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Forensic psychologist median annual salary

The field of forensic psychology is still fairly young—although psychologists and law enforcement have worked together for decades, it was not recognized as a psychological specialty by the American Psychological Association (APA) until 2001.

How much do forensic psychologists make?

The field is primed to grow as the legal system recognizes more ways their knowledge can be utilized. Like other professions that require advanced education to be qualified, salaries for forensic psychologists are well above the median salary for all occupations.

While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not detail salaries specific to forensic psychologists, the earnings of general psychologists can give you a good starting point when trying to estimate your potential earnings:

Where do forensic psychologists earn the most money?

Psychologists tend have the greatest earning potential on the west and east coasts in populous metropolitan areas. This may be to account for the cost of living, as well as job demand. Many of the median annual salaries for psychologists in the top paying states are six-figure incomes, with the 90th percentile of annual incomes reaching $138,860.

Metropolitan areas in California, Oregon and Florida rank highly as top paying regions for psychologists.

Populous areas naturally have more crime, and therefore may have a greater need for forensic psychologists. According to the BLS, states employing the largest numbers of psychologists are California, Illinois, and Texas, followed by Florida and Minnesota.

It’s important to keep in mind that these numbers do not include self-employed professionals. States that lie between the Midwest and West Coast, such as Idaho, Wyoming and the Dakotas for example, have the lowest employment of psychologists.

How does a forensic psychology salary compare to similar occupations?

General psychologists tend to have a larger annual median salary when compared to certain specialized psychologists that work in schools or clinical settings. Industrial-organizational psychologists, on the other hand, have the highest median salary compared to all other types of psychologists that the BLS has data for.

Job outlook for criminal psychologists

Psychologist jobs in general are increasing about as fast as average—around 2.8% for psychologists vs. 5% for all occupations through 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, the demand for mental health services increased drastically as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend could continue and, with it, the demand for psychology professionals.

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