2023 Salary Report for Forensic Psychologists in District of Columbia

Salary Report for District of Columbia Forensic Psychologists

District of Columbia Rankings

Compare District of Columbia to U.S.

District of Columbia Forensic Psychologists earn an average of $104,440 which is 6% more than the national average salary of $98,010.

Type	District of Columbia	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$50.21	$47.12	6.56%
Average Annual Salary	$104,440	$98,010	6.56%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In District of Columbia, 50% of Forensic Psychologists earn between $87,190 and $124,430 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Forensic Psychologists earn more than $135,030, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Forensic Psychologists.

Approximately 10% of Forensic Psychologists earn under $51,670, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Forensic Psychologists.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	24	Under $51,670
15%	2 – 4 years	36	$51,670 – $87,190
25%	5 – 9 years	60	$87,190 – $105,300
25%	10 – 14 years	60	$105,300 – $124,430
15%	15 – 20 years	36	$105,300 – $135,030
10%	20+ years	24	Above $135,030

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Forensic Psychologists in District of Columbia psychologists earn about $93,702 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $98,010.

Cost-of-living in District of Columbia is 11% higher than the national average, which means District of Columbia residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $104,440, District of Columbia Forensic Psychologists tend to earn less than Psychology Teachers ($105,510).

However, Forensic Psychologists tend to earn more than Substance Abuse Counselors ($64,920), Social Workers ($70,340), Health Care Social Workers ($87,000), School Psychologists ($96,120), and Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($99,890).

Title	Annual Salary
Psychology Teachers	$105,510
Forensic Psychologists	$104,440
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$99,890
School Psychologists	$96,120
Health Care Social Workers	$87,000
Social Workers	$70,340
Substance Abuse Counselors	$64,920

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in District of Columbia the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (2,450), Substance Abuse Counselors (1,270) and Forensic Psychologists (670).

The three professions in District of Columbia needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (21%), Social Workers (13.4%) and Psychology Teachers (11.8%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	2,160	2,450	13.4%	240
Substance Abuse Counselors	1,050	1,270	21%	130
Forensic Psychologists	650	670	3.1%	50
Health Care Social Workers	400	430	7.5%	40
Psychology Teachers	170	190	11.8%	20

Salaries Ranked by District of Columbia Cities

The average salary for Forensic Psychologists in District of Columbia is $104,440. The top cities that pay Forensic Psychologists the most is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ($110,250).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Forensic Psychologists the highest average annual salary is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ($98,852).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Forensic Psychologists in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.

The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Forensic Psychologists salary will have in that area.

Area	Average Salary	COL Adjusted	Difference
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	$110,250	$98,852	$-11,398

Salary FAQ for District of Columbia Forensic Psychologists

City and Rural Summaries

Official Data Sources for Forensic Psychologists: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data