Massachusetts Clinical Psychologist Salary
Untreated mental or behavioral health disorders can negatively impact every aspect of a person’s life, from their relationships to their careers, even their physical health. That’s why it’s so concerning that despite more than 18% of U.S. adults having a diagnosable mental illness, a much lower percentage of adults have sought mental healthcare services, according to federal health officials.
In Massachusetts, lack of mental healthcare treatment is less of a pressing issue, with the commonwealth having the third-highest percentage of adults seeking mental healthcare services. This may be partially due to the fact that licensed clinical psychologists in Massachusetts earn some of the highest wages in the nation.
So what becoming a clinical psychologist expect to earn here in Massachusetts, how does the commonwealth compare to other states, and what kinds of employers are available for such professionals in Massachusetts?
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Massachusetts?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Massachusetts?
- Which Massachusetts Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Massachusetts?
The median annual wage for clinical psychologists across the U.S. is about $77,000, which is slightly lower than the median wage for such individuals in Massachusetts.
SEE ALSO: Highest Paying Clinical Psychology Careers & Jobs
Median annual clinical psychologist wage, top 15
| 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 |
| Iowa | $78,810 |
| Hawaii | $78,440 |
In addition to having a median wage here in Massachusetts that’s higher than the national median, clinical psychologists also earn more here than folks in many other common occupations.
Median annual Massachusetts wage, select occupations
| All Occupations | $48,680 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $74,890 |
| Barbers | $39,160 |
| Carpenters | $57,210 |
| Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists | $79,810 |
| Dental Assistants | $45,760 |
| Editors | $71,730 |
| File Clerks | $35,760 |
| Genetic Counselors | $83,260 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $68,110 |
| Librarians | $68,310 |
| Nursing Assistants | $32,310 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $56,660 |
| Postal Service Clerks | $60,090 |
| Security Guards | $32,400 |
| Surveyors | $62,500 |
| Teacher Assistants | $32,780 |
| Tour and Travel Guides | $32,690 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $80,410 |
| Web Developers | $81,200 |
Among all states in the Northeastern region, Massachusetts is expected to have the third-highest rate of growth for job openings in clinical psychology through 2026.
Northeastern states by projected long-term growth rate for clinical psychologist job openings
| State | Long-term | Short-term |
| Connecticut | 7.4% | 1.8% |
| Maine | 5.3% | 0.0% |
| Massachusetts | 11.9% | 2.8% |
| New Hampshire | 12.2% | 2.0% |
| New Jersey | 7.6% | 1.5% |
| New York | 15.6% | 3.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 9.3% | 2.4% |
| Rhode Island | 4.3% | 1.3% |
| Vermont | 6.4% | 1.4% |
Note: Short-term 2018-2020; long-term 2016-2026
Which Massachusetts Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
Among Massachusetts cities and metro areas for which data is available, most offer wages even higher than the state’s overall median wage, though figures vary across the commonwealth.
Massachusetts cities and metro areas by median annual clinical psychologist wage
| Leominster-Gardner | $87,170 |
| Springfield | $86,080 |
| Pittsfield | $83,790 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua | $81,290 |
| Worcester | $72,720 |
| Barnstable Town | $67,360 |
| New Bedford | $62,110 |
Salary figures are important, but they are only one part of understanding the health of a job market. Prevalence of job openings also is critical, and multiple Massachusetts cities and metro areas are among those with the highest concentrations of clinical psychologist jobs.
U.S. cities and metro areas by clinical psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs, top 20
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 3.625 |
| Madera, CA | 2.968 |
| Mankato-North Mankato, MN | 2.624 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 2.459 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 2.089 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 2.03 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 1.98 |
| New Bedford, MA | 1.953 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 1.872 |
| Missoula, MT | 1.819 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 1.803 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1.794 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 1.784 |
| Boulder, CO | 1.66 |
| Kingston, NY | 1.657 |
| Billings, MT | 1.609 |
| Prescott, AZ | 1.603 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 1.574 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 1.57 |
| Madison, WI | 1.567 |
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Massachusetts?
Public sector. Private sector. Military. Children and families. Anxiety. PTSD. There’s a virtually limitless mix of types of job settings and specialty areas that clinical psychologists can choose from here in Massachusetts.
SEE ALSO: 15 Great Places to Work in Clinical Psychology
Here is a look at just a few of the actual employers who were seeking to hire for this job in Massachusetts in the summer of 2019:
- Kendall Psychological Associates
- Life Changes Group
- Refresh Mental Health
- MedOptions
- The Leggett Group
- Austen Riggs Center
- Trial Courts of Massachusetts
- Boston Public Schools
- Azimuth Psychological
- Harvard Medical School
- Arbour Hospital
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Bristol Community College
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- S. Air Force
- Cambridge Health Alliance
- Atrius Health
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Conclusion
Almost 1 in 5 adults in Massachusetts sought mental health services in the past year, the third-highest rate in the nation. A high utilization rate for mental, behavioral and emotional health services, combined with relatively high wages and job growth rates, should keep the commonwealth of Massachusetts an attractive place for licensed clinical psychologists to work over the next 10 years.
SEE ALSO: Massachusetts Psychology Doctorate & Requirements
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in Massachusetts was gathered from listings posted in August 2019 on Indeed.com and Glassdoor.com
- 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
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Query System. (2019). Accessed from https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/home
- Average Clinical Psychologist Salary by State. (2019). Retrieved from https://psydprograms.org/average-clinical-psychologist-salary-by-state/
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make? (2019). Retrieved from https://psydprograms.org/how-much-do-clinical-psychologists-make/