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Best states for a forensic psychologist
Quoted expert
Kris Vasquez Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like forensic psychologists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for forensic psychologists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In fact, our research shows that Delaware is the best state for forensic psychologists in America. The best city in America for forensic psychologists with the highest pay is Santa Rosa, CA.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for forensic psychologists.Delaware is the best state, and Windsor is the city with the highest pay for forensic psychologists.
10 best states for forensic psychologists in 2025
1. Delaware
Total forensic psychologist jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $111,367 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.81
2. California
Total forensic psychologist jobs: 608 Average annual salary: $114,588 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
3. Washington
Total forensic psychologist jobs: 124 Average annual salary: $110,948 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
4. Illinois
Total forensic psychologist jobs: 270 Average annual salary: $95,083 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.66
5. New Jersey
Total forensic psychologist jobs: 106 Average annual salary: $104,604 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
6. Connecticut
Total forensic psychologist jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $103,858 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
7. Virginia
Total forensic psychologist jobs: 126 Average annual salary: $96,309 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
8. Nevada
Total forensic psychologist jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $89,449 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
9. Massachusetts
Total forensic psychologist jobs: 98 Average annual salary: $97,161 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
10. Maryland
Total forensic psychologist jobs: 171 Average annual salary: $91,314 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.98
Forensic psychologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a forensic psychologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a forensic psychologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $111,367 | $79,000 | 961,939 | 31 |
| 2 | California | $114,588 | $76,000 | 39,536,653 | 608 |
| 3 | Washington | $110,948 | $75,000 | 7,405,743 | 124 |
| 4 | Illinois | $95,083 | $69,000 | 12,802,023 | 270 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $104,604 | $74,000 | 9,005,644 | 106 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $103,858 | $74,000 | 3,588,184 | 36 |
| 7 | Virginia | $96,309 | $67,000 | 8,470,020 | 126 |
| 8 | Nevada | $89,449 | $60,000 | 2,998,039 | 32 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $97,161 | $69,000 | 6,859,819 | 98 |
| 10 | Maryland | $91,314 | $64,000 | 6,052,177 | 171 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $89,109 | $63,000 | 12,805,537 | 150 |
| 12 | Ohio | $88,354 | $63,000 | 11,658,609 | 114 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $85,562 | $58,000 | 10,273,419 | 161 |
| 14 | Oregon | $87,308 | $59,000 | 4,142,776 | 72 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $94,086 | $66,000 | 693,972 | 26 |
| 16 | Utah | $90,552 | $62,000 | 3,101,833 | 24 |
| 17 | Colorado | $89,062 | $63,000 | 5,607,154 | 81 |
| 18 | Vermont | $93,071 | $67,000 | 623,657 | 3 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $88,756 | $61,000 | 6,715,984 | 24 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $88,480 | $55,000 | 4,684,333 | 27 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $89,087 | $65,000 | 5,576,606 | 58 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $86,792 | $62,000 | 1,059,639 | 11 |
| 23 | Indiana | $83,114 | $60,000 | 6,666,818 | 74 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $80,743 | $59,000 | 5,795,483 | 90 |
| 25 | Alaska | $85,958 | $63,000 | 739,795 | 11 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $77,668 | $56,000 | 579,315 | 13 |
| 27 | New York | $85,092 | $60,000 | 19,849,399 | 258 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $87,002 | $62,000 | 1,342,795 | 14 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $80,926 | $59,000 | 755,393 | 12 |
| 30 | Arizona | $77,199 | $52,000 | 7,016,270 | 94 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $76,129 | $56,000 | 1,920,076 | 35 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $73,929 | $50,000 | 3,930,864 | 68 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $77,479 | $51,000 | 2,088,070 | 27 |
| 34 | Texas | $79,497 | $51,000 | 28,304,596 | 196 |
| 35 | Idaho | $84,002 | $57,000 | 1,716,943 | 9 |
| 36 | Michigan | $76,819 | $55,000 | 9,962,311 | 68 |
| 37 | Georgia | $74,745 | $48,000 | 10,429,379 | 150 |
| 38 | Montana | $69,089 | $49,000 | 1,050,493 | 17 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $56,054 | $45,000 | 1,427,538 | 19 |
| 40 | Kansas | $72,944 | $52,000 | 2,913,123 | 22 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $72,528 | $49,000 | 3,004,279 | 17 |
| 42 | Alabama | $74,006 | $47,000 | 4,874,747 | 14 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $66,256 | $43,000 | 5,024,369 | 69 |
| 44 | Iowa | $74,157 | $54,000 | 3,145,711 | 17 |
| 45 | Maine | $70,706 | $51,000 | 1,335,907 | 11 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $65,973 | $48,000 | 869,666 | 12 |
| 47 | Missouri | $67,523 | $48,000 | 6,113,532 | 52 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $66,236 | $47,000 | 1,815,857 | 10 |
| 49 | Florida | $63,407 | $39,000 | 20,984,400 | 131 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $66,495 | $42,000 | 2,984,100 | 10 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $65,592 | $46,000 | 4,454,189 | 23 |
Highest paying states for forensic psychologists
| Rank | State | Avg. Forensic Psychologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $111,367 |
| 2 | California | $114,588 |
| 3 | Washington | $110,948 |
| 4 | Illinois | $95,083 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $104,604 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $103,858 |
| 7 | Virginia | $96,309 |
| 8 | Nevada | $89,449 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $97,161 |
| 10 | Maryland | $91,314 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $89,109 |
| 12 | Ohio | $88,354 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $85,562 |
| 14 | Oregon | $87,308 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $94,086 |
| 16 | Utah | $90,552 |
| 17 | Colorado | $89,062 |
| 18 | Vermont | $93,071 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $88,756 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $88,480 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $89,087 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $86,792 |
| 23 | Indiana | $83,114 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $80,743 |
| 25 | Alaska | $85,958 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $77,668 |
| 27 | New York | $85,092 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $87,002 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $80,926 |
| 30 | Arizona | $77,199 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $76,129 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $73,929 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $77,479 |
| 34 | Texas | $79,497 |
| 35 | Idaho | $84,002 |
| 36 | Michigan | $76,819 |
| 37 | Georgia | $74,745 |
| 38 | Montana | $69,089 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $56,054 |
| 40 | Kansas | $72,944 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $72,528 |
| 42 | Alabama | $74,006 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $66,256 |
| 44 | Iowa | $74,157 |
| 45 | Maine | $70,706 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $65,973 |
| 47 | Missouri | $67,523 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $66,236 |
| 49 | Florida | $63,407 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $66,495 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $65,592 |
Expert opinions on the best states for forensic psychologists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for forensic psychologists to find work opportunities?
Kris Vasquez Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Alverno College
I don't have national data on employment for psychology graduates in 2020, and I assume you can look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics as quickly as possible. We do know that there are communities that are underserved by available mental health resources, often the same places where physical health resources are scarce.
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Updated January 8, 2025