Nebraska Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
Nearly 1 in 5 American adults has a diagnosable mental illness, from drug addiction to bipolar disorder. But, sadly, less than 15% of people seek professional help in dealing with their mental and behavioral troubles.
In Nebraska, though, a slightly higher percentage of people sought mental health treatment in the most recent year for which data is available, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Additionally, about 18% of Nebraska adults have a mental illness, compared to 19% nationally.
Among the professionals trained and qualified to help provide mental health treatment are clinical psychologists. Let’s take a look at what they can expect to earn in Nebraska, as well as what the future may hold for successful psychologist careers in the state.
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Nebraska?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Nebraska?
- Which Nebraska Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Nebraska?
The average wage for a clinical psychologist in Nebraska is just over $71,000, which puts the state near the bottom among its cohorts in the region. It also ranks Nebraska just outside the bottom 10 when compared to the entire country, where $81,000 is the national average for clinical psychologists.
Average annual clinical psychologist wage, Midwestern states
| North Dakota | $92,370 |
| Michigan | $90,700 |
| Wisconsin | $86,920 |
| Minnesota | $84,550 |
| Iowa | $83,090 |
| Missouri | $81,700 |
| Indiana | $80,750 |
| South Dakota | $77,560 |
| Ohio | $77,440 |
| Illinois | $75,050 |
| Nebraska | $71,130 |
| Kansas | $69,530 |
Compared to other states, Nebraska’s clinical psychologists seem underpaid, but looking at all jobs in the state, these professionals can expect to earn considerably more than the average Nebraska worker. In fact, with an average wage for all jobs of just over $48,000, clinical psychologists earn about 48% more.
Average annual Nebraska wage, select occupations
| All Occupations | $48,250 |
| Agricultural Inspectors | $43,380 |
| Audiologists | $77,020 |
| Budget Analysts | $69,850 |
| Cashiers | $23,720 |
| Clinical, Counseling and School Psychologists | $71,130 |
| Construction Laborers | $36,330 |
| Credit Counselors | $49,450 |
| Economists | $71,270 |
| Firefighters | $50,150 |
| Gambling Managers | $60,600 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $49,280 |
| Interior Designers | $50,050 |
| Logisticians | $57,820 |
| Massage Therapists | $52,320 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $69,830 |
| Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks | $43,640 |
| Photographers | $32,890 |
| Surgical Technologists | $47,420 |
| Veterinarians | $84,860 |
Nebraska’s wages for clinical psychologists may not be the most lavish in the country, but the state is expected to see double-digit growth in job openings for these professionals through 2028.
States by projected long-term growth rate for clinical psychologist job openings, top 20
| Utah | 34.0% |
| Georgia | 32.4% |
| Colorado | 26.7% |
| New York | 25.6% |
| Maryland | 23.4% |
| Nevada | 22.2% |
| Oregon | 21.9% |
| South Dakota | 20.0% |
| Arkansas | 19.3% |
| Florida | 19.0% |
| Virginia | 18.8% |
| Indiana | 18.7% |
| Louisiana | 17.2% |
| North Carolina | 16.6% |
| Iowa | 16.1% |
| Idaho | 15.8% |
| New Hampshire | 15.5% |
| Tennessee | 15.5% |
| Montana | 15.1% |
| Nebraska | 15.1% |
Note: Short-term 2019-2021; long-term 2018-2028
Which Nebraska Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
As with all matters economic, conditions vary depending on the area of the state in question. Notably, a few non-metro areas of the state may offer a better employment picture than the bigger cities. In fact, South Nebraska’s average salary is the highest and far higher than that offered in Omaha, the state’s biggest city.
Nebraska cities and non-metro areas by average annual clinical psychologist wage
| South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $82,750 |
| Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $70,620 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs | $70,070 |
| Lincoln | $67,080 |
| Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $59,390 |
Variations in job availability can be noted when considering geographic differences as well. This time, though, it’s a city that’s on top, as Lincoln has the highest ratio of employment per 1,000 jobs, while South Nebraska is at the bottom of the list.
Nebraska cities and non-metro areas by average clinical psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs
| Lincoln | 1.07 |
| Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | 0.902 |
| Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | 0.875 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs | 0.766 |
| South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | 0.49 |
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Nebraska?
Jobs for clinical psychologists should become more prevalent in Nebraska over the next several years, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t hundreds of jobs available today, in a range of industries and organizational types.
SEE ALSO: How to Become a Clinical Psychologist
While new openings are posted all the time, here’s a look at some of the Nebraska employers that were seeking to hire clinical psychologists in the summer of 2020:
- Grand Island Mental Health & Medical Clinic
- Bryan Health
- Mind Matters: Mental Health & Wellness
- Lincoln Behavioral Health Clinic
- Focus C3
- Regional West Health Services
- State of Nebraska
- Midtown Medical Group
- University of Nebraska-Omaha
- US Department of Veterans Affairs
- Senior Counseling Group
- LifeHealth
- CHI Health Lasting Hope
- Michael Burke and Associates
- Children’s Hospital & Medical Center
- National Association for Rural Mental Health
- Lincoln Public Schools
- Jenda Family Services
- Family Resources of Greater Nebraska
- Blue Valley Behavioral Health
- Project Harmony
- Dignity Health
Conclusion
While the average clinical psychologist in Nebraska today may not be making the highest wage when compared to others across the country, a high wage relative to those of other jobs in the state as well as a high growth rate over the next decade should continue to make Nebraska an attractive place for clinical psychologists and psychology students.
SEE ALSO: Top Nebraska Psychology Doctorate Programs
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in Nebraska 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
- Average Clinical Psychologist Salary by State. (2020). Retrieved from https://psydprograms.org/average-clinical-psychologist-salary-by-state/