Military Psychologists Salary Outlook
Months or years of military service on the frontlines can lead to severe mental and emotional stress for military personnel and their families. War can affect the member’s actions and thoughts. Some studies indicate that most enlisted military members are affected by a mental or emotional disorder.
Their family members also can have mental and emotional problems stemming from their loved ones overseas for months or years. Thoughts of their military members being in possible danger can also cause mental anguish.
Military Psychologists Work With Military Members and Their Families
Military psychology is a special form of the field that focuses on military members and their families. Military psychologists often perform psychiatric evaluations, assess and treat mental and emotional problems stemming from military service, and offer counseling services tailored to military personnel and their families.
Many military psychologists specialize in clinical and counseling psychology. They spend most of their time assessing, diagnosing, and treating military members with mental and emotional problems.
They could need to discover the degree of the member’s emotional trauma and recommend treatment. Some of the other common problems that plague military members are depression, anxiety, PTSD, and sleeping problems.
Military psychologists need to be highly educated to earn the highest salaries. For example, the U.S. Army is hiring clinical psychologists. They require a doctorate in clinical psychology or clinical psychology from an APA-accredited program. You also need to have completed an APA-accredited clinical psychology internship. The Navy also requires a doctoral degree.
Because of the intense educational requirements, it is wise to review the salary potential for military psychologists. Below is more information.
Salary Outlook for Military Psychologists
Clinical and counseling psychologists serve a vital role in the military helping active-duty members and their families cope with mental health challenges that are both ordinary and unique. That also holds true for anyone who’s been discharged or retired.
Industrial-organizational psychologists also play an important role in any major corporation, and the Department of Defense happens to be the largest employer in the nation and world.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks salary data for both types of psychologists: industrial-organizational, and clinical and counseling.
Nationwide the BLS reports the median salary for all psychologists is $92,740. Specifically, the salary breakdown for our two specific categories of psychologists are:
| Bottom 25% salary | Median salary | Average salary | Top 25% salary | Top 10% salary |
Clinical and counseling psychologists | $66,050 | $96,100 | $106,600 | $129,020 | $168,870 |
I-O psychologists | $90,100 | $147,420 | $154,380 | $219,410 | $219,810 |
Wages vary depending on the type of employer. The sectors offering the highest average salary for each type of psychology category are:
Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Scientific Research and Development Services – $131,050
- Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals – $117,940
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners – $114,900
- Offices of Physicians – $113,970
- Educational Support Services – $111,340
Industrial-organizational psychologists
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services – $169,890
- Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals – $164,850
- Scientific Research and Development Services – $132,560
- Management of Companies and Enterprises – $127,950
- State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals – $96,030
Military Psychologist Job Outlook
The job outlook for military psychologists is strong. The BLS reports jobs for all psychologists should increase by 7% between 2023-2033, nearly twice the general rate of 4% for all jobs in the nation.
Growth rate projections vary by state. The top-15 states with the best growth rate projections are listed below for each psychologist specialization (2022-2032).
Clinical and counseling psychologists
Utah | 50% |
Arizona | 26.8% |
Florida | 26.1% |
Oregon | 23.4% |
Tennessee | 23.4% |
New Mexico | 23.3% |
South Carolina | 22.8% |
California | 20.7% |
Iowa | 20.6% |
Colorado | 20.1% |
New Hampshire | 20% |
Texas | 19.6% |
North Carolina | 18.9% |
Mississippi | 16% |
New Jersey | 15.2% |
Industrial-organizational psychologists
Idaho | 22.2% |
Oregon | 15.8% |
Arizona | 15% |
Missouri | 14.3% |
California | 11.8% |
North Carolina | 11.8% |
Maryland | 10% |
New Mexico | 10% |
Alabama | 9.1% |
Ohio | 5% |
Kentucky | 0% |
Montana | 0% |
Nebraska | 0% |
Nevada | 0% |
New Jersey | 0% |
Overall, employment for clinical and counseling psychologists will grow because of more demand for mental health services in hospitals, mental health centers, and social service agencies. In addition, Americans are living longer and healthier lives and want to address their psychological problems to get the most out of life.
BLS also reports more psychological services will be required for military veterans suffering from PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary for Psychologists, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, and Industrial-Organizational Psychologists. National labor market information and state labor market information also sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor. Information based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed February 2025.
What The Experts Say
To learn what the experts have to say about working as a military psychologist, we checked some trusted sources:
Question: “Is it possible to become a military psychologist as a civilian?”
“Yes. Eighty percent of the mental health providers employed by the Department of Defense are DoD Civilians – civil service. Only those positions which are deemed deployable are filled by uniformed personnel.” – Michael Lee Russell, Forensic Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist.
“The term “military psychologist” has several meanings. If you are asking about becoming a clinician, where one actually works directly with military personnel in a clinical setting, the hierarchy of the “chain of command” is important to the function of any military installation, including hospitals. The Veterans Administration, on the other hand, does employ civilian clinicians in several capacities.” – Barry Lauritzen, Former Infantryman, US Army 1975, Designer and Drafter at Honeywell E&TSC.
“You do not become part of the military but are either hired on contract, become a DOD civilian, or do temporary work for them. I have met [several people] who have done this and it can be a great career. The best way to do it is to become a Department of Defense civilian. You are in the civil service and get good benefits. Contract work usually has no benefits, and you [work at will]. That means that they can say at any time, ‘the contract is ended – goodbye.’” – Stewart Marshall, B.A. Sociology & Psychology.
Summary
A psychology career in the military can be a solid choice. You will earn a good salary and enjoy many military benefits, and a pension if you stay in the service for 20 years. Job demand for psychologists is rising, so this can be a good career path, especially if you have a passion for working with military personnel.