#9 highest-paying state, Harvard / MGH benchmark
Psychologist Salary in Massachusetts 2026
BLS mean: $124,560 for clinical and counseling psychologists (OEWS May 2025), sixth-highest among states and DC, with a median of $115,180. McLean, MGH, Brigham, Boston Children's and the Boston VA anchor the academic-medical wage benchmark. PSYPACT member since 2024.
Last verified 12 June 2026 · Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (SOC 19-3033, Massachusetts), MA Board of Registration of Psychologists
$124,560
BLS mean annual wage
$59.88
Mean hourly
2,860
Clinical psychologists employed
#6
National rank (states + DC)
Boston Metro vs Rest of Massachusetts
| Area | Mean annual (May 2025) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $126,750 | Harvard / MGH / McLean cluster; 1,920 employed; median $121,270 |
| Worcester MSA | $122,410 | UMass Memorial system anchor; 350 employed; median $112,060 |
| Springfield MSA | $119,630 | Baystate Health, Western MA labor market; 230 employed; median $99,200 |
| Cape Cod (Barnstable) | Not published | No separately published clinical estimate; Cape Cod Hospital, seasonal practice economics |
| Pittsfield / Berkshires | Not published | No separately published clinical estimate; Berkshire Health Systems, NHSC eligibility |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metro-area estimates for SOC 19-3033. The metro spread narrowed in this release: Worcester and Springfield now publish within 6 percent of the Boston mean.
Pay by Specialty in Massachusetts
| Specialty | Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational | $155,000 - $210,000 | Pharma I-O (Vertex, Moderna), Boston Consulting Group behavioral science |
| Neuropsychologist | $140,000 - $185,000 | MGH Neurology, Spaulding Rehab, BWH Memory Disorders |
| Clinical / Counseling | $115,180 median / $124,560 mean | BLS SOC 19-3033, May 2025, direct |
| School Psychologist | $98,670 median / $100,640 mean | BLS SOC 19-3034, May 2025; 3,300 employed, MA's largest psych code |
| VA Psychologist (GS-13) | $135,000 - $158,000 | Boston-Worcester-Providence locality 33.45% |
| Forensic | $120,000 - $170,000 | Bridgewater State Hospital, MA Probation Court Clinics |
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025 (Massachusetts state file; clinical and school rows direct, I-O suppressed for MA; all-other category mean $120,730), OPM 2026 Boston locality table, AACN salary survey, MA Trial Court Probation Service psychologist pay schedule.
Compare
Connecticut
Clinical wages suppressed by BLS - Yale and Hartford benchmarks
New York
$124,380 mean - Manhattan cash-pay premium
All 50 States
Full ranking
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average psychologist salary in Massachusetts?
The BLS mean annual wage for clinical and counseling psychologists in Massachusetts is $124,560 (May 2025 OEWS), sixth-highest among states and DC, with a median of $115,180 and an hourly mean of $59.88. Massachusetts employs 2,860 clinical and counseling psychologists, plus 3,300 school psychologists (mean $100,640) and 500 in the all-other category (mean $120,730). Boston-Cambridge-Newton accounts for the majority (1,920 clinical psychologists at a $126,750 mean), with Worcester at $122,410 and Springfield at $119,630, driven by Harvard, MGH/Brigham, McLean, BIDMC, Boston Children's, and the Boston VA.
Why does Boston pay psychologists so much?
Three reinforcing factors. First, Harvard Medical School affiliated hospitals (MGH, Brigham, BIDMC, McLean, Boston Children's, Mass Eye and Ear) set the regional academic-medical benchmark. McLean Hospital alone employs more than 200 psychologists across its programs. Second, the concentration of doctoral training programs (BU, Northeastern, Suffolk, MGH Institute) means a large supply of clinicians but also a strong floor on supervisor and faculty salaries. Third, biotech and pharma I-O demand from companies like Vertex, Moderna and Biogen pulls industrial-organizational psychologist compensation toward the very top of the BLS range. The Boston cash-pay private market routinely supports $225 to $325 per 60-minute session.
How do I get licensed as a psychologist in Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Psychologists requires a doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) from an APA-accredited or substantially equivalent program; 3,200 hours of supervised professional experience (1,750 pre-doctoral plus 1,500 post-doctoral); passing EPPP at the national 500 cut; passing the Massachusetts Jurisprudence Examination (an open-book exam on MA-specific statutes and Board regulations); fingerprint-based criminal background check. Continuing education requirement is 20 hours per two-year renewal cycle, comparatively light versus California or New York.
Is Massachusetts a PSYPACT state?
Yes. Massachusetts joined PSYPACT effective 2024. MA-licensed psychologists can obtain the E-Passport and IPC credentials from ASPPB and deliver telehealth services across state lines to clients located in any of the 41 other PSYPACT jurisdictions. This includes neighbouring Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, all PSYPACT members. The expanded addressable market is particularly valuable for niche subspecialists (gender-affirming care, dialectical behavior therapy specialists, eating disorders) where a Boston-trained clinician can serve regional demand without ground-truth physical presence.
Which Massachusetts employers pay the most?
McLean Hospital and MGH lead for staff psychologist W-2 positions, with mid-career salaries typically $115,000 to $145,000 plus annual bonus and strong benefits. The Boston VA Healthcare System pays GS-13 staff psychologists $125,000 to $147,000 base plus 33.45 percent Boston locality. Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry instructor and assistant professor positions pay $100,000 to $135,000 base with strong indirect benefit. Beth Israel Lahey Health pays similarly to MGH. Private practice in Brookline, Newton, Wellesley and Cambridge supports cash-pay net of $160,000 to $225,000 for established clinicians.
How does Massachusetts cost of living affect the take-home figure?
Massachusetts has a flat 5 percent state income tax (with an additional 4 percent surtax on income above $1 million as of 2023). Boston metro housing costs are among the highest in the United States: median home price in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton MSA is approximately $755,000 (Greater Boston Real Estate Board 2026). Rent for a 2-bedroom in Cambridge or the South End runs $3,800 to $5,200 per month. A psychologist earning the state mean of $124,560 in Boston has roughly comparable purchasing power to a clinician earning $95,000 in Pittsburgh or Indianapolis. The headline premium is real but cost-of-living absorption is significant.