Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of School Psychologists currently employed in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria is 1,120.
  • School Psychologists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria earn an average of $98,160 per year or $47.19 per hour.
  • The percentage of District of Columbia School Psychologists who work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria is 467%.
  • The percentage of U.S. School Psychologists who work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria is 2%.

Rankings for Washington-Arlington-Alexandria

  • Ranks #1 in District of Columbia for salary and #1 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #1 in District of Columbia for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #25 in the nation for salary and #8 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #8 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to District of Columbia

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria School Psychologists earn an average of $98,160 or $47.19 per hour which is 2% more than the District of Columbia average salary of $96,120.

AverageWashington-Arlington-AlexandriaDistrict of Columbia% Difference
Hourly Wage$47.19$46.212.12%
Annual Salary$98,160$96,1202.12%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria School Psychologists earn an average of $98,160 or $47.19 per hour which is 18% more than the U.S. average salary of $82,770.

AverageWashington-Arlington-AlexandriaU.S.%
Hourly Wage$47.19$39.8018.57%
Annual Salary$98,160$82,77018.59%
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, School Psychologists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria earns an average annual salary of $88,012 which compares to the District of Columbia average annual salary of $96,120. per year.

Cost-of-living in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria is 12% higher than the District of Columbia average, which means Washington-Arlington-Alexandria residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to District of Columbia average.

  • District of Columbia average salary is $96,120.
  • District of Columbia cost-of-living adjusted salary is $86,237.
  • Washington-Arlington-Alexandria average salary is $98,160.
  • Washington-Arlington-Alexandria cost-of-living adjusted salary is $88,012.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$98,160111.53%$88,012
District of Columbia$96,120111.46%$86,237
U.S.$82,770$82,770
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Ranges for Education and Experience

In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, 50% of School Psychologists earn between $79,500 and $118,720 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of School Psychologists earn more than $128,280, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated School Psychologists.

Approximately 10% of School Psychologists earn under $66,820, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level School Psychologists.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year112Under $66,820
15%2 – 4 years168$66,820 – $79,500
25%5 – 9 years280$79,500 – $100,910
25%10 – 14 years280$100,910 – $118,720
15%15 – 20 years168$100,910 – $128,280
10%20+ years112Above $128,280
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $98,160, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria School Psychologists tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($111,920), and Forensic Psychologists ($110,250).

However, School Psychologists tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($57,320), Substance Abuse Counselors ($62,510), Health Care Social Workers ($70,730), Social Workers ($70,910), and Psychology Teachers ($97,620).

TitleAnnual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$111,920
Forensic Psychologists$110,250
School Psychologists$98,160
Psychology Teachers$97,620
Social Workers$70,910
Health Care Social Workers$70,730
Substance Abuse Counselors$62,510
Marriage and Family Therapists$57,320
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Washington-Arlington-Alexandria School Psychologists

The number of School Psychologists currently employed in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria is 1,120.

School Psychologists earn an average of $98,160 per year or $47.19 per hour in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria School Psychologists earn an average of $88,012 per year or $42 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria are Clinical and Counseling Psychologists($111,920), Forensic Psychologists($110,250), School Psychologists($98,160).


Additional Salary Reports for School Psychologists in District of Columbia cities and Metros and U.S. States.

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