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Research psychologist salary
Average research psychologist salary
$90,440
Understanding Research Psychologist Salaries
The role of a Research Psychologist is critical in advancing our understanding of human behavior and mental processes. As of October 2025, the average salary for this profession is $90,440 per year, but this can fluctuate based on several factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
For instance, states like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries due to the demand for skilled professionals in metropolitan areas. Entry-level psychologists may start at a lower salary, with an increase as they gain experience and specialize in fields such as clinical research or applied psychology.
Moreover, positions in academia or corporate research often provide more competitive compensation compared to non-profit or government roles. With the increasing focus on mental health, opportunities are expanding in various sectors, making this an opportune time for aspiring psychologists.
To maximize earning potential, individuals should consider pursuing advanced degrees, certifications, and gaining diverse experience in research settings. By staying informed about industry trends and salary expectations, research psychologists can strategically navigate their careers.
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Where can a Research Psychologist earn more?
Research psychologist salaries by experience level
Research psychologist salary estimates from across the web
Average research psychologist salary by state
The average research psychologist salary in California, Washington, and Virginia are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average research psychologist salary states are Nebraska, Illinois, and Tennessee.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for research psychologists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $103,865 | $49.94 |
| 2 | Maryland | $103,302 | $49.66 |
| 3 | Maine | $106,294 | $51.10 |
| 4 | Oregon | $99,762 | $47.96 |
| 5 | Virginia | $108,256 | $52.05 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $97,873 | $47.05 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $99,785 | $47.97 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $99,388 | $47.78 |
| 9 | Idaho | $103,838 | $49.92 |
| 10 | Nevada | $106,421 | $51.16 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $93,312 | $44.86 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $99,972 | $48.06 |
| 13 | Washington | $110,770 | $53.25 |
| 14 | Colorado | $94,184 | $45.28 |
| 15 | California | $112,967 | $54.31 |
| 16 | New York | $94,892 | $45.62 |
| 17 | Delaware | $92,331 | $44.39 |
| 18 | Ohio | $91,532 | $44.01 |
| 19 | Utah | $88,675 | $42.63 |
| 20 | Alaska | $99,897 | $48.03 |
| 21 | Florida | $87,460 | $42.05 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $84,202 | $40.48 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $79,583 | $38.26 |
| 24 | Indiana | $84,174 | $40.47 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $80,555 | $38.73 |
| 26 | Missouri | $83,863 | $40.32 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $79,248 | $38.10 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $84,039 | $40.40 |
| 29 | Iowa | $84,095 | $40.43 |
| 30 | Michigan | $79,732 | $38.33 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $81,212 | $39.04 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $93,928 | $45.16 |
| 33 | Kansas | $81,449 | $39.16 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $84,127 | $40.45 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $81,719 | $39.29 |
| 36 | Arizona | $77,952 | $37.48 |
| 37 | Vermont | $76,172 | $36.62 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $78,862 | $37.91 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $79,011 | $37.99 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $75,809 | $36.45 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $75,798 | $36.44 |
| 42 | Montana | $78,606 | $37.79 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $77,962 | $37.48 |
| 44 | Texas | $77,066 | $37.05 |
| 45 | Massachusetts | $78,713 | $37.84 |
| 46 | Illinois | $73,502 | $35.34 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $72,459 | $34.84 |
| 48 | Georgia | $76,538 | $36.80 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $72,451 | $34.83 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $64,172 | $30.85 |
| 51 | Alabama | $63,015 | $30.30 |
Highest paying cities for research psychologists
The highest-paying cities for research psychologists are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and McLean, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $122,158 | $58.73 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $112,115 | $53.90 |
| 3 | McLean, VA | $109,235 | $52.52 |
| 4 | East Providence, RI | $103,793 | $49.90 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $103,531 | $49.77 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $95,137 | $45.74 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $93,934 | $45.16 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $88,937 | $42.76 |
| 9 | Boca Raton, FL | $84,868 | $40.80 |
| 10 | Iowa City, IA | $84,454 | $40.60 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,079 | $38.50 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $80,059 | $38.49 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $76,680 | $36.87 |
Research psychologist salary details
A research psychologist's salary ranges from $63,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $128,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a research psychologist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $128,000 | $10,667 | $62 |
| 75th Percentile | $108,000 | $9,000 | $52 |
| Average | $90,440 | $7,537 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| 10th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
Highest paying research psychologist jobs
The highest paying types of research psychologists are chief psychologist, senior staff psychologist, and licensed psychologist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Fellow | $69,060 | $5,755 | $33.20 | 59,094 |
| Clinical Psychology Internship | $38,471 | $3,206 | $18.50 | 107,002 |
| Clinical Psychologist-Licensed | $96,135 | $8,011 | $46.22 | 83,526 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Clinical Psychologist | $97,659 | $8,138 | $46.95 | 69,762 |
| Staff Psychologist | $77,671 | $6,473 | $37.34 | 85,221 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for research psychologists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Terry Pettijohn Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology, Gupta College of Science
Top companies hiring research psychologists now:
Which companies pay research psychologists the most?
