2023 Salary Report for Forensic Psychologists in West Virginia

Salary Report for West Virginia Forensic Psychologists

West Virginia Rankings

Compare West Virginia to U.S.

West Virginia Forensic Psychologists earn an average of $55,990 which is 42% less than the national average salary of $98,010.

Type	West Virginia	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$26.92	$47.12	-42.87%
Average Annual Salary	$55,990	$98,010	-42.87%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In West Virginia, 50% of Forensic Psychologists earn between $39,050 and $51,130 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Forensic Psychologists earn more than $110,550, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Forensic Psychologists.

Approximately 10% of Forensic Psychologists earn under $31,140, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Forensic Psychologists.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	32	Under $31,140
15%	2 – 4 years	48	$31,140 – $39,050
25%	5 – 9 years	80	$39,050 – $40,730
25%	10 – 14 years	80	$40,730 – $51,130
15%	15 – 20 years	48	$40,730 – $110,550
10%	20+ years	32	Above $110,550

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Forensic Psychologists in West Virginia psychologists earn about $63,654 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $98,010.

Cost-of-living in West Virginia is 12% less than the national average, which means West Virginia residents have an overall less 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 $55,990, West Virginia Forensic Psychologists tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($63,410), and School Psychologists ($61,210).

However, Forensic Psychologists tend to earn more than Social Workers ($41,230), Substance Abuse Counselors ($41,520), Marriage and Family Therapists ($43,550), Psychology Teachers ($54,450), and Health Care Social Workers ($54,830).

Title	Annual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$63,410
School Psychologists	$61,210
Forensic Psychologists	$55,990
Health Care Social Workers	$54,830
Psychology Teachers	$54,450
Marriage and Family Therapists	$43,550
Substance Abuse Counselors	$41,520
Social Workers	$41,230

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in West Virginia the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (2,000), Substance Abuse Counselors (1,880) and Forensic Psychologists (1,120).

The three professions in West Virginia needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (27.9%), Marriage and Family Therapists (23.1%) and Health Care Social Workers (13.6%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	1,930	2,000	3.6%	190
Substance Abuse Counselors	1,470	1,880	27.9%	200
Forensic Psychologists	1,100	1,120	1.8%	70
Health Care Social Workers	880	1,000	13.6%	100
Psychology Teachers	190	210	10.5%	20
Marriage and Family Therapists	130	160	23.1%	20

Salaries Ranked by West Virginia Cities

The average salary for Forensic Psychologists in West Virginia is $55,990. The top cities that pay Forensic Psychologists the most are Huntington-Ashland ($71,280), Southern West Virginia Nonmetropolitan Area ($50,080) and Northern West Virginia Nonmetropolitan Area ($47,830).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Forensic Psychologists the highest average annual salary are Huntington-Ashland ($82,386), Southern West Virginia Nonmetropolitan Area ($59,029) and Northern West Virginia Nonmetropolitan Area ($56,377).

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
Huntington-Ashland	$71,280	$82,386	$11,106
Southern West Virginia Nonmetropolitan Area	$50,080	$59,029	$8,949
Northern West Virginia Nonmetropolitan Area	$47,830	$56,377	$8,547
Charleston	$44,680	$50,332	$5,652

Salary FAQ for West Virginia Forensic Psychologists

City and Rural Summaries

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