New Jersey Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
According to the most recent federal mental health data, nearly 1 in 5 American adults has a diagnosable mental illness, including depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, PTSD and more. But only 14% of adults have received services for mental health in the past year, meaning millions of people are needlessly suffering from mental or behavioral disorders when they could be getting help to lead better lives.
That’s often where a licensed clinical psychologist comes in. These mental health professionals are trained and licensed to help individuals understand and deal with their behavioral, emotional and mental health.
SEE ALSO: Top 5 Online PsyD in Clinical Psychology Programs
New Jersey is in a better situation than most states with regard to mental health. In fact, New Jersey’s mental illness prevalence of 16.2% is the lowest in the nation. That may have something to do with the fact that New Jersey offers among the most lucrative wages for licensed clinical psychologists.
What can these professionals expect to earn in our state, how do we stack up with the rest of our region and the U.S., and what are some examples of actual openings for clinical psychologists in New Jersey?
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in New Jersey?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in New Jersey?
- Which New Jersey Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in New Jersey?
If you’re a clinical psychologist, New Jersey is the best place in the nation if salary is your number-one metric. The median annual wage here for clinical psychologists is $130,700, while the average salary for this profession is $148,370. This places New Jersey first in the nation for its average and median clinical psychologist salaries.
Median annual clinical psychologist wage, top 10
| New Jersey | $130,700 |
| Oregon | $126,830 |
| California | $126,450 |
| Washington | $110,480 |
| Rhode Island | $110,000 |
| Ohio | $105,680 |
| Nevada | $104,020 |
| Alaska | $103,530 |
| Maryland | $102,680 |
| Minnesota | $101,160 |
In addition to boasting the best clinical psychologist salaries in the nation, such jobs tend to be far more lucrative than other occupations in New Jersey. The general median annual salary in New Jersey is $54,870, less than half that of a clinical psychologist.
Median – Top 10% New Jersey wage for clinical psychologists
| Average | $148,370 |
| Median | $130,700 |
| 75th percentile | $195,930 |
| Top 10th percentile | $224,620 |
In terms of future prospects, New Jersey’s long-term projected growth rate of 15.2% in the ten years leading up to 2032 ranks in the top-20 of states.
Forecast growth rate of clinical psychologist jobs, top 20 states
| Utah | 50% |
| Arizona | 26.8% |
| Florida | 26.1% |
| Oregon | 23.4% |
| Tennessee | 23.4% |
| New Mexico | 23.3% |
| South Carolina | 22.8% |
| California | 20.7% |
| Iowa | 20.6% |
| Colorado | 20.1% |
| New Hampshire | 20% |
| Texas | 19.6% |
| North Carolina | 18.9% |
| Mississippi | 16% |
| New Jersey | 15.2% |
| Oklahoma | 14.6% |
| South Dakota | 14.3% |
| Indiana | 13.4% |
| Arkansas | 13.2% |
| Montana | 13% |
Note: Long-term 2022-2032
Which New Jersey Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
Clinical psychologist salaries in New Jersey vary dramatically by metro area.
New Jersey cities and metro areas by median annual clinical psychologist wage
| Trenton | $123,020 |
| Metro Manhattan | $104,560 |
| Metro Allentown | $93,340 |
| Metro Philadelphia | $85,880 |
Trenton ranks among the top 20 cities nationally for offering the highest median clinical psychologist wage in the nation.
U.S. cities and metro areas by clinical psychologist median wage, top 20
| San Jose, CA | $149,590 |
| San Francisco, CA | $144,180 |
| Hanford, CA | $139,800 |
| Madera, CA | $139,800 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $139,800 |
| Salem, OR | $135,200 |
| La Crosse, WI | $134,940 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $134,430 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $131,480 |
| Portland, OR | $130,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $129,570 |
| San Diego, CA | $127,730 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $126,450 |
| Oxnard, CA | $125,260 |
| Stockton, CA | $125,070 |
| Waterbury, CT | $124,600 |
| Riverside, CA | $124,170 |
| Trenton, NJ | $123,020 |
| Chico, CA | $122,700 |
| Crestview, FL | $122,430 |
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and labor market information for Psychologists is 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 New Jersey?
Licensed clinical psychologists in New Jersey will enjoy a wide range of career options when it comes to employers. Jobs are plentiful in both the public and private sector, and they include many types of settings, from healthcare to the military.
SEE ALSO: 15 Great Places to Work in Clinical Psychology
Here are several examples of actual employers who were seeking to hire clinical psychologists in New Jersey in summer 2019:
- MedOptions
- Integrative Therapy Institute of New Jersey
- Van Reipen Counseling and Psychological Services
- Behavior Therapy Associates
- Rutgers University
- Evolve Psychological Services
- Positive Developments
- Monmouth University
- S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- RWJ Barnabas Health
- Peter’s Healthcare System
- AtlantiCare
- Little Hands Family Services
- Middlesex County College
- The Kraft Group
- Hackensack Meridian Health
- Eva’s Village
- Montgomery Township School District
Conclusion
For individuals with the training and passion for helping others cope with their mental illnesses and behavioral disorders, the desire to make a difference in the lives of others is the primary drive, but adequate financial compensation certainly doesn’t hurt. With its place among the states with the highest median wages for clinical psychologists, New Jersey looks to continue being attractive for such professionals to set up shop.
SEE ALSO: New Jersey: How to Earn a Psychology Doctorate Degree
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in New Jersey was gathered from listings posted in July 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/