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School Psychologist

$95,990
median / year
$63,070 – $142,330
what most earn per year (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Evaluate students for learning and behavioral needs and support their success with teachers and families.

You may also see this posted as: Bilingual School Psychologist, Consulting Psychologist, Psychologist, Autism Consultant, Challenging Behavior Consultant, Early Intervention School Psychologist.

Where you work

Public and private schools.

The hours

Weekday schedule that follows the school calendar

The day to day

What you'd actually spend time doing

  • Compile and interpret students' test results, along with information from teachers and parents, to diagnose conditions and to help assess eligibility for special services.
  • Maintain student records, including special education reports, confidential records, records of services provided, and behavioral data.
  • Report any pertinent information to the proper authorities in cases of child endangerment, neglect, or abuse.
  • Select, administer, and score psychological tests.
  • Interpret test results and prepare psychological reports for teachers, administrators, and parents.

Good fit if you like…

Social

helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people

Investigative

solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work

Conventional

organizing information, following systems, and getting details right

O*NET job zone 5 of 5

Extensive preparation—often graduate education and significant experience—is common.

Work styles that matter most

EmpathyCooperationDependabilityAttention to Detail

Software that shows up in the work

Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.

Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordZoomCentris Group IEP Direct

By the numbers

May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$95,990
per year
Hourly median
$46.15
per hour
What most earn
$63,070–$142,330
yearly, 10th to 90th percentile
Openings a year
~3,800
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+0.7%
Little change
Working in the U.S.
63,940
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

BLS estimates 5.3% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.

What it pays in your state

Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.

BLS state wage tables

How you get in

Typical starting education

Master's degree

Training path: Master's degree + credential.

Related work experience: None.

On-the-job training: Internship/residency.

License or certification

School psychologists need a state credential, and titles and requirements vary by state.

Check the path where you live

Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.

What it takes

Student assessmentIntervention planningCollaborationReport writing

The honest take

A stable schools-based path with a master's, though hiring tracks district budgets.

Standard Occupational Classification 19-3034. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.