Counseling Psychologist Salary 2026
Counseling psychologists share BLS data with clinical psychologists at a combined median of $100,580 annually (OEWS May 2025, SOC 19-3033). Setting and experience are the primary salary drivers.
A counseling psychologist earns a $100,580 median annual wage, with a $112,750 mean, under the BLS category that pairs clinical and counseling psychologists (SOC 19-3033, OEWS May 2025). The national distribution is wide: the 10th percentile is $55,170 and the 90th percentile is $180,960. Setting drives most of the spread. University counseling centers run $72,000 to $95,000, VA and hospital roles $85,000 to $130,000, and established private practice $95,000 to $160,000. There is no separate BLS code for counseling psychology alone, so these are the combined-category figures plus our own setting-level estimates.
The median and 90th percentile are BLS OEWS May 2025 figures for SOC 19-3033. The entry-level and private-practice ceiling cards are our own estimates from setting-level pay, not BLS values.
National Wage Distribution (BLS OEWS May 2025)
The BLS reports counseling psychologists jointly with clinical psychologists under SOC 19-3033. The May 2025 national percentile spread below shows how wide the range is: entry and community roles anchor the bottom decile, while experienced private-practice and specialty clinicians reach the top decile.
| Measure | Annual Wage | What sits here |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,170 | Early-career, community mental health, part-time or non-metro roles |
| 25th percentile | $73,210 | Agency and community roles, first years after licensure |
| Median (50th) | $100,580 | Mid-career salaried clinician in a hospital, VA or agency setting |
| Mean (average) | $112,750 | Pulled above the median by a high-earning private-practice upper tail |
| 75th percentile | $135,200 | Senior clinicians, supervisors and partial private-practice caseloads |
| 90th percentile | $180,960 | Established full-caseload private practice, group-practice owners, specialty niches |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 19-3033 (Clinical and Counseling Psychologists), national file. Snapshot taken 6 September 2026. Public domain; Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Counseling psychology has no standalone BLS code, so these figures cover the combined clinical-and-counseling category. The broader Psychologists group (SOC 19-3030) is a separate code with its own national median of $99,110, published nationally only, so the two are not interchangeable.
Salary by Setting
| Setting | Typical Annual Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private Practice (full caseload) | $95,000 - $160,000 | $150-250/hr; 20-30 clients/wk; overhead 30-45% |
| VA Health System | $90,000 - $130,000 | PSLF; strong benefits; TBI, PTSD, combat trauma focus |
| Hospital / Medical Center | $85,000 - $115,000 | Behavioral medicine, integrated care, oncology support |
| University Counseling Center | $72,000 - $95,000 | Academic calendar; PSLF; tuition benefits |
| Community Mental Health | $65,000 - $85,000 | PSLF eligible; sliding scale fees; mission-driven |
Counseling vs Clinical: The Practical Salary Difference
At the same career stage and in the same work setting, counseling and clinical psychologists earn nearly identical salaries. Both hold doctoral degrees, both take the EPPP, and both are licensed as psychologists. The distinction on a resume matters primarily for academic research positions.
Where counseling psychologists may earn less is in certain specialty settings. Neuropsychology programs almost universally prefer or require clinical psychology backgrounds. Forensic psychology postdoctoral fellowships similarly favor clinical training. For general clinical practice, counseling psychology is fully equivalent.
State Salary Variation
The same state patterns that apply to psychologists generally apply to counseling psychologists. See the full salary by state table for the complete state ranking. Washington ($137,530 mean), New Jersey ($131,590) and Oregon ($129,590) lead on BLS OEWS May 2025 data for SOC 19-3033. Louisiana ($79,510), Arkansas ($82,100) and Mississippi ($83,860) pay the least. BLS publishes a mean for 48 of the 51 states and DC; the rest abstain rather than being estimated.