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Best states for a school psychologist
Quoted expert
Julie Ivey Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for school psychologists? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for school psychologist jobs.Although there are abundant school psychologist jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Alaska is the best state in the country for school psychologist jobs.
The median salary for school psychologists in Alaska is $102,218. Compare that to the median salary in South Dakota of $51,445, which ranked worst for school psychologists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a school psychologist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for school psychologists in 2025
1. Alaska
Total school psychologist jobs: 55 Average annual salary: $102,218 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 1.62
2. Oregon
Total school psychologist jobs: 308 Average annual salary: $99,482 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 1.83
3. California
Total school psychologist jobs: 1,200 Average annual salary: $105,438 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
4. Oklahoma
Total school psychologist jobs: 155 Average annual salary: $84,959 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
5. Nebraska
Total school psychologist jobs: 93 Average annual salary: $87,283 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
6. Connecticut
Total school psychologist jobs: 291 Average annual salary: $81,612 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 2.16
7. Idaho
Total school psychologist jobs: 78 Average annual salary: $83,435 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
8. North Dakota
Total school psychologist jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $89,640 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 0.69
9. Utah
Total school psychologist jobs: 63 Average annual salary: $96,736 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 0.48
10. Maryland
Total school psychologist jobs: 300 Average annual salary: $88,556 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
School psychologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a school psychologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a school psychologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $102,218 | $75,000 | 739,795 | 55 |
| 2 | Oregon | $99,482 | $69,000 | 4,142,776 | 308 |
| 3 | California | $105,438 | $71,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,200 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | $84,959 | $62,000 | 3,930,864 | 155 |
| 5 | Nebraska | $87,283 | $64,000 | 1,920,076 | 93 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $81,612 | $59,000 | 3,588,184 | 291 |
| 7 | Idaho | $83,435 | $58,000 | 1,716,943 | 78 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $89,640 | $66,000 | 755,393 | 26 |
| 9 | Utah | $96,736 | $67,000 | 3,101,833 | 63 |
| 10 | Maryland | $88,556 | $64,000 | 6,052,177 | 300 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $87,057 | $63,000 | 2,984,100 | 61 |
| 12 | Maine | $81,314 | $59,000 | 1,335,907 | 62 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $83,514 | $60,000 | 9,005,644 | 400 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $92,504 | $67,000 | 693,972 | 57 |
| 15 | Missouri | $76,987 | $57,000 | 6,113,532 | 333 |
| 16 | Washington | $83,625 | $58,000 | 7,405,743 | 276 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $73,137 | $53,000 | 579,315 | 46 |
| 18 | New York | $80,985 | $58,000 | 19,849,399 | 694 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $84,645 | $62,000 | 1,815,857 | 28 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $75,645 | $53,000 | 2,088,070 | 103 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $81,812 | $60,000 | 4,454,189 | 68 |
| 22 | Michigan | $73,013 | $53,000 | 9,962,311 | 403 |
| 23 | Colorado | $78,619 | $56,000 | 5,607,154 | 297 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $75,061 | $55,000 | 5,795,483 | 196 |
| 25 | Vermont | $76,295 | $55,000 | 623,657 | 33 |
| 26 | Ohio | $74,491 | $55,000 | 11,658,609 | 316 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $73,051 | $53,000 | 12,805,537 | 535 |
| 28 | Illinois | $72,743 | $54,000 | 12,802,023 | 937 |
| 29 | Nevada | $71,619 | $48,000 | 2,998,039 | 110 |
| 30 | Virginia | $79,590 | $58,000 | 8,470,020 | 241 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $74,632 | $55,000 | 10,273,419 | 257 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $78,422 | $56,000 | 6,859,819 | 263 |
| 33 | Arizona | $69,434 | $48,000 | 7,016,270 | 355 |
| 34 | Indiana | $71,144 | $52,000 | 6,666,818 | 210 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $69,411 | $51,000 | 5,576,606 | 344 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $62,939 | $45,000 | 1,059,639 | 84 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $69,827 | $51,000 | 5,024,369 | 145 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $69,397 | $51,000 | 3,004,279 | 68 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | $62,370 | $45,000 | 1,342,795 | 115 |
| 40 | Iowa | $66,133 | $49,000 | 3,145,711 | 110 |
| 41 | Montana | $54,113 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 89 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $67,936 | $55,000 | 1,427,538 | 26 |
| 43 | Delaware | $61,711 | $44,000 | 961,939 | 61 |
| 44 | Georgia | $67,973 | $50,000 | 10,429,379 | 256 |
| 45 | Florida | $66,965 | $45,000 | 20,984,400 | 382 |
| 46 | Alabama | $65,191 | $47,000 | 4,874,747 | 66 |
| 47 | Kansas | $56,609 | $41,000 | 2,913,123 | 124 |
| 48 | Texas | $60,864 | $42,000 | 28,304,596 | 611 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $61,711 | $45,000 | 6,715,984 | 131 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $51,540 | $36,000 | 4,684,333 | 138 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $51,445 | $38,000 | 869,666 | 23 |
Highest paying states for school psychologists
| Rank | State | Avg. School Psychologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $102,218 |
| 2 | Oregon | $99,482 |
| 3 | California | $105,438 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | $84,959 |
| 5 | Nebraska | $87,283 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $81,612 |
| 7 | Idaho | $83,435 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $89,640 |
| 9 | Utah | $96,736 |
| 10 | Maryland | $88,556 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $87,057 |
| 12 | Maine | $81,314 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $83,514 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $92,504 |
| 15 | Missouri | $76,987 |
| 16 | Washington | $83,625 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $73,137 |
| 18 | New York | $80,985 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $84,645 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $75,645 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $81,812 |
| 22 | Michigan | $73,013 |
| 23 | Colorado | $78,619 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $75,061 |
| 25 | Vermont | $76,295 |
| 26 | Ohio | $74,491 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $73,051 |
| 28 | Illinois | $72,743 |
| 29 | Nevada | $71,619 |
| 30 | Virginia | $79,590 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $74,632 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $78,422 |
| 33 | Arizona | $69,434 |
| 34 | Indiana | $71,144 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $69,411 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $62,939 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $69,827 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $69,397 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | $62,370 |
| 40 | Iowa | $66,133 |
| 41 | Montana | $54,113 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $67,936 |
| 43 | Delaware | $61,711 |
| 44 | Georgia | $67,973 |
| 45 | Florida | $66,965 |
| 46 | Alabama | $65,191 |
| 47 | Kansas | $56,609 |
| 48 | Texas | $60,864 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $61,711 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $51,540 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $51,445 |
Expert opinions on the best states for school psychologists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for school psychologists to find work opportunities?
Julie Ivey Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Baylor University
There is a shortage of School Psychologists in the U.S., overall. We have had students, not only complete internships, but also secure their first job on the East Coast, West Coast, North, and South. Many rural schools have a harder time hiring school psychologists, since they are often remote and not close to a city. However, many students like the smaller schools that are slower paced. Some students love the energy of a city, and that is available too. We love it when our alumni are local so they can supervise practicum students, and we know our current students are in good hands.
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Updated January 8, 2025