Psychologist Training Class: Child Psychologist Salary Information

Child psychologists use various types of therapy to help children work through mental problems, including learning disabilities. Because these workers have such an influence on cognitive and emotional functioning, they must receive formal training and be licensed in the state in which they work. Pay for child psychologists is not quite as good as in some related professions such as psychiatry, but the salaries still are excellent.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide information on child or pediatric psychologists alone, but they have information on clinical, counseling and school psychologists. Child psychologists would fall into this category. The BLS asserts that, based on 2009 data, psychologists in this group have an average annual salary of $72,310. This is notably higher than the median annual salary, which is $66,040.

When translated into an hourly wage, the average annual salary reported by the BLS for child psychologists is $34.77. Psychologists in the lowest 10th percentile of earners, which typically includes entry-level workers, earn just $18.88 per hour. Top earners in the 90th percentile may take home hourly wages of $52.63.

Child psychologists may make anywhere from $39,270 to $109,470, according to 2009 data from the BLS. The Guide to Online Schools website shows a smaller range of $64,600 to $85,200 as of 2010. Another source, the College Crunch website, reports that salaries may range from $30,000 to 100,000 or more as of 2011.

Experience influences child psychologists' salaries. College Crunch asserts that starting child psychologists earn $30,000 to $45,000 as of 2011, while those with five to 10 years of experience have salaries of $55,000 to $85,000. With 10 or more years in the field, a child psychologist may earn $80,000 to $100,000.

Child psychologists can work in many different venues, including health care offices, hospitals and family services centers. These all are among the top employers, according to 2009 BLS data. However, most child psychologists work in elementary and secondary schools. With an average annual wage of $69,870, schools are not the highest-paying employer. The top-paying employer, management, scientific and technical consulting services, pays $102,150. Jobs are very limited, however -- the BLS indicates only 90 psychologists work in this area. A child psychologist has better chances with employment from offices of other health care practitioners and psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, because these employers offer high pay ($87,270 and $83,120 respectively) and have a larger number of positions available. Guide to Online School claims that the salaries for psychologists in schools is $36,000 to $70,000 based on 2010 information. They assert that those in private practices have higher pay because they can set their own rates and determine the number of clients they see.

You may earn more as a child psychologist depending on the state in which you live. The BLS shows that, based on 2009 data, the top-paying states for child psychologists are New Jersey, Colorado, California, Ohio and Rhode Island. Pay in these states ranges from $79,630 to $92,380, which is $7,320 to $20,070 more than the average child psychologist's salary.

Psychologist Training Class

Child Psychologist Salary Information

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