Salary Outlook with a Forensic Psychologist Degree
Psychology remains one of the most popular fields for advanced education, with 33,661 students earning master’s degrees in the field in 2022, federal education officials reported.
But not all specialty areas within this popular field are growing at the same rate. Forensic psychology, for instance, seems to be getting more in-demand among students who want to combine a deep knowledge of human behavior with a desire for justice.
Let’s learn about what degrees are available in the field and what graduates can expect to earn depending on where they live.
Forensic Psychology Degree Options
Jobs in forensic psychology, which is sometimes referred to as criminal psychology, require varying levels of education. In some cases, professionals can find rewarding careers with only a bachelor’s degree. But there are some good reasons to pursue advanced training, such as a master’s, Ph.D. or Psy.D. in forensic psychology.
For any jobs that require professional psychologist licensure, a doctoral degree, whether a Ph.D. or Psy.D., is generally required. Additionally, forensic psychology isn’t a very common option in undergraduate psychology programs, which most often focus on general aspects of the study of human behavior. So a master’s, Psy.D. or Ph.D. can help build the foundation of a specialty in forensic psychology.
Some jobs may require only a master’s degree in psychology, but students may be well-advised to continue on to a doctoral program. This is true not only for those seeking state psychologist licenses, but it’s also the case for many students who want to focus their professional work on a particular population group.
For example, prospective forensic psychologists who want to work exclusively with victims of traumatic experiences, such as violent crimes, may find that their undergraduate and graduate psychology programs did not give them adequate experiences working directly with this particular group.
Forensic Psychology Career Tracks
As a rapidly growing field, forensic psychology degrees may apply to an increasing number of jobs in the future as the field continues to evolve and various organizations learn the value of hiring professionals with specialized education. Forensic psychology once was referred to as criminal psychology, but in recent years, terminology has evolved to provide a more expansive view of the study of human behavior as it relates to crime.
SEE ALSO: How to Become a Forensic Psychologist
Generally, though, individuals with an education in forensic psychology will most often find careers connected to the criminal justice system. This could include positions on all sides of the justice ecosystem, whether that’s dealing with individuals suspected or convicted of crimes, consulting with law enforcement or prosecutors, or serving as expert witnesses for defense attorneys.
Here’s a look at some of the most common jobs in forensic psychology:
- Clinical Psychologists
- Correctional Counselors
- Probation Officers
- Correctional Treatment Specialist
- Victim Advocate
- Expert Witness
- Jury Consultant
- Investigator
- Criminal Justice Training Director
Forensic Psychology Doctorate Salary Overview
While we’ve discussed the value of other types of forensic psychology degrees, most professionals will reach their highest possible earning potential with the help of a doctoral degree, such as a PhD or PsyD Both are doctoral degrees, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports those with professional degrees, such as doctorates, earn more than double what a typical high school graduate earns.
We wanted to understand potential salaries for forensic psychology professionals across the U.S., including those with or without a doctoral degree.
Fortunately the BLS tracks extensive data on psychologists. It classifies forensic psychologists in the category of all other psychologists.
SEE ALSO: How Much Do Forensic Psychologists Make?
It’s a safe assumption that forensic psychologists with a doctoral degree earn higher-end salaries compared to those without. Nationally, salary data for all other psychologists, which includes forensic psychologists, breaks down as follows:
| Bottom 10% | $47,450 and lower |
| Bottom 25% | $76,550 and lower |
| Median | $117,750 |
| Top 25% | $138,280 and up |
| Top 10% | $157,420 and up |
| Average | $110,300 |
State-specific data is also available for all other psychologist salaries, which can be extrapolated as the salaries for forensic psychologists.
