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 $77,850 and $158,400, with a median of $114,520.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 24 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $114,157. 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 | 7 | $83,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 6 | $129,750 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $165,000 |
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 | 5 | $145,000 |
| California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | Psychologist - Clinical, Correctional Facility | 3 | $128,820 |
| ACES 2020, LLC | Clinical Manager, Treatment Initiation | 3 | $93,840 |
| University of California, Merced | Counseling Psychologist | 2 | $112,934 |
| HERITAGE CLINIC AND THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SENIORS | Psychologist | 1 | $100,000 |
| West Hollywood Psychology Associates | Staff Psychologist | 1 | $73,029 |
| University of California at Santa Barbara | Counseling Psychologist | 1 | $108,575 |
| Attentive Cognitive and Mental Health Services Psychology, Inc. | Clinical Psychologist | 1 | $119,500 |
| Mind & Body Garden, A Psychological Corporation | Psychotherapist | 1 | $73,029 |
| David Plotkin, Ph.D. | Staff Psychologist | 1 | $103,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Psychologist - Clinical (Correctional Facility) at California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation$115,380San DiegoDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25350-484654
- Clinical Manager, Treatment Initiation at ACES 2020, LLC$93,840San JoseDecided Dec 10, 2025I-200-25337-454130
- Psychologist at HERITAGE CLINIC AND THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SENIORS$100,000PasadenaWage Level IIDecided Sep 12, 2025I-200-25248-290821
- Counseling Psychologist at University of California, Merced$112,934MercedDecided Jul 3, 2025I-200-25178-133333
- Staff Psychologist at West Hollywood Psychology Associates$73,029West HollywoodWage Level IDecided Jun 9, 2025I-200-25154-043903
- Counseling Psychologist at University of California, Merced$112,934MercedWage Level IDecided Jun 4, 2025I-200-25148-026079
- Counseling Psychologist at University of California at Santa Barbara$108,575Santa BarbaraDecided May 28, 2025I-200-25140-999040
- Board Certified Behavioral Analyst Supervisor III at ACES 2020, LLC$83,000TracyWage Level IDecided May 21, 2025I-200-25134-977866
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.
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 | HERITAGE CLINIC AND THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SENIORS | 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 24 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $98,175.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | ACES 2020, LLC | 12 | $98,175 |
| Education | The Leland Stanford, Jr University | 9 | $140,000 |
| Government and public sector | California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | 3 | $128,820 |
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 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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$160,210
- Sacramento$118,780
- San Jose$101,520
- Los Angeles$100,330
- San Diego$99,990
- Riverside$96,600
Compare Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay across nearby states
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 $114,520.
- How does California compare to the national median for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?
- The California median is +20.8% versus the BLS national figure of $94,836.
- What is the salary range for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $59,990 and the 90th-percentile at $189,540, 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.