PhD in School Psychology: Salary and Career Facts

Earning your Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in school psychology can prepare you for a career in this field. Read on to find out what you'll learn in a doctoral degree program, a school psychologist's job duties and potential earnings in the field.

What Are Career Options for School Psychology Graduates?

With a PhD in School Psychology, you will be able to return to academia as a post-secondary teacher of psychology or go into the field as a school psychologist. As a post-secondary professor with a degree in school psychology, you would be given a set of basic psychology courses to teach, as well as some specialized courses in school psychology. Working in a university you would also be responsible for conducting research and assisting students as they conduct their own projects.

Working in the field as a school psychologist would allow you to apply your training in practice. A major responsibility of a school psychologist is to administer and analyze psychological tests, such as those used to assess IQ and diagnose learning disabilities. You'd also work with parents and teachers to help develop programs for students with disabilities. As the developer of these programs you would monitor the progress of students and evaluate the program's effectiveness. You may also help parents and teachers understand the development of their students.

Take a look at the following chart for an overview of how to enter this field.

	Post-secondary Psychology Instructor	School Psychologist
Degree Required	PhD	PhD
Education Field of Study	Psychology or related field	School Psychology
Key Responsibilities	Create lesson plans, evaluate student performance, conduct psychological research and assist students	Administer psychological diagnostic test, make diagnosis of leaning disorders and organize specialized education plans
Job Growth (2020-2030)	8% growth (for all post-secondary psychology teachers)*	10% growth (for all clinical, counseling, and school psychologists)*
Median Salary (2020)	$78,180 (for all post-secondary psychology teachers)*	$79,820 (for school psychologist)**

Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **PayScale.com

What Can I Expect in a School Psychology Ph.D Program?

In a doctoral degree program in school psychology, you can expect some flexibility in your course work. Some schools will allow you to create an academic plan with a faculty adviser; other schools require completion of a set list of courses. Those courses can include ethics and law in relation to school psychologists and techniques for cognitive, personality and academic assessment.

You can expect to complete several years of internships, typically in the first three years of study, and a yearlong internship in a school setting after completion of your courses. Doctoral programs typically require 5-6 years to complete all coursework and internships. Most schools require attendance through summer semesters as well. You will be required to write and defend a dissertation at the end of your studies.

What Jobs Can I Apply For?

With a Ph.D. in school psychology, you will be qualified to work as a psychologist in elementary, middle and high schools. As a school psychologist, you will be responsible for intervention on the students' behalf and for the creation and implementation of programs to assist students with mental, emotional, behavioral and family problems. Your job may include testing students for learning disorders, consulting educators and other professionals about student performance and helping parents and other caregivers to provide proper support to their children. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), psychologists engaging in direct patient care must be licensed in all states, though licensure requirements may vary.

What Could I Earn?

The BLS states that in 2020, the average wage for all clinical, counseling and school psychologists in elementary and secondary schools was $42.93 an hour, or $89,290 a year. That same year the BLS reported 111,320 individuals were employed in this career. The online salary database Payscale.com surveyed 791 individuals in January 2022 and reported that base salaries for school psychologists range from $48,000-$93,000 a year.

What Professional Resources Exist?

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) offers several types of memberships, including those for residents of the United States and Canada, foreign school psychologists, students and school psychologists in their first and second years of professional experience. The NASP website states that it also offers a membership category, the associate member, for individuals working in the field without a school psychology credential and for faculty members of graduate schools in school psychology.

The NASP also certifies qualified individuals as Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NSCP). According to the BLS, the certification requirements include 60 semester hours of graduate work in the field, 600 hours of internship time in a school and a passing score on the National School Psychology Examination. The BLS says that 31 states recognize this certification, and that some states may accept NSCP certification as eligibility for licensure.

What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?

There are a number or careers related to school psychology, the majority requiring a master's degree or PhD in psychology or other related field. Psychological researchers may specialize in a number of different fields related to school psychology, including cognitive, developmental and social psychology. They typically need a PhD in their respected fields. Mental health counselors meet with, diagnose and treat patients with mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. They use many of the same techniques as school psychologists. These professionals need a master's degree or PhD in a psychology or related field. Social workers may also work with those with disorders, as well as everyday life problems. Specialized clinical social workers may even diagnose clients. To be a social worker you need to have a bachelor's or master's degree in social work, depending on the level of employment you are aiming for.