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Hourly Wage for Psychologist - Ph.D. Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Psychologist - Ph.D.?

As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Psychologist - Ph.D. in the United States is $63, which translates to an annual salary of about $130,304.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $70 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57 to $66 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Psychologist - Ph.D. Salaries

A Psychologist - Ph.D.'s salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Psychologist - Ph.D. Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Psychologist - Ph.D.'s salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC) (0-0 years): $64,446
  • Psychologist - M.A. (7+ years): $95,203
  • Psychologist - Ph.D. (7-10 years): $130,304
  • Psychological Services Director (10+ years): $126,405
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Licensed Professional Counselor (LCPC)0-0 years$64,446
Psychologist - M.A.7+ years$95,203
Psychologist - Ph.D.7-10 years$130,304
Psychological Services Director10+ years$126,405
View as Graph

How Do Psychologist - Ph.D. Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Psychologist - Ph.D.s. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $144,273.
  • California: $143,725.
  • Massachusetts: $141,810.

Top Paying Cities for Psychologist - Ph.D.s

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $164,352
  • San Francisco: $162,553
  • Oakland: $159,127

What Skills Can Increase a Psychologist - Ph.D.'s Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.96% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • CPA (Mentioned in 4.3% Job Postings): A CPA, or Certified Public Accountant, is a trusted financial advisor who helps individuals, businesses, and other organizations plan and reach their financial goals.
  • Geriatrics (Mentioned in 2.71% Job Postings): Geriatrics, or geriatric medicine, is a medical specialty focused on providing care for the unique health needs of older adults. The term geriatrics originates from the Greek geron meaning "old man", and iatros meaning "healer".
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.96%
CPA 4.3%
Geriatrics 2.71%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Psychologist - Ph.D.'s salary.

  • Healthcare Services: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Patient Care: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Interpersonal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Healthcare Services $145,940
12%
Patient Care $143,334
10%
Interpersonal Communication $142,031
9%
Get Latest Data

Psychologist - Ph.D. Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Psychologist - Ph.D. salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $146,495. While startup companies pay approximate $124,385.

Psychologist - Ph.D. Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $124,385
Growth Stage 51~500 $131,424
Established 501~5000 $141,576
Enterprise 5000+ $146,495

Psychologist - Ph.D. Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Psychologist - Ph.D. roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Psychologist - Ph.D. positions in Pharmaceuticals or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Psychologist - Ph.D. as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Psychologist - Ph.D.

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$169,395$81.030%
Biotechnology$143,334$69.010%

Psychologist - Ph.D. Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Psychologist - Ph.D.'s annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$118,007
Average $130,304/year
$137,795
$9,834
Average $10,859/month
$11,483
$2,269
Average $2,506/week
$2,650
$57
Average $63/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $137,795 $11,483 $2,650 $66
Average $130,304 $10,859 $2,506 $63
25th Percentile $118,007 $9,834 $2,269 $57

Most common benefits for Psychologist - Ph.D.

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Psychologist - Ph.D.

Here are companies hiring for Psychologist - Ph.D. and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Psychologist - Ph.D.

1. What are the responsibilities of Psychologist - Ph.D.?

Evaluates patients for mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. Diagnoses disorders, including nature and extent, and determines the appropriate course of treatment for the patient. Uses talk therapy to treat patient illness or distress, cannot prescribe medication. Requires a PhD in clinical psychology. Requires a valid state license to practice. Typically reports to a medical director. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Psychologist - Ph.D.

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Leadership: Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.

2.)

CPA: A CPA, or Certified Public Accountant, is a trusted financial advisor who helps individuals, businesses, and other organizations plan and reach their financial goals.

3.)

Geriatrics: Geriatrics, or geriatric medicine, is a medical specialty focused on providing care for the unique health needs of older adults. The term geriatrics originates from the Greek geron meaning "old man", and iatros meaning "healer".

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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