Maryland Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
About 1 in 5 American adults has a mental illness, including things like obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD or anxiety disorder. But, sadly, few people receive clinical treatment for their mental health issues, whether they are in the form of a diagnosis of mental illness or simply the result of the everyday stress and anxiety of life. In fact, only about 15% of people get any treatment for mental health issues in a given year.
While mental illness among adults is slightly less common in Maryland than in the U.S. as a whole (16.9%), the truth is that the state still needs a steady supply of mental health professionals, including licensed clinical psychologists who can help diagnose and treat behavioral and mental health disorders and give people the tools to cope with their mental states.
SEE ALSO: How to Become a Clinical Psychologist
The good news is that wages for clinical psychologists are higher in Maryland than in most states, and healthy growth in the job market is expected over the next several years. Let’s take a look at the state of clinical psychologist salaries and employment in Maryland, including which employers have recently sought to hire such professionals in our state recently.
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Maryland?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Maryland?
- Which Maryland Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Maryland?
The average clinical psychologists in Maryland earns a higher salary than their counterparts in a majority of states, and Maryland’s median annual wage for clinical psychologists is slightly higher than the overall U.S. median, which is a touch below $77,000.
Median annual clinical psychologist wage
| California | $100,850 |
| Oregon | $89,150 |
| Connecticut | $88,890 |
| New York | $88,710 |
| Rhode Island | $86,370 |
| New Jersey | $85,160 |
| District of Columbia | $84,780 |
| Alaska | $84,740 |
| Minnesota | $84,630 |
| Colorado | $84,410 |
| North Dakota | $83,730 |
| Massachusetts | $79,810 |
| Maryland | $78,980 |
In addition to the state’s position in the top 15 when it comes to typical salaries, clinical psychologists also are relatively well-paid when compared to other workers in the state, including in some occupations that are very common and popular.
Median annual Maryland wage, select occupations
| All Occupations | $44,690 |
| Archivists | $63,020 |
| Bailiffs | $39,160 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $42,080 |
| Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists | $78,980 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $34,040 |
| Compliance Officers | $74,150 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $47,150 |
| Credit Analysts | $64,100 |
| Dietetic Technicians | $33,440 |
| Electrical Engineers | $105,680 |
| Epidemiologists | $69,700 |
| Financial Examiners | $62,930 |
| Floral Designers | $29,190 |
| Funeral Attendants | $28,950 |
| Graphic Designers | $55,230 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $71,280 |
| Landscape Architects | $70,930 |
| Library Technicians | $38,310 |
| Machinists | $53,480 |
| Occupational Therapists | $90,790 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $37,280 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $57,830 |
| Sheet Metal Workers | $54,450 |
| Upholsterers | $34,340 |
Now may be the ideal time for psychology students or licensed clinical psychologists hoping for a new gig to consider Maryland as a site for their next job, as the next year is expected to see an increase in job openings that is among the top half in the nation.
States by projected short-term growth rate for clinical psychologist job openings
| Alaska | 7.70% |
| Arizona | 5.80% |
| Washington | 4.90% |
| Oregon | 4.30% |
| Colorado | 4.10% |
| Utah | 4.10% |
| Florida | 4.00% |
| California | 4.00% |
| Wyoming | 4.00% |
| Georgia | 3.90% |
| Montana | 3.80% |
| North Carolina | 3.70% |
| Ohio | 3.50% |
| District of Columbia | 3.50% |
| New York | 3.40% |
| Maryland | 3.40% |
Note: Short-term, 2018-2020
Which Maryland Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
Maryland might be a small state in terms of land mass, but there is still a great deal of variation when it comes to which city you’re considering, with clinical psychologist wages ranging from a high in Salisbury to a low in the Hagerstown area.
Maryland & nearby cities by median annual clinical psychologist wage
| Salisbury | $87,480 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $82,080 |
| Washington DC | $79,360 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $62,500 |
In addition to Salisbury being the highest-paying metro area in Maryland for clinical psychologists, the city also is among the leaders compared to hundreds of other metro areas across the country.
Metro areas by median clinical psychologist salary*
| Baton Rouge, LA | $107,370 |
| Bend-Redmond, OR | $106,260 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $97,820 |
| Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA | $95,280 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $94,000 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $93,360 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $92,380 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $91,020 |
| Reno, NV | $90,900 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $88,920 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $88,590 |
| Kingston, NY | $87,900 |
| Jackson, MI | $87,530 |
| Salisbury, MD-DE | $87,480 |
* Excluding California cities
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Maryland?
Most clinical psychologists will seek jobs working directly with clients or patients, helping them manage their mental illnesses, substance use disorders or other mental and behavioral issues. While many of them will seek to open their own practices, others may choose more traditional employment situations and look for jobs at existing businesses or organizations. There’s a great deal of variety in terms of populations served as well as whether the work is done in the private or public sector.
Here’s a look at some of the jobs for clinical psychologists that were posted in fall 2019:
- Behavioral & Educational Solutions
- PsychoGeriatric Services
- Medical Access
- ServeFed
- Lifelong Wellness
- Baltimore City Public Schools
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
- The MENTOR Network
- Howard County Psychological Services
- State of Maryland
- Advanced Medical
- The Stepping Stones Group
- National Security Agency
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation
- Refresh Mental Health
- Elm Psychological & Coaching Services
- S. Air Force
- Bethesda Chevy Chase Counseling & Assessment
- Sheppard Pratt Health System
- Cape Fox Facilities Services
Conclusion
With higher-than-average wages and expanding job opportunities, the state of Maryland should be an attractive place for prospective clinical psychologists who want to make a big impact in the lives of people every day.
SEE ALSO: Maryland Psychology Doctorate Programs
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in Maryland was gathered from listings posted in October 2019 on Indeed.com and Glassdoor.com
- 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
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Query System. (2019). Accessed from https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/home
- 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
- Projections Managing Partnership, Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections. (Undated). Accessed from https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm