What is the Employment Outlook for a School Psychologist Career?

<p>School psychologists help manage student behavior and assess students' psychological test results to determine what services are needed to help children and youth reach their full potential. Schools hire these professionals to work collaboratively with students, their parents and teachers. In rare circumstances, you may be allowed to enter into this career with just a master's degree. In most cases, you'll need an education specialist (Ed.S.) degree and internship experience. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisOccupation">Important Facts About This Occupation</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Key Skills</td><td> Research skills, communications skills, active listening skills, interpersonal relationship skills</td></tr> <tr><td>Licensure</td><td> All 50 states require psychologists who work independently to be licensed</td></tr> <tr><td>Work Environment</td><td> School setting, clinical setting, office setting</td></tr> <tr><td>Similar Occupations</td><td> Education administrator, vocational counselor, mental health counselor</td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---EmploymentOutlook">Employment Outlook</h3> <p>In 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that there were 57,900 school psychologists employed in the United States (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). The BLS has predicted this field will have a 6% growth in employment from 2021 to 2031. This rate, which is as fast as the average rate when compared with other occupations, would result in 3,200 new jobs over the decade. </p> <h3 id="section---ReasonsForGrowth">Reasons For Growth</h3> <p>According to the BLS report on school psychologists, the increased employment growth for school psychologists is largely due to the need to address mental health issues that interfere with schooling, such as bullying. Other issues include dealing with substance abuse, disabilities or special needs and personal or family crises. </p> <h3 id="section---ImprovingYourJobProspects">Improving Your Job Prospects</h3> <p>The BLS mentioned that there will be good job opportunities for school psychologists as schools require more mental health services. In addition, there should be less competition, since colleges and universities graduate fewer students with degrees in the school psychology field. If you want to improve your prospects, you may consider pursuing a doctoral or a specialist degree in the field. </p> <h3 id="section---SalaryInformation">Salary Information</h3> <p>The BLS noted in May 2021, that school psychologists had a median annual salary of $78,780. If you were in the lowest 10 percent of wage earners in this field, then you would have earned $49,260 or less. However, if you happened to be in the top 10 percent of wage earners, then your annual salary was $124,950 or more. Psychologists who were employed in elementary and secondary schools saw a yearly mean income of $83,160. </p> <h3 id="section---SalaryByState">Salary by State</h3> <p>Colorado, New York, California, the District of Columbia, and Washington were the five states with the highest mean annual wages for school psychologists in May 2021, according to the BLS. If you were employed there, the mean average salary would have been: in Colorado, $103,240; in New York, $97,640; in California, $96,530; in the District of Columbia, $96,120; and finally, Washington, $95,780. </p> <h3 id="section---SalaryByMetroArea">Salary by Metro Area</h3> <p>According to May 2021 BLS figures, the five top-paying metropolitan areas for school psychologists were Boulder, CO (average salary $116,280); El Centro, CA (average salary $116,010); Fresno, CA (average salary $115,360); Modesto, CA (average salary $113,440); and Merced, CA (average salary $112,890).</p>