Kentucky Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
Almost 1 in 5 American adults has a mental illness, but far too few people receive help for their behavioral, emotional and mental health disorders. In Kentucky, more than 22% of adults have a mental illness, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, giving the commonwealth the eighth-highest rate of mental illness in the country.
In a good bit of news for Kentucky, a higher-than-average percentage of adults receive mental health services. Not only is that good news for residents of the state, but it means that mental health professionals, including clinical psychologists, may have a slightly easier time finding jobs in the commonwealth.
SEE ALSO: How to Become a Clinical Psychologist
So what is the career outlook for clinical psychologists in Kentucky, and how does the commonwealth compare to other states across the region and the country?
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Kentucky?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Kentucky?
- Which Kentucky Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Kentucky?
The national average salary for clinical psychologists is just over $81,000. But professionals in Kentucky make lower salaries than that, putting the commonwealth in the bottom 10 compared to the rest of the United States.
Average annual clinical psychologist wage, bottom 10
| West Virginia | $54,780 |
| Idaho | $60,880 |
| Montana | $64,160 |
| Arizona | $65,400 |
| Oklahoma | $66,400 |
| Kentucky | $66,940 |
| South Carolina | $68,040 |
| Alabama | $69,190 |
| Kansas | $69,530 |
| Vermont | $70,120 |
Clinical psychologist wages in Kentucky do lag behind the national average, but clinical psychologists in the commonwealth still command much higher salaries than the average worker in Kentucky. In fact, clinical psychologists in Kentucky make about 53% more than a typical worker.
Average annual Kentucky wage, select occupations
| All Occupations | $44,020 |
| Agricultural Inspectors | $43,190 |
| Barbers | $38,430 |
| Clinical, Counseling and School Psychologists | $66,940 |
| Dental Hygienists | $61,090 |
| Editors | $46,340 |
| Funeral Attendants | $31,740 |
| Graphic Designers | $43,300 |
| Hearing Aid Specialists | $62,490 |
| Information Security Analysts | $83,390 |
| Library Technicians | $30,350 |
| Machinists | $44,600 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | $46,720 |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $50,570 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $74,210 |
| Tax Preparers | $36,260 |
| Upholsterers | $37,870 |
| Veterinarians | $80,790 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $20,440 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $58,200 |
Clinical psychologists jobs are expected to expand by an average of about 3% in the U.S. over the next year, but that rate is projected to be slightly higher in Kentucky, putting the commonwealth in the top half of states.
States by projected short-term growth rate for clinical psychologist job openings, top 25
| Alaska | 7.70% |
| Utah | 7.70% |
| Georgia | 6% |
| Arizona | 5.80% |
| District of Columbia | 4.90% |
| Arkansas | 4.70% |
| Colorado | 4.70% |
| Florida | 4.70% |
| South Dakota | 4.70% |
| Virginia | 4.60% |
| North Carolina | 4.30% |
| California | 4.20% |
| Oregon | 4.10% |
| Indiana | 3.90% |
| North Dakota | 3.70% |
| Texas | 3.70% |
| Pennsylvania | 3.50% |
| Alabama | 3.40% |
| Louisiana | 3.40% |
| New Hampshire | 3.40% |
| New York | 3.40% |
| Nevada | 3.30% |
| Kentucky | 3.20% |
| Wisconsin | 3% |
| Rhode Island | 2.80% |
Note: Short-term 2019-2021; long-term 2018-2028
Which Kentucky Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
While the average Kentucky clinical psychologist tends to make less than their counterparts across the country, around the commonwealth, wages may vary. For example, in the Louisville metro area, the average wage is well above what the figure is for all of Kentucky.
Kentucky cities by average annual clinical psychologist wage
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $88,760 |
| Elizabethtown-Fort Knox | $63,670 |
Similarly, availability of jobs varies geographically. For example, the Lexington-Fayette area will probably be a better source of employment than clinical psychologists will find around Louisville.
Kentucky cities by average clinical psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs
| Lexington-Fayette | 0.943 |
| Elizabethtown-Fort Knox | 0.608 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | 0.596 |
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Kentucky?
There’s no one single possible employer for clinical psychologists in Kentucky. That’s because jobs for licensed professionals can be found in a range of organization types and across a range of industries. 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 in Kentucky.
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 Kentucky in the summer of 2020:
- Graven and Associates
- TeamHealth
- Washington-Harris Group
- US Army
- Jefferson County Public Schools
- Norton Healthcare
- PPL Therapeutic Services
- CHE Behavioral Health Services
- Seven Counties Services
- Mandala House
- Thera Tree/Lynn Occupational Therapy
- University of Louisville Physicians
- Cedar Lake
- Maryhurst
- Baptist Health System Kentucky & Indiana
- The Brook Hospitals
- Henderson County Outpatient Clinic
- Illuminare Behavioral Health Services
- Lincoln Trail Behavioral Health System
- New Vista
Conclusion
Access to mental healthcare is a crucial aspect of overall health, well-being and happiness. And while more people are aware of their need for this type of care, still too few people are actually accessing these services. But with a relatively high existing rate of mental health services utilization, Kentucky should be a good place for clinical psychologists to set up shop.
SEE ALSO: Kentucky Psychology Doctorate Programs
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in Kentucky 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, Short Term Occupational Projections. (Undated). Accessed from https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/ShortTerm