Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California clinical and counseling psychologists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $77,050 and $162,360, with a median of $116,000.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 33 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $115,606. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 9 | $93,840 |
| Level II — qualified | 10 | $142,500 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $140,303 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Leland Stanford, Jr University | Clinical Assistant Professor | 6 | $155,000 |
| ACES 2020, LLC | Board Certified Behavioral Analyst Supervisor III | 4 | $93,840 |
| California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | Psychologist - Clinical (Correctional Facility) | 4 | $122,100 |
| Department of State Hospitals – Napa | Psychologist (Health Facility - Clinical - Safety) | 2 | $127,818 |
| University of California, Berkeley | Behavorial Health Counseling Manager | 2 | $181,632 |
| University of California, Merced | Counseling Psychologist | 2 | $112,934 |
| Attentive Cognitive and Mental Health Services Psychology, Inc. | Clinical Psychologist | 1 | $119,500 |
| Children's Hospital of Orange County | Pediatric Psychologist | 1 | $115,606 |
| David Plotkin, Ph.D. | Staff Psychologist | 1 | $103,000 |
| Department of State Hospitals “ Napa | Psychologist (Health Facility - Clinical - Safety) | 1 | $106,680 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Pediatric Psychologist at Children's Hospital of Orange County$115,606OrangeWage Level IIIDecided Mar 25, 2026I-200-26077-712059
- Counseling Psychologist at University of California, Davis$122,113DavisWage Level IIDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-699022
- Behavorial Health Counseling Manager at University of California, Berkeley$211,896BerkeleyWage Level IIDecided Mar 17, 2026I-200-26069-693688
- Clinical Assistant Professor at The Leland Stanford, Jr University$180,000Palo AltoWage Level IIDecided Jan 28, 2026I-200-26022-579121
- Psychologist, General at University of California, Santa Cruz$103,396Santa CruzDecided Jan 27, 2026I-200-26021-574039
- Psychologist - Clinical (Correctional Facility) at California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation$115,380San QuentinDecided Jan 23, 2026I-200-26015-562951
- Psychologist (Health Facility - Clinical - Safety) at Department of State Hospitals – Napa$129,708NapaDecided Jan 20, 2026I-200-26012-553542
- Board Certified Behavioral Analyst Supervisor III at ACES 2020, LLC$93,840San JoseWage Level IDecided Jan 13, 2026I-200-26006-539346
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 18 certified offers. The most common variant is Staff Psychologist at a median of $104,840.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Psychologist | David Plotkin, Ph.D. | 6 | $104,840 |
| Clinical Assistant Professor | The Leland Stanford, Jr University | 5 | $145,000 |
| Counseling Psychologist | University of California, Merced | 4 | $112,934 |
| Psychologist - Clinical, Correctional Facility | California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | 3 | $128,820 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 33 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $100,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | ACES 2020, LLC | 15 | $100,000 |
| Education | The Leland Stanford, Jr University | 14 | $142,500 |
| Government and public sector | California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | 4 | $122,100 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
Internship/residency
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 5.0 / 5
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge
- 5.0 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.5 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.4 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.4 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.4 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.
- 02
Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
- 03
Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
- 04
Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
- 05
Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.
- 06
Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
- 07
Develop and implement individual treatment plans, specifying type, frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy.
- 08
Use a variety of treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior modification, stress reduction therapy, psychodrama, or play therapy.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+11.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing much faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for clinical and counseling psychologists in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Francisco$166,400
- Sacramento$153,050
- San Jose$102,710
- Los Angeles$99,250
- Riverside$92,730
- San Diego$72,090
Compare Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California is $116,000.
- How does California compare to the national median for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?
- The California median is +19.1% versus the BLS national figure of $97,361.
- What is the salary range for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $62,900 and the 90th-percentile at $188,050, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Clinical and Counseling Psychologists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 11.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.