Psychology salary by state and agency

How median pay for full-time federal employees in the Psychology series (series 0180) differs by where they work and who employs them. Nationally the median is $152,387. Full psychology salary profile →

Highest state median

$175,265

California

Lowest state median

$136,025

Maine

Agency spread

$27,019

highest vs. lowest agency median

National median

$152,387

8,831 full-time employees

State differences come largely from locality pay, which raises federal salaries in high-cost labor markets, and from differences in the grade mix of the jobs located there. Agency differences often reflect different pay plans and grade structures. Only states and agencies with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay are listed.

By state, highest to lowest median

Psychology median pay by state
State	Employees	Median pay	Middle 50%
California	1,019	$175,265	$150,026–$197,200
Hawaii	69	$174,916	$152,279–$186,525
District of Columbia	193	$167,902	$152,387–$187,093
Nebraska	36	$163,907	$134,004–$172,484
New Jersey	121	$163,477	$144,357–$182,710
Arizona	181	$163,429	$137,874–$183,489
Tennessee	189	$159,321	$143,692–$169,802
Maryland	277	$158,322	$142,261–$177,497
Virginia	282	$158,232	$137,266–$170,860
Texas	631	$157,998	$135,859–$177,762
Nevada	85	$157,306	$142,752–$175,285
Georgia	241	$157,020	$143,066–$170,479
Oklahoma	112	$156,531	$112,014–$179,552
North Carolina	377	$154,484	$133,143–$171,691
Kansas	72	$154,240	$139,322–$167,188
Missouri	180	$153,816	$137,130–$167,524
Florida	779	$152,850	$134,306–$168,453
Arkansas	82	$151,894	$117,081–$172,777
Connecticut	115	$151,400	$68,766–$165,570
Illinois	287	$150,431	$132,732–$168,130
Rhode Island	57	$149,905	$132,353–$171,951
South Carolina	145	$148,391	$135,297–$164,758
New Hampshire	31	$148,052	$134,246–$158,478
Alabama	103	$147,471	$127,168–$162,235
Mississippi	55	$147,300	$103,225–$170,205
Indiana	123	$146,006	$120,629–$155,329
Louisiana	89	$144,926	$119,340–$157,151
Ohio	301	$144,835	$127,353–$161,876
Massachusetts	357	$144,508	$105,018–$166,229
Pennsylvania	347	$144,466	$131,068–$158,358
West Virginia	81	$143,710	$120,629–$155,503
Washington	215	$143,557	$127,841–$158,112
Oregon	122	$142,527	$127,295–$163,471
Vermont	34	$142,342	$120,548–$156,715
Colorado	204	$142,200	$125,948–$159,120
New York	336	$142,156	$114,499–$168,285
Utah	78	$141,692	$115,696–$162,518
Minnesota	171	$141,134	$127,643–$150,852
Kentucky	167	$141,005	$127,725–$155,663
Montana	44	$140,662	$111,243–$161,348
Iowa	38	$140,202	$128,350–$153,164
New Mexico	80	$139,116	$54,564–$159,575
Michigan	212	$138,900	$106,140–$158,358
Idaho	42	$137,183	$122,352–$144,599
Wisconsin	151	$136,896	$117,590–$152,542
Maine	39	$136,025	$120,021–$156,029

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

By agency, highest to lowest median

Psychology median pay by agency
Agency	Employees	Median pay	Middle 50%
Department of Transportation	97	$163,514	$128,585–$190,953
Department of Homeland Security	79	$163,104	$138,024–$172,700
Department of Veterans Affairs	8,158	$152,755	$131,082–$171,278
Department of Health and Human Services	152	$151,392	$133,964–$178,725
Office of Personnel Management	31	$150,324	$129,904–$176,730
Department of Justice	545	$136,495	$113,530–$150,935

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)