Clinical Psychologist Salary in Pennsylvania
Clinical psychologists in Pennsylvania earn a median salary of $90,180 per year, with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metros leading the state. Strong academic medical center demand drives top-quartile earnings. Explore detailed Pennsylvania salary data.
Key Takeaways
- Pennsylvania pays clinical psychologists a median of $90,180 per year (BLS, 2023).
- Pennsylvania employs 4,310 clinical and counseling psychologists, with concentrations in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the Lehigh Valley.
- Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington leads Pennsylvania metros with median pay of $98,400, while Erie, Scranton, and Williamsport sit between $77,000–$83,000.
- Pennsylvania is a PSYPACT member state, allowing telehealth practice across 40+ states.
- Top employers include Penn Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Jefferson Health, UPMC, the Philadelphia VA, the Pittsburgh VA, Geisinger, and dense Main Line and Pittsburgh suburban private practice networks.
Pennsylvania employs roughly 4,310 clinical and counseling psychologists, the ninth-largest workforce in the country. The state median salary of $90,180 sits 6% below the national median, but the Philadelphia metro and Pittsburgh metro both anchor strong academic medical center demand and competitive cash-pay private practice rates. Penn Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Jefferson Health, UPMC, and the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh VA medical centers represent the largest employer concentrations.
Licensure is administered by the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology. Pennsylvania is a PSYPACT member state.
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical and counseling psychologists in Pennsylvania earn a median annual wage of $90,180. The lowest 10% earn approximately $47,200, while the highest 10% earn over $158,500.
Pennsylvania splits into two distinct major-metro markets — Philadelphia and Pittsburgh — plus the Lehigh Valley, central PA (Hershey, Harrisburg), and northeast PA (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre). Penn Medicine and CHOP anchor Philadelphia academic medical center employment, while UPMC dominates Pittsburgh. Both metros also support strong cash-pay private practice in affluent suburbs (Main Line, Mt. Lebanon).
10th Percentile
$47,200
Median
$90,180
90th Percentile
$158,500
Clinical Psychologist Salary by State
| State | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $120,500 | 3,870 |
| New York | $107,220 | 12,340 |
| Massachusetts | $103,050 | 4,920 |
| Maryland | $99,410 | 2,780 |
| Connecticut | $98,160 | 2,110 |
| Illinois | $92,310 | 4,680 |
| Pennsylvania | $90,180 | 4,310 |
| Ohio | $87,200 | 3,540 |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Experience Level
| Experience Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Fellow | $45,000–$60,000 |
| Entry Level (0–2 years post-licensure) | $62,000–$76,000 |
| Early Career (3–5 years) | $78,000–$95,000 |
| Mid-Career (6–12 years) | $95,000–$120,000 |
| Senior (13+ years) | $120,000–$170,000+ |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Salary |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington (PA portion) | $98,400 |
| Pittsburgh | $92,800 |
| Allentown–Bethlehem–Easton (Lehigh Valley) | $92,200 |
| Harrisburg–Carlisle | $87,800 |
| Reading | $84,500 |
| Lancaster | $85,200 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre | $82,400 |
| Erie | $78,200 |
| Williamsport | $77,800 |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Employer Type
| Employer Type | Salary |
|---|---|
| Main Line / Mt. Lebanon Cash-Pay Private Practice | $120,000–$185,000 |
| Penn Medicine / CHOP / Jefferson Health | $108,000–$148,000 |
| UPMC (Pittsburgh) | $105,000–$142,000 |
| Philadelphia VA / Pittsburgh VA | $108,000–$152,000 |
| Geisinger Health (central PA) | $98,000–$132,000 |
| Independence Blue Cross / Highmark | $95,000–$128,000 |
| Group Practice (insurance + cash mix) | $80,000–$112,000 |
| Community Mental Health (CCBHCs, FQHCs) | $65,000–$88,000 |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Education Level
| Education Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Level (LPC, LCSW — not psychologist) | $54,000–$76,000 |
| PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) | $85,000–$112,000 |
| PhD in Clinical Psychology | $92,000–$120,000 |
| PhD/PsyD + ABPP Board Certification | $115,000–$165,000+ |
How to Increase Your Clinical Psychologist Salary
Pennsylvania splits between two strong major-metro markets (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) plus several smaller mid-state markets. Strategic moves to maximize Pennsylvania earnings center on academic medical center positions at Penn Medicine, CHOP, Jefferson, or UPMC, plus cash-pay private practice in the Main Line, Center City Philadelphia, or affluent Pittsburgh suburbs.
- Establish a cash-pay private practice on the Main Line (Bryn Mawr, Wayne, Devon, Villanova), Center City Philadelphia, or Pittsburgh's affluent neighborhoods (Mt. Lebanon, Sewickley, Squirrel Hill) where session rates run $175–$300.
- Pursue ABPP board certification, particularly in clinical neuropsychology — Philadelphia and Pittsburgh neuropsychologists at Penn Medicine, CHOP, Jefferson, UPMC, or in private practice routinely earn $130,000–$180,000.
- Apply for staff psychologist positions at Penn Medicine (HUP, Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP — one of the country's top pediatric hospitals), Jefferson Health, or UPMC — all offer faculty appointments and supervision opportunities.
- Take a federal position at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center (Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA), the Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System, or the Coatesville VA. Federal GS-13/14 psychology positions include Philadelphia or Pittsburgh locality pay and federal benefits.
- Use Pennsylvania's PSYPACT membership to expand telehealth across 40+ states. Many PA psychologists bill higher-cost-of-living markets while based in lower-cost central PA or Lehigh Valley.
- Take faculty appointments at Drexel, Temple, La Salle, Widener, Chestnut Hill, Penn, Jefferson, or Carlow (Pittsburgh) psychology graduate programs. Adjunct teaching plus clinical practice and supervision can substantially boost total income.
- Specialize in pediatric psychology at CHOP — pediatric psychology and pediatric neuropsychology positions at one of the country's top children's hospitals provide subspecialty income and academic affiliations with Penn Medicine.
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.