Clinical Psychologist Salary in Illinois
Clinical psychologists in Illinois earn a median salary of $92,310 per year, with Chicago metro pay above $98,000. Strong academic medical center demand drives top-quartile earnings. Explore detailed Illinois salary data.
Key Takeaways
- Illinois pays clinical psychologists a median of $92,310 per year (BLS, 2023).
- Illinois employs 4,680 clinical and counseling psychologists, with most positions in the Chicago metro.
- Chicago–Naperville–Elgin leads Illinois with median pay of $98,200, while Peoria, Champaign, and Springfield sit between $80,000–$87,000.
- Illinois is a PSYPACT member state, allowing telehealth practice across 40+ states.
- Top employers include Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, University of Chicago Medicine, Lurie Children's, the Jesse Brown VA, Loyola, and Advocate Aurora Health.
Illinois employs roughly 4,680 clinical and counseling psychologists, the eighth-largest workforce in the country. The vast majority work in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin metro, with smaller concentrations in Champaign–Urbana, Peoria, Springfield, and the Quad Cities. The state median salary of $92,310 sits roughly 4% below the national median, but Chicago metro psychologists earn substantially more than the statewide median, with strong cash-pay private practice rates in North Side neighborhoods, the suburbs of the North Shore, and west suburban DuPage County.
Licensure is administered by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), which regulates Clinical Psychology as a separate license from general school psychology. Illinois is a PSYPACT member state.
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical and counseling psychologists in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $92,310. The lowest 10% earn approximately $48,200, while the highest 10% earn over $160,500.
Chicago anchors Illinois psychology employment, with major academic medical centers (Northwestern, Rush, University of Chicago, Loyola, UIC), the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Lurie Children's Hospital, and a dense suburban private practice network. The North Shore (Evanston, Wilmette, Highland Park), DuPage County (Naperville, Wheaton), and the North Side of Chicago all support strong cash-pay private practice markets.
10th Percentile
$48,200
Median
$92,310
90th Percentile
$160,500
Clinical Psychologist Salary by State
| State | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $107,220 | 12,340 |
| Massachusetts | $103,050 | 4,920 |
| Connecticut | $98,160 | 2,110 |
| Minnesota | $96,580 | 2,460 |
| Illinois | $92,310 | 4,680 |
| Texas | $91,440 | 7,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $90,180 | 4,310 |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Experience Level
| Experience Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Fellow | $45,000–$62,000 |
| Entry Level (0–2 years post-licensure) | $65,000–$78,000 |
| Early Career (3–5 years) | $80,000–$95,000 |
| Mid-Career (6–12 years) | $98,000–$122,000 |
| Senior (13+ years) | $125,000–$180,000+ |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Salary |
|---|---|
| Chicago–Naperville–Elgin | $98,200 |
| Lake County–Kenosha (North Shore) | $102,400 |
| Naperville–Wheaton (DuPage) | $99,800 |
| Rockford | $87,400 |
| Champaign–Urbana | $86,500 |
| Peoria | $83,200 |
| Springfield | $82,800 |
| Bloomington | $84,100 |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Employer Type
| Employer Type | Salary |
|---|---|
| North Shore / DuPage Cash-Pay Private Practice | $125,000–$185,000 |
| Northwestern Medicine / Rush / U Chicago Medicine | $110,000–$148,000 |
| Jesse Brown VA / Edward Hines VA | $112,000–$155,000 |
| Lurie Children's Hospital | $108,000–$142,000 |
| Loyola University Medical Center | $105,000–$138,000 |
| Advocate Aurora Health | $100,000–$132,000 |
| Group Practice (insurance + cash mix) | $82,000–$112,000 |
| Community Mental Health (CCBHCs, FQHCs) | $68,000–$92,000 |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Education Level
| Education Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Level (LCPC, LCSW — not psychologist) | $56,000–$78,000 |
| PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) | $88,000–$115,000 |
| PhD in Clinical Psychology | $95,000–$122,000 |
| PhD/PsyD + ABPP Board Certification | $118,000–$170,000+ |
How to Increase Your Clinical Psychologist Salary
Illinois pay is concentrated in the Chicago metro, with the strongest income upside coming from cash-pay private practice in the North Side, North Shore, and DuPage County, plus academic medical center positions at Northwestern, Rush, University of Chicago, and Loyola.
- Establish a cash-pay private practice on Chicago's North Side (Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Bucktown), the North Shore (Evanston, Wilmette, Highland Park), or DuPage County (Naperville, Hinsdale) where session rates run $175–$300.
- Pursue ABPP board certification, particularly in clinical neuropsychology — Chicago neuropsychologists at Northwestern, Rush, University of Chicago Medicine, or Lurie routinely earn $135,000–$190,000.
- Apply for staff psychologist positions at the major Chicago academic medical centers — Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, University of Chicago Medicine, Loyola, UIC, and Lurie Children's — which include faculty appointments and supervision opportunities.
- Take a federal position at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (downtown Chicago) or Edward Hines VA (Maywood). Federal GS-13/14 psychology positions include Chicago locality pay worth roughly 30% above base.
- Use Illinois's PSYPACT membership to expand telehealth across 40+ states. Many Chicago psychologists bill higher-cost-of-living markets while based in lower-cost suburbs.
- Take faculty appointments at the major Chicago-area psychology graduate programs — Adler University, Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Northwestern, Rush, U Chicago, UIC, Loyola, and DePaul. Adjunct teaching adds $5,000–$15,000 per course.
- Specialize in pediatric or adolescent psychology at Lurie Children's Hospital — pediatric psychology positions at one of the country's top children's hospitals provide strong subspecialty income and academic affiliations.
Related Pages
National Clinical Psychologist Salary Guide
National salary breakdown for clinical psychologists across all 50 states.
Psychologist Salary Umbrella
Compare clinical, counseling, neuropsychology, I-O, and forensic psychologist pay.
How to Become a Clinical Psychologist
Education, training, internship, and licensure steps for clinical psychology.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Embed This Data
Free to use on your website or blog. The widget stays up-to-date automatically.