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Operational Psychologist Salary in the United States

How much does an Operational Psychologist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Operational Psychologist in the United States is $301,369 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $145.

However, an Operational Psychologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $351,820
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $269,409 to $327,777
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $240,311
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Operational Psychologist Salaries

An Operational Psychologist'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Operational Psychologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Operational Psychologist'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $95,182
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $125,712
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $148,779
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $170,681
  • Expert (over 8 years): $308,027
Levels Salary
Economics... Level Operational Psychologist$95,182
Economics... Level Operational Psychologist$125,712
Economics... Level Operational Psychologist$148,779
Economics... Level Operational Psychologist$170,681
Operation... Level Operational Psychologist$308,027
View as Graph

How Do Operational Psychologist 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 Operational Psychologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $333,676.
  • California: $332,410.
  • Massachusetts: $327,980.

Top Paying Cities for Operational Psychologists

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: $380,117
  • San Francisco: $375,955
  • Oakland: $368,032

What Skills Can Increase an Operational Psychologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 10.82% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Electricity Market (Mentioned in 2.58% Job Postings): An electricity market, also power exchange or PX, is a system enabling purchases, through bids to buy; sales, through offers to sell. Bids and offers use supply and demand principles to set the price.
  • Python (Mentioned in 2.06% Job Postings): Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 10.82%
Electricity Market 2.58%
Python 2.06%
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 an Operational Psychologist's salary.

  • Public Speaking: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Economic Research: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Public Speaking $376,711
25%
Economic Research $355,615
18%
Coordination $322,465
7%
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Operational Psychologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Operational Psychologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Operational Psychologist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Operational Psychologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Operational Psychologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$361,643$174.020%
Software & Networking$346,574$167.015%
Internet$337,533$162.012%
Pharmaceuticals$325,479$156.08%
Healthcare$316,437$152.05%

How Education impacts an Operational Psychologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Operational Psychologists enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Operational Psychologist with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $285,635 and $319,489).

Operational Psychologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Operational Psychologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.2%
High School 2.2%
Associates 13.3%
Bachelors 13.3%
Masters 37.8%
Doctorate 44.4%
View as Graph

Operational Psychologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Operational Psychologist'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
$269,409
Average $301,369/year
$327,777
$22,451
Average $25,114/month
$27,315
$5,181
Average $5,796/week
$6,303
$130
Average $145/hour
$158
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $327,777 $27,315 $6,303 $158
Average $301,369 $25,114 $5,796 $145
25th Percentile $269,409 $22,451 $5,181 $130

Most common benefits for Operational Psychologist

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

Common company salaries for Operational Psychologist

Here are companies hiring for Operational Psychologist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Operational Psychologist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Operational Psychologist?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Operational Psychologist roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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