School Psychologists
Diagnose and implement individual or schoolwide interventions or strategies to address educational, behavioral, or developmental issues that adversely impact educational functioning in a school. May address student learning and behavioral problems and counsel students or families. May design and implement performance plans, and evaluate performance. May consult with other school-based personnel.
Also called: Area School Psychologist, Autism Consultant, Bilingual School Psychologist, Certified School Psychologist, Challenging Behavior Consultant, Child Psychologist
Median pay
$95,990
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$63,070 – $142,330
People employed
63,940
Holland code
SIC
Social · Investigative · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 2.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 3.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 4.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
School Psychologists pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What school psychologists do
- 01Report any pertinent information to the proper authorities in cases of child endangerment, neglect, or abuse.
- 02Interpret test results and prepare psychological reports for teachers, administrators, and parents.
- 03Maintain student records, including special education reports, confidential records, records of services provided, and behavioral data.
- 04Compile and interpret students' test results, along with information from teachers and parents, to diagnose conditions and to help assess eligibility for special services.
- 05Collaborate with other educational professionals to develop teaching strategies and school programs.
- 06Select, administer, and score psychological tests.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
Work styles that stand out
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from school psychologists
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School83% · −23%
- Marriage and Family Therapists82% · −30%
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary82% · −16%
- Genetic Counselors81% · +4%
- Speech-Language Pathologists81% · +2%
Majors that lead here
- School Psychology
- Educational Psychology
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.