Louisiana Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
Nearly 20% of U.S. adults have a mental illness, but most people don’t get help for their emotional and behavioral disorders, according to federal health data. In Louisiana, the rate of adults experiencing mental illness is even higher than in the rest of the U.S., and the utilization rate for mental health services is below average.
What does that mean for psychology students? Clearly, there’s a great need in Louisiana for trained, qualified professionals who can help make a difference in the lives of others by providing mental health services.
SEE ALSO: How to Become a Clinical Psychologist
Aside from the need for their services, what is the career outlook for clinical psychologists in Louisiana? How does it compare to other states, and what types of employers are available in the state?
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Louisiana?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Louisiana?
- Which Louisiana Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Louisiana?
On average, a clinical psychologist in the U.S. earns $106,600 per year (2023). The most recent data available shows these professionals in Louisiana earn close to this, at $101,420 annually (2021).
2023 average annual clinical psychologist wage, top 15-24
The most recent salary data for clinical psychologists in Louisiana dates to 2021, while 2023 salary data is available for most other states. Even so, when Louisiana’s data is compared alongside its more recent counterparts it still stacks up, especially considering that clinical psychologists nationally have seen a 7% salary increase on average over the past two years.
| 15th | Washington | $108,650 |
| 16th | Virginia | $108,130 |
| 17th | Nevada | $106,830 |
| 18th | Arkansas | $106,330 |
| 19th | Kentucky | $105,140 |
| 20th | Massachusetts | $102,630 |
| 21st | Louisiana (2021) | $101,420 |
| 22nd | Colorado | $99,690 |
| 23rd | Vermont | $95,950 |
| 24th | Minnesota | $95,100 |
Not only are clinical psychologist salaries in Louisiana in the top half of states, but these professionals make nearly twice the average worker in Louisiana. In 2021, the average salary for all workers in the state was $47,740. By 2023 that had grown to $53,540.
Median – Top 10% Louisiana wage for clinical psychologists (2021)
| Average | $101,420 |
| Median | $93,750 |
| 75th percentile | $124,970 |
| Top 10th percentile | $203,650 |
Demand for clinical psychologists in Louisiana is on a clear upward trend. In fact, job openings for the occupation are expected to expand by nearly 11% between 2022 and 2032.
States by projected long-term growth rate for clinical psychologist job openings within a similar range
| 30th | Kentucky | 11.1% |
| 31st | Wyoming | 11.1% |
| 32nd | Illinois | 11% |
| 33rd | Missouri | 10.9% |
| 34th | Rhode Island | 10.9% |
| 35th | Louisiana | 10.8% |
| 36th | Nevada | 10.7% |
| 37th | Georgia | 10.5% |
| 38th | Minnesota | 9.9% |
| 39th | Pennsylvania | 9.5% |
Note: Long-term 2022-2032
Which Louisiana Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
Louisiana’s average salary for clinical psychologists is relatively high, but job-seekers would be well-advised to consider where in the state they intend to practice, as salaries vary quite a bit by city.
Louisiana cities by average annual clinical psychologist wage (2021)
| New Orleans | $109,070 |
| Baton Rouge | $106,409 |
| Lafayette | $105,300 |
In addition to varying salary expectations, clinical psychologist jobs are more concentrated in Lafayette than they are in Baton Rouge.
Louisiana cities by clinical psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs (2021)
| Lafayette | 0.40 |
| Baton Rouge | 0.12 |
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and labor market information for Psychologists, most recent data for Louisiana from 2021, based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2025.
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Louisiana?
There’s no one single job or possible employer for clinical psychologists in Louisiana. That’s because jobs for trained, licensed professionals can be found in a range of organization types, including ones in both the public and private sector, as well as 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.
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 Louisiana in the summer of 2020:
- Luke & Associates
- S. Department of Justice
- Brentwood Hospital
- Easy Speech Therapy Center
- State of Louisiana
- S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- GEO
- Beacon Hospital Management
- Renew Schools
- Oceans Healthcare
- The Emerge Center
- Ochsner Health System
- Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of Northwest Louisiana
- Tulane University
- Lady of the Sea General Hospital
- Our Lady of the Lake
- Horizon Rehabilitation Center
- ProCare Therapy
- Jefferson Parish Juvenile Services
- Rehabilitation Services of Louisiana
Conclusion
Access to mental healthcare is a crucial aspect of overall health. And while more people are growing to accept the need for this type of care, still too few people are actually accessing these services. But with a high growth rate projected in clinical psychologist jobs, Louisiana looks to remain a fruitful place for professional practice in the field.
SEE ALSO: Best Louisiana Psychology Doctorate Programs
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in Louisiana 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