Salary Outlook with PhD in Health Psychology Degree
Completing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program means reaching the heights of what’s possible in most educational fields. For those with an interest in health psychology, this is generally the case.
While a Ph.D. in Health Psychology is not the only option for doctoral education in the field, it’s generally considered the most rigorous outside of a medical degree and may have the broadest possible set of applications when it comes to jobs.
Let’s take a look at the career outlook for health psychology Ph.D. programs and other important details students in the field need to know before embarking upon this challenging path.
Health Psychology Doctorate Options
Technically, anybody who possesses a doctoral degree could prefer to be called by the professional honorific Dr., but for those with training in health psychology, this is a little complicated. That’s because many of the colleagues you’ll encounter will have medical degrees, most commonly an M.D., and in the medical field, Dr. may be reserved for those who have completed medical school.
But there are several possible doctorates in health psychology, with important differences in each program to be aware of. Most commonly, health psychology students will pursue either a Ph.D. in Health Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in the field.
Differences between the two may seem minor, but they can have a big impact on possible career options. That’s because generally, Psy.D. programs are geared more heavily toward clinical practice in psychology. In other words, treating patients or clients. On the other hand, Ph.D. programs will usually involve spending more time on things like lab time and academic research that’s aimed at advancing the study of health psychology.
It’s true that both Ph.D. and Psy.D. holders can have success at various types of jobs, but a good rule of thumb is that if you’re hoping for a career that involves working directly with individuals or groups to help them cope with behavioral and emotional issues, a Psy.D. is probably the better option, but if you envision your career being spent more on academic, research or administrative tasks, a Ph.D. may be right for you.
Health Psychology PhD Career Tracks
Given the specialized nature of health psychology, those who earn their Ph.D. or Psy.D. in the field usually don’t go on to become independent clinical psychologists, as is most often the case for many psychology doctoral graduates.
While that career path is certainly possible depending on a person’s educational history, there are a few careers that are more common for Ph.D. in Health Psychology graduates, including:
- Health Services Manager
- Rehabilitation Counselor
- Medical Researcher
- Wellness Consultant
- Sports Psychologist
- Health Educator
- Recreational Therapist
Because health psychology focuses on how illness and health affect and are impacted by behavioral and emotional issues, graduates of these programs tend to work in medical settings, including hospitals, medical schools and public health departments.
Most states require those seeking psychologist licensure, such as clinical or counseling psychologists, to have gone through a specific educational path and have thousands of hours of clinical experience, which is why many in health psychology don’t go down that route. But a license may be required for some jobs, so it’s best to consult the laws in your state before making any firm commitments.
Health Psychology PhD Salary Overview
As the old saying goes, education opens doors. That’s certainly true when it comes to doors to higher wages. In fact, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of a PhD graduate is 41% more than the median salary of those with only a bachelor’s degree, and over double a high school grad’s median salary.
To figure out what PhD in Health Psychology graduates can expect to earn, we used U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data provided for the all other psychologists category. This category has a lot of overlap with places where health psychologists work. For example, 58% of psychologists in this category work in government, with another 22% working in hospitals, higher education, and other medical offices.
The West Coast dominates the top-three average salary spots on the list, with the top-10 being more evenly distributed throughout the country. Only 11 states offer a salary that’s below six figures. The range between the highest and lowest average salaries is nearly $76,000. Nationwide the average salary is $110,300.
Average annual health psychology PhD 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 |
| Indiana | Unspecified |
The top-paying employers for psychologists in this category are scientific researchers and educational support services.
Average annual salary, selected health psychology PhD jobs
| Scientific research and development | $131,220 |
| Educational support services | $123,260 |
| Local government excluding schools and hospitals | $118,690 |
| Specialty hospitals, excluding psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals | $118,280 |
| Federal, state, and local government, excluding schools and hospitals | $117,690 |
Healthcare occupations are notoriously in-demand. In fact, healthcare and social assistance occupations are forecast to increase by 10% between 2023 and 2033, must faster than average.
Texas, Florida, and New York are among the top-five most populous states and also rank among the top-10 states with the best projected growth rates for health psychologists. This means they should offer relatively exceptional opportunities.
Alaska has the highest projected growth rate for these professionals, and 19 states forecast double-digit growth rates. The national growth rate for this profession is projected at 5%.
Projected growth in health psychology PhD job openings by state, 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% |
| Minnesota | 4.4% |
| District of Columbia | 4.4% |
| Kentucky | 4% |
| Michigan | 3.8% |
| Maine | 3.4% |
| Kansas | 2.7% |
| West Virginia | 2.4% |
| South Dakota | 0% |
| North Dakota | 0% |
| Nebraska | 0% |
| Montana | 0% |
| Illinois | 0% |
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and labor market information for Psychologists, all other is based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed February 2025.
Conclusion
Given that healthcare is one of the biggest boom industries in the country with no signs of slowing, it’s not a surprise that any jobs connected to the field will be in high demand. So it shouldn’t be a shock to see that Ph.D. in Health Psychology jobs have high average wages and a positive prognosis.