Clinical Psychologist Salary in Massachusetts
Clinical psychologists in Massachusetts earn a median salary of $115,180 per year. Boston anchors the state with the country's densest academic medical center network. Explore detailed Massachusetts salary data.
Key Takeaways
- Massachusetts pays clinical psychologists a median of $115,180 per year (BLS, 2025).
- Massachusetts employs 2,860 clinical and counseling psychologists, the seventh-largest workforce in the country.
- Boston, Cambridge, and Newton anchor Massachusetts psychology employment and its academic medical center network, while Springfield and Worcester metros sit lower.
- Massachusetts is a PSYPACT member state, allowing telehealth practice across 40+ states.
- Top employers include Mass General Brigham, Boston Children's, Beth Israel Deaconess, Tufts Medical, Boston Medical Center, McLean Hospital, the VA Boston, and Harvard Medical School-affiliated faculty positions.
Massachusetts employs roughly 2,860 clinical and counseling psychologists, the seventh-largest workforce in the country. The state median salary of $115,180 sits about 15% above the national median, anchored by the dense Boston–Cambridge–Newton metro and its concentration of academic medical centers (Mass General Brigham, Boston Children's, Beth Israel Deaconess, Tufts Medical Center, Boston Medical Center).
Licensure is administered by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Psychologists. Massachusetts is a PSYPACT member state. The state's extremely dense academic and research footprint (Harvard Medical School, MIT, Boston University, Tufts, Northeastern, Boston College) creates a strong faculty and research psychology market in addition to clinical employment.
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical and counseling psychologists in Massachusetts earn a median annual wage of $115,180. The lowest 10% earn approximately $60,250, while the highest 10% earn over $216,570.
Massachusetts's salary structure reflects two distinct markets: the Boston-area academic medical center system (which pays at or above national averages, with strong research funding) and a robust cash-pay private practice market in Cambridge, Newton, Brookline, and the wealthy western suburbs. McLean Hospital alone is one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in the country and a major employer of clinical psychologists, neuropsychologists, and research faculty.
10th Percentile
$60,250
Median
$115,180
90th Percentile
$216,570
Clinical Psychologist Salary by State
| State | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $134,350 | 540 |
| New Jersey | $127,090 | 2,700 |
| California | $116,000 | 12,840 |
| Washington | $115,240 | 1,270 |
| Massachusetts | $115,180 | 2,860 |
| New York | $114,400 | 8,420 |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Experience Level
| Experience Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Fellow | $48,000–$65,000 |
| Entry Level (0–2 years post-licensure) | $70,000–$85,000 |
| Early Career (3–5 years) | $88,000–$108,000 |
| Mid-Career (6–12 years) | $110,000–$140,000 |
| Senior (13+ years) | $140,000–$200,000+ |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Salary |
|---|---|
| Boston–Cambridge–Newton | $108,400 |
| Worcester | $94,800 |
| Springfield | $89,200 |
| Pittsfield | $87,400 |
| Barnstable Town (Cape Cod) | $92,500 |
| Framingham–Marlborough (MetroWest) | $104,200 |
| Lowell–Lawrence (Merrimack Valley) | $96,800 |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Employer Type
| Employer Type | Salary |
|---|---|
| Boston Cash-Pay Private Practice | $135,000–$210,000 |
| Mass General Brigham (MGH, Brigham, McLean) | $118,000–$162,000 |
| Boston Children's / Beth Israel / Tufts Medical | $112,000–$155,000 |
| VA Boston Healthcare System | $118,000–$162,000 |
| McLean Hospital (specialty) | $115,000–$158,000 |
| Boston Medical Center / BMC HealthNet | $105,000–$140,000 |
| Group Practice (insurance + cash mix) | $92,000–$128,000 |
| Community Mental Health (DMH, FQHCs) | $72,000–$98,000 |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Education Level
| Education Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Level (LMHC, LCSW — not psychologist) | $58,000–$80,000 |
| PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) | $95,000–$122,000 |
| PhD in Clinical Psychology | $105,000–$132,000 |
| PhD/PsyD + ABPP Board Certification | $130,000–$190,000+ |
How to Increase Your Clinical Psychologist Salary
Massachusetts offers the densest academic medical center and research psychology footprint in the country, plus a strong Boston-area cash-pay market. Strategic moves to maximize Massachusetts earnings center on Boston metro practice, Mass General Brigham faculty positions, and leveraging the unique research-clinical hybrid roles available at Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.
- Establish a cash-pay private practice in Boston, Cambridge, Newton, or Brookline where session rates run $200–$350. Established psychologists in high-demand niches (OCD, eating disorders, perinatal, executive coaching) charge $300–$425.
- Pursue ABPP board certification, particularly in clinical neuropsychology — Boston neuropsychologists at Mass General, Spaulding Rehabilitation, McLean, or Boston Children's routinely earn $145,000–$210,000.
- Apply for staff psychologist positions at Mass General Brigham (MGH, Brigham and Women's, McLean Hospital, Spaulding) — these roles include Harvard Medical School faculty appointments, research opportunities, and salary scales above community-mental-health pay.
- Take a position at McLean Hospital, the largest private psychiatric hospital in the country and a Harvard Medical School affiliate. McLean specialty programs (OCD Institute, eating disorders, addiction, mood disorders) pay above community psychology rates.
- Use Massachusetts's PSYPACT membership to expand telehealth across 40+ states. Many Boston psychologists bill higher-cost-of-living markets while based in Massachusetts.
- Apply to VA Boston Healthcare System positions — federal GS-13/14 psychology roles include Boston locality pay worth roughly 33% above base, plus federal benefits and pension.
- Take faculty appointments at Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals, Boston University, Tufts, Northeastern, or Boston College — research-clinical hybrid positions can combine clinical income with academic salary and grant funding.
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.
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