Salary Outlook for Healthy Psychologist
Health psychology is a specialized area of the field that centers on how biological, social, and psychological issues affect illness and health. Health psychologists engage in many tasks that involve health and wellness.
In clinical work, health psychologists may perform behavioral assessments, clinical interviews, and personality tests. Other tasks may include engaging in interventions with groups or individuals. In research, health psychologists may perform research on many health-related matters, such as what causes health problems or how to help people deal with pain or illness.
To become a health psychologist, you need to earn at least a master’s in psychology, and either a Ph.D. or Psy.D. to work in a private practice. State requirements also mandate between 2,000 and 4,000 hours of supervised clinical work experience after earning your health psychology degree. After completing these steps, you can sit for your psychologist licensing examination.
Before earning your master’s and doctoral degree in health psychology, learn about the type of salary you can expect as a health psychologist. Detailed salary information is below.
Health Psychologist Salary Information
While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t maintain specific statistics for health psychologists, it does keep tabs on all psychologists in general. It reports the median salary for this profession is $92,740, and the top 10% salaries start at $151,880.
Two fundamental aspects of being a health psychologist are clinical work and research. Fortunately the BLS tracks data for clinical psychologists, and for psychology professors who undoubtedly engage in academic research. Examining data for both these specializations within psychology gives insights into health psychologist salaries.
Detailed salary information for these two professions are available:
| Bottom 25% | Median | Top 25% | Top 10% | |
| Clinical Psychologists | $66,050 | $96,100 | $129,020 | $168,870 |
| Psychology Professors | $62,980 | $82,140 | $106,610 | $151,890 |
BLS data for psychologists in general is available according to type of workplace. Average salaries are listed here along with the sectors most relevant to health psychologists:
- Scientific research and development services – $130,900
- Federal government – $117,670
- Offices of other health practitioners – $114,410
- Physician offices – $112,120
- Outpatient care centers – $107,170
- Hospitals – $100,180
- Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals – $98,450
- State government including schools and hospitals – $94,850
- Local government including schools and hospitals – $91,930
- Educational services – $91,430
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools – $84,430
- Junior colleges – $82,170
Average Health Psychologist Salary by State
These are the average annual salaries by state for clinical psychologists and psychology professors:
| Clinical Psychologist | Psychology Professor | |
| Maryland | $116,560 | $117,290 |
| New Jersey | $148,370 | $112,670 |
| New York | $113,230 | $112,650 |
| Oregon | $129,470 | $109,600 |
| California | $132,410 | $109,490 |
| Massachusetts | $102,630 | $104,100 |
| Connecticut | – | $103,090 |
| Michigan | $82,770 | $101,970 |
| North Dakota | $88,500 | $100,040 |
| New Hampshire | $64,390 | $97,370 |
| Rhode Island | $120,720 | $96,980 |
| Minnesota | $95,100 | $95,730 |
| Kansas | $72,570 | $92,370 |
| Vermont | $95,950 | $90,940 |
| Utah | $110,630 | $90,460 |
| Texas | $82,420 | $90,080 |
| Iowa | $87,360 | $89,870 |
| Alaska | $109,300 | $89,700 |
| Nebraska | – | $89,130 |
| Montana | $80,310 | $87,770 |
| Missouri | $87,730 | $87,370 |
| Arizona | $109,550 | $87,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,400 | $86,910 |
| Virginia | $108,130 | $86,300 |
| South Carolina | $64,990 | $86,260 |
| Tennessee | $109,670 | $86,150 |
| Alabama | $92,470 | $85,790 |
| Illinois | $111,300 | $85,360 |
| Florida | $89,450 | $85,340 |
| Ohio | $108,690 | $84,390 |
| Wisconsin | $109,890 | $83,940 |
| Delaware | – | $83,880 |
| Indiana | $92,700 | $82,630 |
| North Carolina | $91,390 | $81,360 |
| Georgia | $85,800 | $81,280 |
| Nevada | $106,830 | $81,020 |
| Kentucky | $105,140 | $80,820 |
| Louisiana | – | $80,450 |
| Colorado | $99,690 | $79,560 |
| Maine | $117,710 | $79,500 |
| West Virginia | $75,810 | $78,110 |
| New Mexico | $92,530 | $77,690 |
| Washington | $108,650 | $77,120 |
| Idaho | $75,330 | $75,940 |
| Wyoming | $72,860 | $73,700 |
| Mississippi | – | $71,710 |
| Arkansas | $106,330 | $70,450 |
| South Dakota | $86,160 | $68,680 |
| Oklahoma | $89,380 | $68,280 |
| Hawaii | $92,780 | $58,970 |
Job Outlook for Health Psychologists
Demand for health psychologists is expected to rise as these professionals are needed to collaborate more with social workers, doctors, and others in the healthcare field. While health psychologists usually focus on mental and behavioral health, they also work with other healthcare professionals to set up health and wellness programs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports overall jobs for psychologists will grow by 7% between 2023 and 2033, which is nearly double the average rate of 4%. Employment of health psychologists should rise similarly to clinical and counseling psychologists as there is more demand for psychological services in hospitals, mental health centers, social service agencies, and health and wellness centers.
Health psychologists also will be needed to help people with health and wellness as they age. Americans are living longer than ever and want to live healthier and more active lives, so the demand for health psychologists should definitely increase.
Another factor to consider for health psychologist employment is that some may choose to become health educators and community health workers. The skills that you learn in a health psychology program can be directly applied to health education which teaches people about behaviors that promote wellness. Community health workers work in at-need communities to enhance the health of communities and individuals.
Employment for clinical psychologists is forecast to rise by 13.3% between 2023 and 2033, much faster than average. For psychology professors that number is 5%. Growth is being driven by efforts to improve health outcomes and to cut healthcare costs by teaching citizens about healthy behaviors and how to use healthcare services to promote health and wellness. The need for health psychologists in the health educator and community health worker professions should be strong in the coming years.
Summary
The rising need for all types of psychologists should provide plenty of jobs in health psychology in the coming years. Also, there is a better understanding of the link between mental health and health and wellness, so health psychologists should have many opportunities to practice their much-needed skills in health clinics, mental health facilities, hospitals, and more.
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and labor market information for Psychologists, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, and Post-Secondary Psychology Teachers is based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed February 2025.