Salary Report for Washington Psychology Teachers

  • The number of Psychology Teachers currently employed in Washington is 1,530.
  • Psychology Teachers in Washington earn an average of $74,460 per year or $35.80 per hour.
  • The percentage of U.S. Psychology Teachers who work in Washington is 4%.
  • Washington will need 740 new Psychology Teachers by 2030 or 80 new psychologists per year.

Washington Rankings

  • Washington ranks #41 in the U.S. for Psychology Teachers salary and #7 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Washington ranks #7 in the U.S. for the total number of Psychology Teachers employed.
  • Washington ranks #21 in U.S. for the number of new Psychology Teachers needed by 2030.
  • Washington ranks #11 in U.S. for the percentage of new Psychology Teachers needed by 2030.

Compare Washington to U.S.

Washington Psychology Teachers earn an average of $74,460 which is 15% less than the national average salary of $88,390.

TypeWashingtonU.S.% Difference
Average Hourly Wage$35.80$42.50-15.76%
Average Annual Salary$74,460$88,390-15.76%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Washington, 50% of Psychology Teachers earn between $58,650 and $81,650 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Psychology Teachers earn more than $104,700, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Psychology Teachers.

Approximately 10% of Psychology Teachers earn under $50,210, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Psychology Teachers.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year153Under $50,210
15%2 – 4 years230$50,210 – $58,650
25%5 – 9 years382$58,650 – $61,690
25%10 – 14 years382$61,690 – $81,650
15%15 – 20 years230$61,690 – $104,700
10%20+ years153Above $104,700
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Psychology Teachers in Washington psychologists earn about $69,355 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $88,390.

Cost-of-living in Washington is 7% higher than the national average, which means Washington residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

  • National average salary for Psychology Teachers is $88,390.
  • Average Washington Psychology Teachers salary is $74,460.
  • Adjusted for cost-of-living, Washington Psychology Teachers earn an average salary of $69,355.

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

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $74,460, Washington Psychology Teachers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($105,640), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($103,190), and School Psychologists ($95,780).

However, Psychology Teachers tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($49,220), Substance Abuse Counselors ($56,500), Social Workers ($60,230), and Health Care Social Workers ($71,800).

TitleAnnual Salary
Forensic Psychologists$105,640
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$103,190
School Psychologists$95,780
Psychology Teachers$74,460
Health Care Social Workers$71,800
Social Workers$60,230
Substance Abuse Counselors$56,500
Marriage and Family Therapists$49,220
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Washington the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (34,160), Social Workers (9,840) and Health Care Social Workers (5,230).

The three professions in Washington needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Marriage and Family Therapists (26.3%), Substance Abuse Counselors (23.1%) and Psychology Teachers (15.6%).

Title20202030ChangeYearly Openings
Substance Abuse Counselors27,76034,16023.1%4,100
Social Workers8,5409,84015.2%1,100
Health Care Social Workers4,5505,23014.9%580
Psychology Teachers64074015.6%80
Marriage and Family Therapists38048026.3%60
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, 2022*

Salaries Ranked by Washington Cities

The average salary for Psychology Teachers in Washington is $74,460. The top cities that pay Psychology Teachers the most are Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ($78,280) and Olympia-Tumwater ($66,620).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Psychology Teachers the highest average annual salary are Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ($69,924) and Olympia-Tumwater ($64,027).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Psychology Teachers 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 Psychology Teachers salary will have in that area.

AreaAverage SalaryCOL AdjustedDifference
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$78,280$69,924$-8,356
Olympia-Tumwater$66,620$64,027$-2,593
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary FAQ for Washington Psychology Teachers

Washington Psychology Teachers earn between $50,210 and $104,700 a year depending on their level of education, experience and skill.

There are currently 1,530 Psychology Teachers employed in Washington which is about 4% of the U.S. total.

Forensic Psychologists are the highest paid psychologists in Washington with an average annual wage of $105,640.

An entry level psychologist makes as much as $50,210 a year in Washington

The most Psychology Teachers work in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area where 1,000 Psychology Teachers are employed.

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Psychology Teachers in Washington earn 69,355 per year, while the average across the United States earns $88,390.

By 2030, Washington will need 740 Psychology Teachers. A total of 80 Psychology Teachers will need to enter into the Washington work forces each year.

City and Rural Summaries

Olympia-Tumwater

Average Psychology Teachers Salary: $66,620
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $64,027
Hourly Wage: $32.03
Currently Employed: 70
Cost-of-Living Index: 104.05
Olympia-Tumwater Salary Report

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue

Average Psychology Teachers Salary: $78,280
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $69,924
Hourly Wage: $38
Currently Employed: 1,000
Cost-of-Living Index: 111.95
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Salary Report

Official Data Sources for Psychology Teachers: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data