Idaho Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
Idaho has the second-highest rate of mental illness of any state in the U.S., with nearly 1 in 4 adults having a diagnosable condition. This includes common issues like anxiety and less-common ones like bipolar disorder. About 24.4% of Idaho adults have a mental illness, combined with 19% of all Americans.
But while the state’s mental health picture isn’t ideal, there is some good news. While adults in the state have a higher-than-average rate of mental illness, they also are more likely to receive professional help for their problems. In fact, nearly 20% of Idaho adults received mental health services in the most recent year for which federal health data is available, compared to just 14.9% nationally.
A constellation of trained professionals is required to support a robust mental health services infrastructure, and key among those professionals are clinical psychologists. Let’s explore what such professionals can expect to earn in Idaho, and how the state compares to its counterparts across the U.S.
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Idaho?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in West Idaho?
- Which Idaho Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Idaho?
Idaho’s average salary for clinical psychologists, $60,880, is the second-lowest among all states for which data is available. Nationally, these professionals earn an average salary of about $81,000, putting Idaho about 35% below the national average and at the bottom of states in its region.
Average annual clinical psychologist wage, Western states
| Oregon | $112,010 |
| California | $111,750 |
| Colorado | $92,840 |
| Utah | $88,480 |
| Alaska | $83,770 |
| Nevada | $83,280 |
| Wyoming | $78,620 |
| Washington | $77,700 |
| New Mexico | $73,550 |
| Arizona | $65,400 |
| Montana | $64,160 |
| Idaho | $60,880 |
| Hawaii | – |
Clinical psychologist wages in Idaho may lag behind the nation and neighboring states, but within Idaho, clinical psychologist salaries are relatively high. The average annual wage for all workers in the state is just under $45,000, and clinical psychologists make more than 35% higher wages than that.
Average annual Idaho wage, select occupations
| All Occupations | $44,890 |
| Advertising Sales Agents | $50,930 |
| Animal Trainers | $24,000 |
| Bakers | $27,570 |
| Budget Analysts | $68,870 |
| Carpenters | $39,450 |
| Clinical, Counseling and School Psychologists | $60,880 |
| Computer Programmers | $72,210 |
| Dental Assistants | $34,580 |
| Economists | $64,770 |
| Electricians | $51,380 |
| Firefighters | $39,260 |
| Graphic Designers | $45,380 |
| Highway Maintenance Workers | $42,770 |
| Interior Designers | $53,910 |
| Landscape Architects | $64,330 |
| Light Truck Drivers | $36,400 |
| Orderlies | $32,810 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $55,930 |
| Upholsterers | $37,130 |
Idaho’s average wage for clinical psychologists is one of the lowest in the country, but jobs for these professionals are expected to become considerably more common in the state over the next decade. In fact, Idaho should enjoy double-digit growth in job openings through 2028.
States by projected long-term growth rate for clinical psychologist job openings, top 20
| 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% |
Note: Short-term 2019-2021; long-term 2018-2028
Which Idaho Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
Average wages fluctuate considerably depending on the area of the state in question. They’re highest in the non-metro area of Southeast-Central Idaho and lowest, perhaps surprisingly, in Boise, the largest city in the state.
Idaho cities and non-metro areas by average annual clinical psychologist wage
| Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $86,500 |
| Idaho Falls | $64,000 |
| Boise | $58,220 |
Similarly, clinical psychologist employment is more common in some areas of the state than others.
Idaho cities and non-metro areas by average clinical psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs
| Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | 0.668 |
| Boise | 0.55 |
| Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | 0.48 |
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Idaho?
A rewarding job in clinical psychology doesn’t look like just one thing, and it’s not available from just one single type of employer. Jobs include patient-facing or managerial, and they can be found across a diverse array of industries and organization types. Plus, for clinical psychologists who want to focus on a specific population group, chances are there’s a perfect job out there doing just that.
SEE ALSO: Steps to Becoming a Clinical Psychologist
This is a growing field, and new jobs come online every day, but here’s a look at some of the Idaho organizations that were seeking to hire clinical psychologists in the summer of 2020:
- Idaho State University
- State of Idaho
- US Department of Veterans Affairs
- AmeriBen
- Pearl Health Clinic
- Senior Counseling Group
- Center for Change
- Northwest Neurobehavioral Health
- Olympus Health
- Totius Therapies
- Essential HealthCare Solutions
- Twin Falls County
- Centerpoint Counseling Services
- AmeriHealth
- Monarch Behavioral Health
- Pathways of Idaho
- Luke’s Health System
- HighRoad Human Service
- Idaho Falls School District
- Boise School District
Conclusion
With one of the highest rates of adults with mental illness, the lagging salaries that clinical psychologists can expect in Idaho may be well worth the opportunity to make a huge difference in the lives of people struggling with mental health, substance abuse and other behavioral disorders.
SEE ALSO: Best Idaho Psychology Doctorate Programs
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in Idaho 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