How to Become a School Psychologist
Assess and support students' learning, behavior, and mental health inside schools. It typically requires a master's degree + specialist certificate, with a median salary of $95,990 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$95,990/yr
Middle half
$77,470 to $120,310
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
3,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Psychoeducational Assessment
- Intervention Design
- Counseling
- Consultation
- Data-Based Decision Making
Helpful certifications
- NCSP (Nationally Certified School Psychologist)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
17/100
Work-life balance
61/100
Stress level
52/100
Related careers
- School Principal (K-12 Administrator)$105,870 median
- College Administrator (Postsecondary)$104,590 median
- Instructional Coordinator$77,440 median
- Teacher (Secondary Education)$72,040 median
- Librarian$68,270 median
- Career and Technical Education Teacher$66,270 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a School Psychologist make?
The median pay for a School Psychologist is $95,990 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $77,470 and $120,310 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a School Psychologist?
The usual entry point is a master's degree + specialist certificate. Common majors are Psychology, Education, and Child Development.
Is School Psychologist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 3,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a School Psychologist use most?
Common skills for this role are Psychoeducational Assessment, Intervention Design, Counseling, Consultation, and Data-Based Decision Making.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).