Clinical Psychologist Salary in Washington
Clinical psychologists in Washington earn a median salary of $106,370 per year — 11% above the national median. With no state income tax, WA delivers strong take-home pay. Explore detailed salary data by metro and employer.
Key Takeaways
- Washington pays clinical psychologists a median of $106,370 per year (BLS, 2023).
- Washington employs 3,680 clinical and counseling psychologists, mostly concentrated in the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metro.
- Seattle leads Washington metros with median pay of $112,400, while Spokane and Tri-Cities sit closer to $90,000.
- Washington has no state income tax, boosting take-home pay 5–10% versus comparable salaries in CA, NY, or NJ.
- Washington is a PSYPACT member state, allowing telehealth practice across 40+ states.
- Top employers include UW Medicine, Seattle Children's, Kaiser Permanente Washington, the VA Puget Sound, Swedish, MultiCare, and Madigan Army Medical Center.
Washington State employs roughly 3,680 clinical and counseling psychologists, with the vast majority concentrated in the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metro. The state median salary of $106,370 sits roughly 11% above the national median, and Washington combines this premium with no state income tax, making it one of the most tax-efficient psychology markets in the country.
Licensure is administered by the Washington State Examining Board of Psychology within the Washington Department of Health. Washington is a PSYPACT member state. Major employers include UW Medicine, Seattle Children's, the Seattle VA, Group Health/Kaiser Permanente Washington, and the dense tech-industry private practice market driven by Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing employee healthcare benefits.
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical and counseling psychologists in Washington earn a median annual wage of $106,370. The lowest 10% earn approximately $54,500, while the highest 10% earn over $178,000.
Washington combines an above-national-median salary with no state income tax, which substantially improves take-home pay. The Seattle metro absorbs roughly 75% of Washington psychology employment, with strong demand from UW Medicine, Seattle Children's, Kaiser Permanente, the Seattle VA Puget Sound, and tech-industry employee assistance programs at Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta.
10th Percentile
$54,500
Median
$106,370
90th Percentile
$178,000
Clinical Psychologist Salary by State
| State | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $120,500 | 3,870 |
| California | $117,890 | 16,420 |
| Oregon | $112,210 | 2,150 |
| New York | $107,220 | 12,340 |
| Washington | $106,370 | 3,680 |
| Massachusetts | $103,050 | 4,920 |
| Colorado | $94,720 | 2,890 |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Experience Level
| Experience Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Fellow | $48,000–$66,000 |
| Entry Level (0–2 years post-licensure) | $70,000–$85,000 |
| Early Career (3–5 years) | $88,000–$105,000 |
| Mid-Career (6–12 years) | $108,000–$135,000 |
| Senior (13+ years) | $135,000–$195,000+ |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Salary |
|---|---|
| Seattle–Bellevue–Kent | $112,400 |
| Tacoma–Lakewood | $102,800 |
| Bremerton–Silverdale–Port Orchard | $98,400 |
| Olympia–Tumwater | $95,700 |
| Bellingham | $94,800 |
| Spokane–Spokane Valley | $91,200 |
| Kennewick–Richland (Tri-Cities) | $89,400 |
| Yakima | $87,200 |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Employer Type
| Employer Type | Salary |
|---|---|
| Seattle Cash-Pay Private Practice | $135,000–$200,000 |
| UW Medicine / Seattle Children's / Fred Hutch | $115,000–$155,000 |
| Kaiser Permanente Washington | $125,000–$162,000 |
| VA Puget Sound (Seattle, American Lake) | $118,000–$162,000 |
| Madigan Army Medical Center (DoD) | $110,000–$148,000 |
| Swedish / MultiCare / Providence | $105,000–$140,000 |
| Group Practice (insurance + cash mix) | $92,000–$128,000 |
| Community Mental Health (CCBHCs, FQHCs) | $78,000–$98,000 |
Clinical Psychologist Salary by Education Level
| Education Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Level (LMFT, LMHC, LICSW — not psychologist) | $60,000–$82,000 |
| PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) | $98,000–$125,000 |
| PhD in Clinical Psychology | $108,000–$132,000 |
| PhD/PsyD + ABPP Board Certification | $130,000–$185,000+ |
How to Increase Your Clinical Psychologist Salary
Washington combines top-five-state psychology pay with no state income tax — a particularly favorable combination for high-earning clinicians. Strategic moves to maximize Washington earnings center on Seattle metro practice, leveraging tech-industry healthcare benefits, and the unusually competitive Kaiser Permanente Washington pay scale.
- Establish a cash-pay private practice in Seattle, Bellevue, or Mercer Island where session rates run $200–$350. Tech-industry healthcare benefits at Microsoft, Amazon, Google Seattle, and Meta drive strong demand for out-of-network providers.
- Apply to Kaiser Permanente Washington staff psychologist positions, which offer salaries of $125,000–$162,000 with full pension, healthcare, and integrated practice. KP Washington also offers strong continuing education benefits.
- Pursue ABPP board certification, particularly in clinical neuropsychology — Seattle neuropsychologists at UW Medicine, Seattle Children's, Swedish, or in private practice routinely earn $140,000–$200,000.
- Take a federal position at the VA Puget Sound (Seattle, American Lake) or Madigan Army Medical Center (Joint Base Lewis-McChord). Federal GS-13/14 psychology positions include Seattle locality pay worth roughly 30% above base, plus federal benefits.
- Use Washington's PSYPACT membership to expand telehealth across 40+ states. Many Washington psychologists bill higher-cost-of-living markets (NYC, Bay Area, Boston) via PSYPACT while based in Washington.
- Take faculty appointments at UW (Seattle), Pacific Lutheran (Tacoma), Antioch University Seattle, or Seattle Pacific University, which can be combined with clinical practice and supervision income.
- Specialize in adolescent or pediatric psychology at Seattle Children's — pediatric psychology and pediatric neuropsychology positions at Seattle Children's are some of the highest-paying pediatric psychology roles in the country.
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.