Child Psychologist Salary
Child psychologists earn an estimated median salary of $88,500 per year, with growing demand driven by the pediatric mental health crisis.
Taylor Rupe
B.A. in Psychology, University of Washington — Seattle
Key Takeaways
- Child psychologists earn an estimated median salary of $88,500, based on clinical psychologist data adjusted for child specialty settings.
- The broader BLS category for clinical and counseling psychologists shows a median of $95,830 — child psychologists earn slightly below this due to typical work settings.
- The pediatric mental health crisis is driving strong demand and salary growth for child psychologists across all settings.
- Board certification through the American Board of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology can increase salary by 10–20%.
- Child psychologists in private practice and children's hospital systems earn the highest salaries, often $100,000–$140,000+.
Child psychologists specialize in the assessment and treatment of emotional, behavioral, and developmental disorders in children and adolescents. They work with conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, trauma, and learning disabilities, providing therapy, psychological testing, and parent consultation.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track child psychologists as a separate category — their salaries fall under "Clinical and Counseling Psychologists" (SOC 19-3033). Child psychologists typically earn slightly less than the overall clinical psychologist median because they are more likely to work in settings like children's hospitals, school-based clinics, and community agencies rather than higher-paying private practice or forensic settings. However, the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology reports growing demand for this specialty driven by the pediatric mental health crisis.
How Much Do Child Psychologists Make?
Child psychologist salary estimates draw from the BLS Clinical and Counseling Psychologists category (SOC 19-3033, median $95,830) adjusted for the child psychology specialty, where practitioners are more concentrated in institutional settings than the broader clinical psychologist population.
The estimated child psychologist median of $88,500 reflects the mix of practice settings common to this specialty: children's hospitals, community mental health centers, school-based clinics, and pediatric private practices. Child psychologists who build private testing and therapy practices or work in major children's hospital systems typically earn at or above the broader clinical psychologist median.
10th Percentile
$52,000
Median
$88,500
90th Percentile
$145,000
Child Psychologist Salary by State
| State | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $112,000 | 3,500+ |
| New Jersey | $108,500 | 820+ |
| New York | $105,300 | 2,900+ |
| Massachusetts | $101,700 | 1,200+ |
| Oregon | $99,800 | 540+ |
| Washington | $98,200 | 780+ |
| Connecticut | $96,500 | 490+ |
| Maryland | $93,400 | 610+ |
| Colorado | $91,800 | 560+ |
| Illinois | $87,200 | 1,100+ |
Child Psychologist Salary by Experience Level
| Experience Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level / Post-Doc (0–2 years) | $55,000–$68,000 |
| Early Career (3–5 years) | $72,000–$88,000 |
| Mid-Career (6–12 years) | $88,000–$115,000 |
| Senior (13+ years) | $115,000–$150,000+ |
Child Psychologist Salary by Employer Type
| Employer Type | Salary |
|---|---|
| Private Practice (Child Specialty) | $100,000–$145,000+ |
| Children's Hospitals & Medical Centers | $95,000–$135,000 |
| School-Based Mental Health Programs | $70,000–$90,000 |
| Community Mental Health (Child Services) | $65,000–$85,000 |
| University Training Clinics | $75,000–$110,000 |
Child Psychologist Salary by Education Level
| Education Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| PsyD with Child/Adolescent Focus | $82,000–$105,000 |
| PhD in Clinical Child Psychology | $88,000–$120,000 |
| PhD/PsyD + ABPP Board Certification (Child) | $100,000–$145,000+ |
How to Increase Your Child Psychologist Salary
Child psychologists can increase their earnings through specialization, board certification, and strategic practice decisions. The Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology notes that the current pediatric mental health workforce shortage gives qualified child psychologists strong negotiating power and high demand for their services.
- Obtain ABPP board certification in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology — board-certified specialists earn 10–20% more and are preferred for hospital-based and academic positions.
- Build a private practice specializing in pediatric neuropsychological testing. Comprehensive child assessments bill at $2,000–$4,000 per evaluation and are in extremely high demand.
- Develop expertise in evidence-based treatments for high-demand conditions like childhood anxiety (CBT), trauma (TF-CBT), ADHD, and autism — these specializations fill caseloads quickly.
- Target positions at major children's hospital systems (Children's National, Boston Children's, CHOP) which offer competitive salaries, research time, and academic appointments.
- Offer parent training and consultation services in addition to direct therapy — this diversifies your income and fills schedule gaps that child-focused practices sometimes experience.
Related Pages
How to Become a Child Psychologist
Education, training, and licensure requirements for specializing in child psychology.
School Psychologist Salary
Compare child psychologist pay with the related school psychology field.
Best Online PsyD Programs
Doctoral programs with child and adolescent psychology concentrations.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on a median salary of $88,500, child psychologists in salaried positions earn approximately $42.55 per hour. In private practice, child psychologists typically charge $150–$250 per therapy session and $200–$400 per hour for psychological testing, depending on the market. Testing-heavy practices tend to generate the highest hourly revenue.
Child psychologists earn slightly less than the overall clinical psychologist median ($88,500 vs. $95,830) because they are more concentrated in institutional settings like children's hospitals and school-based programs. However, child psychologists in private practice and those with ABPP board certification often match or exceed general clinical psychologist salaries, particularly those who specialize in pediatric neuropsychological assessment.
Yes. The American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health in 2021, and the shortage has intensified since then. Wait times for child psychological evaluations commonly exceed 3–6 months in many areas. This shortage is driving salary increases, signing bonuses, and loan repayment incentives for child psychologists, especially in underserved communities.
A doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in clinical psychology with a child and adolescent focus is required, followed by a pre-doctoral internship and 1–2 years of postdoctoral supervised experience. Some programs offer specific clinical child psychology doctoral tracks. The full educational path takes approximately 10–12 years after high school. Board certification through ABPP is optional but recommended for career advancement.
California ($112,000), New Jersey ($108,500), and New York ($105,300) offer the highest median salaries for child psychologists. Within any state, child psychologists at major children's hospital systems and those in private practice earn the most. Urban and suburban areas with higher costs of living generally pay more than rural settings, though rural areas may offer loan repayment incentives.
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