Average annual forensic psychology salary by state
| California | $134,360 |
| Hawaii | $125,790 |
| Oregon | $125,130 |
| Nevada | $124,650 |
| Massachusetts | $122,690 |
| Texas | $120,040 |
| Wisconsin | $116,640 |
| South Carolina | $116,200 |
| Virginia | $115,540 |
| New Jersey | $114,830 |
| Alabama | $114,600 |
| Ohio | $114,570 |
| Connecticut | $112,720 |
| Kansas | $112,340 |
| District of Columbia | $111,990 |
| Georgia | $111,980 |
| Maryland | $111,700 |
| North Carolina | $111,190 |
| Kentucky | $110,560 |
| Florida | $110,490 |
| South Dakota | $110,490 |
| Washington | $110,330 |
| North Dakota | $109,430 |
| Colorado | $108,040 |
| New York | $106,150 |
| Missouri | $105,540 |
| Arizona | $104,980 |
| Tennessee | $104,650 |
| New Hampshire | $104,510 |
| New Mexico | $102,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $102,670 |
| Rhode Island | $101,290 |
| Montana | $100,780 |
| Utah | $100,610 |
| Iowa | $99,550 |
| Illinois | $97,100 |
| Oklahoma | $96,480 |
| Maine | $96,080 |
| Idaho | $93,890 |
| Arkansas | $92,990 |
| Louisiana | $92,690 |
| Mississippi | $85,930 |
| Minnesota | $84,670 |
| Michigan | $80,760 |
| West Virginia | $58,550 |
Data is also available on the average salary by sector for all other psychologists. These are some of the most relevant sectors for forensic psychologists:
| Scientific research and development | $131,220 |
| Local governments, excluding schools and hospitals | $118,690 |
| Federal government, excluding schools and hospitals | $117,690 |
| Hospitals | $96,800 |
| State government, excluding schools and hospitals | $92,460 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools | $75,320 |
| Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals | $73,090 |
When it comes to job growth, nationally all other psychologist jobs, including forensic psychologists, are forecast to increase by 5% between 2023 and 2033. That’s above the general forecast for all jobs nationally of 4%.
SEE ALSO: Online PhD in Forensic Psychology Degree Programs
State statistics are available regarding the anticipated growth of all other psychologist jobs between 2022 and 2032, and these can serve as stand-ins for forensic psychologist projections.
Projected state growth rates of forensic psychologist jobs, 2022-2032
| Alaska | 25% |
| Utah | 22.2% |
| Nevada | 19.2% |
| Texas | 15.9% |
| Wisconsin | 15.9% |
| Tennessee | 15.8% |
| Florida | 15.7% |
| Connecticut | 14.8% |
| Washington | 14.2% |
| New York | 13.7% |
| North Carolina | 13.5% |
| New Jersey | 12.1% |
| New Mexico | 12.1% |
| Arizona | 11.9% |
| Colorado | 11.8% |
| Iowa | 11.1% |
| Virginia | 10.8% |
| Vermont | 10.7% |
| Louisiana | 10.1% |
| Arkansas | 9.7% |
| Idaho | 9.5% |
| Massachusetts | 9.1% |
| South Carolina | 9.1% |
| Rhode Island | 8.8% |
| Oregon | 8.6% |
| Maryland | 8.5% |
| Georgia | 8.2% |
| Missouri | 7.4% |
| California | 7.3% |
| Mississippi | 6.7% |
| New Hampshire | 6.7% |
| Wyoming | 6.3% |
| Ohio | 5.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 5.5% |
| Oklahoma | 5.1% |
| Indiana | 4.8% |
| Alabama | 4.6% |
| District of Columbia | 4.4% |
| Minnesota | 4.4% |
| Kentucky | 4% |
| Michigan | 3.8% |
| Maine | 3.4% |
| Kansas | 2.7% |
| West Virginia | 2.4% |
| Illinois | 0% |
| Montana | 0% |
| Nebraska | 0% |
| North Dakota | 0% |
| South Dakota | 0% |
Alaska, Utah, Nevada, Texas, and Wisconsin made the top-five list of best states for forensic psychologist job growth. Seven states have growth rates above 15%, and 19 states should see double-digit growth. Five states are forecast to maintain their job markets, including consideration of those who retire or otherwise drop out of the workforce, which is a lot better than projected negative growth.
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary for Psychologists, all other. National labor market information and state labor market information also sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor. Information based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed February 2025.
Conclusion
As American society continues to evolve in its understanding of crime and criminal justice, it will be crucial to hear the voices of those who have spent their lives studying the nexus of human behavior and the legal system. Fortunately for those professionals, high wages and rapid expansion of job opportunities are likely across much of the U.S.