Wisconsin Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook

The United States is in the midst of a mental health crisis: About 1 in 5 adults has a mental illness, but only about 15% of people get any treatment for mental health issues in a given year. That means huge swaths of Americans aren’t receiving the mental healthcare they need to cope with mental illness or everyday stresses.

Mental illness among Wisconsin adults is just under the national rate (18.5% of Wisconsin adults have a mental illness), which means the state will continue to need a steady stream of trained, compassionate professionals who can help people deal with their emotional and behavioral issues, including licensed clinical psychologists, who are trained and certified to diagnose and treat a range of mental health problems.

SEE ALSO: Steps to Becoming a Clinical Psychologist

For clinical psychologists working in the Midwest, Wisconsin has wages that are among the highest in the region, and a solid job market is likely to continue for these professionals in Wisconsin. Let’s dive deep into what clinical psychologists can expect to earn in Wisconsin and which areas of the state might be more lucrative than others.

What’s On This Page

  • How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Wisconsin?
  • Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Wisconsin?
  • Which Wisconsin Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?

How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin’s median annual wage for clinical psychologists is a touch over the national median of about $77,000, making the state a fair analog for the nation as a whole. Clinical psychologists in Wisconsin earn higher wages than all but three states in the region.

Median annual clinical psychologist wage, Midwestern states

Minnesota$84,630
North Dakota$83,730
Iowa$78,810
Wisconsin$77,090
Michigan$75,340
Ohio$72,930
Illinois$71,340
South Dakota$68,780
Nebraska$67,060
Missouri$65,890
Indiana$63,540
Kansas$58,900

Not only are clinical psychologist wages in Wisconsin high relative to most others in the Midwest, these professionals earn wages that are considerably higher than all jobs in Wisconsin and compare favorably to many other popular occupations.

Median annual Wisconsin wage, select occupations

All Occupations$37,970
Animal Trainers$23,170
Bailiffs$27,700
Bus Drivers, School or Special Client$33,410
Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists$77,090
Compliance Officers$59,200
Database Administrators$84,380
Editors$46,350
Firefighters$35,130
Interior Designers$46,060
Legal Secretaries$41,330
Loan Officers$62,850
Massage Therapists$42,400
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$58,260
Occupational Therapy Aides$29,330
Parking Enforcement Workers$38,970
Phlebotomists$34,940
Plant and System Operators, All Other$56,310
Radiation Therapists$73,310
Registered Nurses$70,150
Roofers$41,590
Sheet Metal Workers$51,840
Skincare Specialists$35,970
Substitute Teachers$31,610
Veterinarians$83,820

While Wisconsin is near the top of the region when it comes to typical wages for clinical psychologists, the state has relatively low projected rates of growth in clinical psychologist job openings, though it’s possible the lower growth rate could equate to higher wages for individuals who are among the best in the industry.

Midwestern states by projected short-term and long-term clinical psychologist job growth rate

StateLong-termShort-term
Ohio13.40%3.50%
Indiana15.40%3.30%
Minnesota11.90%2.80%
Nebraska11.30%2.70%
Missouri16.20%2.60%
Kansas9.30%2.40%
Michigan13.50%1.60%
Iowa12.20%1.60%
Illinois5.90%1.40%
Wisconsin9.70%1.10%
North Dakota17.20%0.00%
South Dakota11.40%0.00%

Note: Short-term, 2018-2020; long-term, 2016-2026

Which Wisconsin Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?

Perhaps not surprisingly, Milwaukee, the state’s largest city, and the surrounding metro area offer the highest wages for clinical psychologists among the state’s biggest cities and metro areas. On the other end of the spectrum, clinical psychologists in Green Bay earn wages that are considerably lower than those in Wisconsin as well as the state’s median wage.

Wisconsin cities by median annual clinical psychologist wage

Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis$85,040
Oshkosh-Neenah$81,370
Eau Claire$76,850
Madison$75,640
Sheboygan$75,250
Appleton$73,430
Racine$71,540
Janesville-Beloit$70,540
La Crosse-Onalaska$64,420
Green Bay$63,760

Typical salary figures are only one part of the equation when it comes to how attractive a state is for a particular profession, and the availability of jobs is also of paramount importance. The good news for Wisconsin clinical psychologists is that three metro areas in the state have concentrations of clinical psychologist jobs that are among the 20 highest in the nation.

Metro areas by clinical psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs, top 20*

Hanford-Corcoran, CA3.625
Madera, CA2.968
Mankato-North Mankato, MN2.624
College Station-Bryan, TX2.459
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA2.089
Fairbanks, AK2.03
Barnstable Town, MA1.98
New Bedford, MA1.953
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA1.872
Missoula, MT1.819
Bakersfield, CA1.803
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA1.794
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN1.784
Boulder, CO1.66
Kingston, NY1.657
Billings, MT1.609
Prescott, AZ1.603
Burlington-South Burlington, VT1.574
Eau Claire, WI1.57
Madison, WI1.567

Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in Wisconsin?

While many people who become clinical psychologists will open their own private practices, there also are many opportunities for clinical psychologists who wish to go to work for an employer, whether in a for-profit setting, a medical center or even for the government.

Here’s a look at some of the jobs for clinical psychologists in Wisconsin that were posted in fall 2019:

  1. Beloit Health System
  2. Behavioral Care Solutions
  3. University of Wisconsin Health
  4. State of Wisconsin
  5. Menominee Tribal Clinic
  6. Milwaukee Health Services
  7. Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
  8. Caravel Autism Health
  9. InBloom Autism Services
  10. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  11. American Psychological Association
  12. Mediscan
  13. Deer Oaks Mental Health Association
  14. Advocate Aurora Health
  15. U.S. Navy
  16. Mayo Clinic
  17. LifeSource
  18. Milwaukee County
  19. WellQor
  20. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Conclusion

With wages among the highest in the Midwest and stable job growth, Wisconsin looks to be an attractive place for clinical psychologists for the next several years, regardless of the industry or population served.

SEE ALSO: Best Wisconsin Psychology Doctorate Programs

Additional References