Indiana Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
About 18% of U.S. adults have at least one diagnosable mental illness, according to federal health data. This could be something that’s often easily dealt with, such as anxiety, or something that’s considered more serious, like schizophrenia. In the state of Indiana, the percentage of adults with a mental illness is even higher, nearly 21%.
But despite nearly 1 in 5 adults having a mental illness, a much lower percentage of adults nationally seek help in a given year for any emotional or behavioral issues. About 14.6% of adults have sought mental health services in the past year.
With more than 20% of Indiana adults having a mental illness, it’s clear there’s a huge need in the state for licensed clinical psychologists, who are trained and educated in understanding mental illnesses and behavioral disorders and helping people overcome their issues and lead happy, healthy lives.
SEE ALSO: Best Indiana Psychology Doctorate Programs
So how attractive is Indiana for licensed clinical psychologists? What can they expect to earn for a living, how does that compare to other jobs in the state, and what types of employers are possible in Indiana?
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Indiana?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Indiana?
- Which Indiana Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Indiana?
Clinical psychologists in the U.S. earn a median annual wage of about $77,000; Indiana’s median annual wage for the role is more than 18% lower than that, and it’s the second-lowest in the Midwest.
Median annual clinical psychologist wage, Midwestern states
| Minnesota | $84,630 |
| North Dakota | $83,730 |
| Iowa | $78,810 |
| Wisconsin | $77,090 |
| Michigan | $75,340 |
| Ohio | $72,930 |
| Illinois | $71,340 |
| South Dakota | $68,780 |
| Nebraska | $67,060 |
| Missouri | $65,890 |
| Indiana | $63,540 |
| Kansas | $58,900 |
While it’s true that clinical psychologists in Indiana make one of the lowest wages in the Midwest, among other workers in Indiana, their wages are relatively high, sitting about 80% higher than the median wage for all jobs in Indiana.
Median annual Indiana wage, select occupations
| All Occupations | $35,730 |
| Animal Trainers | $24,370 |
| Bailiffs | $36,860 |
| Carpet Installers | $31,980 |
| Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists | $63,540 |
| Dental Assistants | $39,590 |
| Editors | $47,870 |
| Firefighters | $50,560 |
| Graphic Designers | $42,980 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $44,480 |
| Interior Designers | $42,290 |
| Machinists | $42,880 |
| New Accounts Clerks | $33,690 |
| Parts Salespersons | $30,650 |
| Pharmacy Aides | $23,420 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | $54,570 |
| Roofers | $41,190 |
| Sheet Metal Workers | $52,440 |
| Teacher Assistants | $22,810 |
| Travel Agents | $36,420 |
Wages for clinical psychologists in Indiana may not be very high today, but the state is expected to see rapid growth in job openings over the next decade, which could help create a seller’s market for clinical psychology.
States by projected long-term growth rate for clinical psychologist job openings, top 20
| Colorado | 33.5% |
| Utah | 30.8% |
| Arizona | 24.9% |
| Nevada | 21.7% |
| Washington | 21.5% |
| Texas | 20.0% |
| Florida | 19.9% |
| Virginia | 18.2% |
| Arkansas | 17.7% |
| Georgia | 17.4% |
| North Dakota | 17.2% |
| Missouri | 16.2% |
| Oklahoma | 15.9% |
| New York | 15.6% |
| Oregon | 15.5% |
| Alaska | 15.4% |
| Indiana | 15.4% |
| North Carolina | 15.3% |
| Maryland | 15.2% |
| Idaho | 14.3% |
Note: Short-term 2018-2020; long-term 2016-2026
Which Indiana Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
Several cities and major metro areas across Indiana offer much more generous wages for clinical psychologists than the state as a whole, and salaries range from a high in Evansville to a low in Columbus.
Indiana cities and metro areas by median annual clinical psychologist wage
| Evansville | $76,040 |
| Terre Haute | $70,870 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson | $68,480 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $64,970 |
| Fort Wayne | $61,750 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $58,710 |
| Columbus | $45,090 |
Though Columbus offers the lowest annual wage among all Indiana cities for which data is available, clinical psychologist job openings are strongest in that city.
Indiana cities and metro areas by clinical psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs
| Columbus | 0.97 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | 0.78 |
| Terre Haute | 0.78 |
| Evansville | 0.72 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson | 0.44 |
| Fort Wayne | 0.34 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | 0.24 |
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Indiana?
The ideal employer depends on the individual clinical psychologist. They’ll need to consider things like their specialty or areas of particular focus as well as the work setting. Jobs are available in pretty much all specialty areas as well as in a range of settings, from educational to the military.
Here is a look at some real examples of companies and organizations that were seeking to hire clinical psychologists in Indiana in summer 2019:
- Capitol City Family Education Services
- S. Department of Justice
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Joseph Probate Court
- Hamilton Center
- S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Oaklawn
- Indiana University-Bloomington
- Ivy Tech Community College
- Franciscan Health
- Gibault Children’s Services
- Major Hospital
- University of Indianapolis
- Easterseals Crossroads
- Community Health Network
- Four County
- Deer Oaks Mental Health Associates
- The Hope Source
- State of Indiana
- Indiana Women’s Prison
- Greenhouse Mental Health
Conclusion
Indiana has one of the highest rates of adults with any mental illnesses. But the state also has one of the highest rates of adults who seek mental health services, which means there’s a relatively high acceptance in Indiana of the need for mental healthcare. When you consider the growth rate projected in clinical psychologist jobs, the need in Indiana for qualified, compassionate individuals could help make up for relatively low wages.
SEE ALSO: Steps to Becoming a Clinical Psychologist
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in Indiana was gathered from listings posted in October 2019 on Indeed.com and Glassdoor.com
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Query System. (2019). Accessed from https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/home
- Projections Managing Partnership, Projections Central, Short Term Occupational Projections. (Undated). Accessed from https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/ShortTerm
- Projections Managing Partnership, Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections. (Undated). Accessed from https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2016-2017 NSDUH State Prevalence Estimates. (Undated). Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2016-2017-nsduh-state-prevalence-estimates
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychologists. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm#tab-5