Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay in California
In California, the median pay for clinical and counseling psychologists is $55.77 an hour ($116,000 a year). About 12,840 people work in this job there.
That is 15% higher than the U.S. median ($100,580). California ranks 8th of 48 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for clinical and counseling psychologists in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $30.24 | $62,900 |
| 25% of workers | $37.04 | $77,050 |
| Half of workers (median) | $55.77 | $116,000 |
| 75% of workers | $78.06 | $162,360 |
| 90% of workers | $90.41 | $188,050 |
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $166,400 | 1,540 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $155,960 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $153,050 | 630 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $147,210 | 40 |
| Vallejo | $143,600 | 180 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $129,860 | 160 |
| Fresno | $129,120 | 280 |
| Modesto | $123,030 | 70 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $116,960 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $116,620 | 200 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $116,550 | 180 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $112,860 | 60 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $102,710 | 590 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $102,120 | 150 |
| Visalia | $99,580 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $99,250 | 4,790 |
| Salinas | $98,430 | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $92,730 | 1,130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $72,090 | 1,650 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for clinical and counseling psychologists
- Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Internship/residency (BLS)
- Job outlook: +11.7% over ten years, much faster than average · about 4,100 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| School Psychologists | $127,780 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $109,610 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $97,900 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,240 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $157,540 |
| Survey Researchers | $83,520 |
| Economists | $119,410 |
| Sociologists | $125,770 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.