Research psychologist salaries at Parexel International and Alaka`ina Foundation Family Of Companies are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research psychologist salary at companies like CIA Inc and TechWerks are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parexel International | $97,848 | $47.04 |
| 2 | Alaka`ina Foundation Family Of Companies | $93,789 | $45.09 |
| 3 | CIA Inc | $93,287 | $44.85 |
| 4 | TechWerks | $93,025 | $44.72 |
| 5 | U.S. Secret Service | $90,475 | $43.50 |
| 6 | ACT | $90,172 | $43.35 |
| 7 | IESC | $83,733 | $40.26 |
| 8 | RTI International Metals | $82,085 | $39.46 |
| 9 | Customer Value Partners | $81,399 | $39.13 |
| 10 | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | $80,888 | $38.89 |
| 11 | Centers For Disease Control And Prevention | $80,357 | $38.63 |
| 12 | University of California | $79,311 | $38.13 |
| 13 | Boston College | $74,932 | $36.02 |
| 14 | Gardner Family Care | $73,982 | $35.57 |
| 15 | Florida International University | $73,403 | $35.29 |
| 16 | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | $67,702 | $32.55 |
| 17 | Johns Hopkins University | $64,681 | $31.10 |
| 18 | Virginia Commonwealth University | $63,714 | $30.63 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Research psychologist salary trends
The average research psychologist salary has risen by $13,528 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research psychologist earned $76,912 annually, but today, they earn $90,440 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for research psychologists over the last decade.
Compare research psychologist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average research psychologist salary over time
Compare research psychologist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Research psychologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $90,400 | $43.48 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $88,600 | $42.60 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $87,200 | $41.94 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $85,100 | $40.90 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $83,000 | $39.91 | +3.7% |
Recently added research psychologist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California San Francisco | Clinical Research Psychologist | San Francisco, CA | 04/28/2025 | $99,466 |
| Us Government Other Agencies and Independent Organizations | Personnel Research Psychologist II | Washington, DC | 01/16/2025 | $94,940 |
| Department of Health and Human Services | Personnel Research Psychologist | Washington, DC | 12/13/2024 | $117,962 |
| John Hopkin's University | Research Psychologist | Maryland | 10/24/2024 | $75,900 |
| Department of Defense | Research Psychologist | Washington, DC | 10/15/2024 | $99,200 |
| Northrop Grumman | Senior I/O Psychologist-Employee Experience Research | Falls Church, VA | 09/26/2024 | $146,000 |
| Department of Homeland Security | Research Psychologist | New London, CT | 09/21/2024 | $116,510 |
| Department of Homeland Security | Clinical Research Psychologist | Ione, WA | 09/14/2024 | $117,962 |
| Leidos | Research Psychologist | San Diego, CA | 09/10/2024 | $81,250 |
| Northrop Grumman | Senior I/O Psychologist-Employee Experience Research | Falls Church, VA | 09/10/2024 | $146,000 |
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