Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Clinical and Counseling Psychologists currently employed in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is 60.
  • Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville earn an average of $101,310 per year or $48.71 per hour.
  • The percentage of California Clinical and Counseling Psychologists who work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is 1%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Clinical and Counseling Psychologists who work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is less than 1%.

Rankings for Santa Cruz-Watsonville

  • Ranks #23 in California for salary and #11 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #21 in California for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #79 in the nation for salary and #16 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #151 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to California

Santa Cruz-Watsonville Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn an average of $101,310 or $48.71 per hour which is 17% less than the California average salary of $122,790.

AverageSanta Cruz-WatsonvilleCalifornia% Difference
Hourly Wage$48.71$59.03-17.48%
Annual Salary$101,310$122,790-17.49%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Santa Cruz-Watsonville Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn an average of $101,310 or $48.71 per hour which is 1% more than the U.S. average salary of $99,640.

AverageSanta Cruz-WatsonvilleU.S.%
Hourly Wage$48.71$47.901.69%
Annual Salary$101,310$99,6401.68%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

When adjusted for cost-of-living, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville earns an average annual salary of $92,588 which compares to the California average annual salary of $122,790. per year.

Cost-of-living in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is 9% higher than the California average, which means Santa Cruz-Watsonville residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to California average.

  • California average salary is $122,790.
  • California cost-of-living adjusted salary is $111,243.
  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville average salary is $101,310.
  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville cost-of-living adjusted salary is $92,588.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Santa Cruz-Watsonville$101,310109.42%$92,588
California$122,790110.38%$111,243
U.S.$99,640$99,640
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Ranges for Education and Experience

In Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 50% of Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn between $60,680 and $126,460 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn more than $166,550, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Clinical and Counseling Psychologists.

Approximately 10% of Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn under $49,230, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Clinical and Counseling Psychologists.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year6Under $49,230
15%2 – 4 years9$49,230 – $60,680
25%5 – 9 years15$60,680 – $97,790
25%10 – 14 years15$97,790 – $126,460
15%15 – 20 years9$97,790 – $166,550
10%20+ years6Above $166,550
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Compared to Related Professions

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists tend to earn more than Substance Abuse Counselors ($54,150), Marriage and Family Therapists ($68,060), Social Workers ($69,210), Health Care Social Workers ($80,990), and School Psychologists ($95,160).

TitleAnnual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$101,310
School Psychologists$95,160
Health Care Social Workers$80,990
Social Workers$69,210
Marriage and Family Therapists$68,060
Substance Abuse Counselors$54,150
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Santa Cruz-Watsonville Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

The number of Clinical and Counseling Psychologists currently employed in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is 60.

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn an average of $101,310 per year or $48.71 per hour in Santa Cruz-Watsonville.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Santa Cruz-Watsonville Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn an average of $92,588 per year or $45 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville are Clinical and Counseling Psychologists($101,310), School Psychologists($95,160), Health Care Social Workers($80,990).


Additional Salary Reports for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California cities and Metros and U.S. States.

Official Data Sources for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data