnosable condition, such as substance use disorder, OCD, depression or something else, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
While Connecticut is typical when it comes to adults with mental illness (the U.S. rate is also 19%), use of mental health services seems to be more widespread in Connecticut than the rest of the U.S. In fact, about 17.2% of adults in the state received mental healthcare services in the past year, compared to just under 15% for the nation as a whole.
What does this data mean for clinical psychologists in the state, and what is the psychologist’s salary outlook for these professionals in Connecticut today and in the near future?
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Connecticut?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Connecticut?
- Which Connecticut Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Connecticut?
The average clinical psychologist in the U.S. earns a salary of just over $81,000 per year, but in Connecticut, the rate is even higher. An average annual clinical psychologist wage of nearly $93,000 puts Connecticut at No. 8 among all states.
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 |
The average wage for all jobs in Connecticut is higher than some other states, but even so, clinical psychologists in the state earn a much higher salary than the typical worker in the state — about 47% higher, to be exact.
Average annual Connecticut wage, select occupations
| All Occupations | $62,350 |
| Animal Trainers | $38,710 |
| Barbers | $30,440 |
| Carpet Installers | $43,410 |
| Clinical, Counseling and School Psychologists | $92,790 |
| Dental Hygienists | $82,600 |
| Editors | $72,990 |
| Firefighters | $65,700 |
| Graphic Designers | $61,630 |
| Home Appliance Repairers | $51,580 |
| Library Technicians | $50,510 |
| Massage Therapists | $47,520 |
| Nursing Assistants | $34,360 |
| Order Clerks | $42,790 |
| Pharmacy Aides | $31,170 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $73,970 |
| Security Guards | $34,350 |
| Stonemasons | $46,100 |
| Tax Preparers | $54,510 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,590 |
While Connecticut is among the national leaders when it comes to wages for clinical psychologists, the growth rate expected for these jobs is on the lower end of the scale. In fact, Connecticut’s long-term growth rate for clinical psychologist employment is in the bottom quarter of the nation. Still, a double-digit growth rate is positive news.
States by projected long-term growth rate for clinical psychologist job openings, bottom 15
| Mississippi | 2.4% |
| Maine | 6.4% |
| Alaska | 7.7% |
| Michigan | 7.7% |
| Kansas | 8.4% |
| Illinois | 9.3% |
| New Mexico | 9.7% |
| South Carolina | 9.7% |
| Wisconsin | 10.4% |
| New Jersey | 11.7% |
| Connecticut | 12.0% |
| Delaware | 12.1% |
| Ohio | 12.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 13.0% |
| Rhode Island | 13.0% |
Note: Short-term 2019-2021; long-term 2018-2028
Which Connecticut Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
Wages vary quite a bit depending on the area of the state. They’re highest in the Hartford metro area and lowest in the Norwich area.
Connecticut cities by average annual clinical psychologist wage
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | $96,780 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk | $93,430 |
| Waterbury | $87,510 |
| Danbury | $86,380 |
| New Haven | $84,380 |
| Norwich-New London-Westerly | $79,190 |
Most of the cities across the U.S. with the highest wages for clinical psychologists are in California, but taking those out of the list, the Hartford metro area has among the 20 highest average wages.
Non-California cities by average clinical psychologist wage, top 20
| Jefferson City, MO | $118,920 |
| Trenton, NJ | $114,740 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $113,930 |
| Manchester, NH | $108,080 |
| Bismarck, ND | $103,070 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | $102,570 |
| Asheville, NC | $102,450 |
| Corvallis, OR | $102,290 |
| Provo-Orem, UT | $101,210 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $100,320 |
| Iowa City, IA | $99,790 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $99,680 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY | $98,960 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $98,710 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $97,870 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $96,970 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $96,780 |
| Binghamton, NY | $96,680 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $96,300 |
| Reno, NV | $96,250 |
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Connecticut?
There’s no one single job or possible employer for clinical psychologists in Connecticut. That’s because rewarding jobs can be found in a range of organization types in every imaginable industry. 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.
SEE ALSO: Steps to Becoming a Clinical Psychologist
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 Connecticut in the summer of 2020:
- Guilford Psychological Services
- Enhanced Psychological Care
- Supportive Care
- SMPsychotherapy & Counseling Services
- MedOptions
- Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program
- Institute of LIving
- A New Path Counseling
- Acclaim Behavioral Services
- Community Health Resources
- Turnbridge
- Thriveworks
- Stokes Counseling Services
- Naugatuck Public Schools
- Small Victories Wellness Services
- Hospital for Special Care
- US Department of Justice
- University of Connecticut
- Milford Public Schools
- The Village for Families & Children
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, keeping up with demand means having a steady supply of trained, licensed professionals, such as clinical psychologists. Fortunately for professionals in Connecticut, most of the state’s metrics make it a national leader.
SEE ALSO: Connecticut Psychology Doctorate Programs
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in Connecticut 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