Criminal Psychologist Salary
Criminal psychologists earn a national median of $110,840 under the BLS "Psychologists, All Other" category. Here's the full picture by state, experience, employer, and education.
Key Takeaways
- Criminal psychologists fall under the BLS "Psychologists, All Other" category, with a median of $110,840 and the top 10% earning over $168,520 (BLS, May 2025).
- Early-career criminal psychologists in corrections and government roles typically start at $55,000 to $75,000 before experience and licensure raise that.
- Federal positions (Bureau of Prisons, FBI, VA) and private forensic consulting pay the most in this field.
- Board certification through the ABPP adds an estimated 20 to 30% to earnings, especially for expert-witness work.
- Psychologist employment is projected to grow 6% through 2034, and criminal justice reform is expanding the role of criminal and forensic evaluation.
Criminal psychologists apply psychology to crime and the justice system, assessing offenders, evaluating risk, and supporting courts, corrections, and law enforcement. Because the work overlaps so heavily with forensic psychology, the two are often the same job under different titles.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't track criminal psychologists separately. It groups them under "Psychologists, All Other" (SOC 19-3039), alongside forensic and other specialized psychologists. Setting, experience, and board certification through the American Board of Professional Psychology move pay more than anything else.
How Much Do Criminal Psychologists Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, psychologists in the "All Other" category (which includes criminal psychologists) earn a median of $110,840. The lowest 10% earn about $54,990, while the top 10% earn over $168,520. This broad category employs roughly 18,820 psychologists nationwide.
Those figures hide a lot of spread. A criminal psychologist in a state corrections job earns very differently from one running a private forensic evaluation practice with expert-witness work, which routinely pushes total income well above the BLS median.
10th Percentile
$54,990
Median
$110,840
90th Percentile
$168,520
Criminal Psychologist Salary by State
| State | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $157,540 | 1,600 |
| Virginia | $140,640 | 510 |
| Florida | $134,690 | 910 |
| New Jersey | $132,220 | 370 |
| Ohio | $132,060 | 410 |
| Massachusetts | $129,410 | 500 |
| New York | $128,320 | 680 |
| Washington | $128,230 | 370 |
| North Carolina | $126,440 | 570 |
| District of Columbia | $125,110 | 230 |
| Connecticut | $125,020 | 210 |
| Colorado | $120,660 | 380 |
| Maryland | $109,970 | 840 |
| Pennsylvania | $95,650 | 780 |
| Illinois | $69,810 | 1,120 |
Criminal Psychologist Salary by Experience Level
| Experience Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Fellow | $48,000–$65,000 |
| Entry Level (0–2 years) | $55,000–$75,000 |
| Early Career (3–5 years) | $78,000–$100,000 |
| Mid-Career (6–12 years) | $100,000–$130,000 |
| Senior (13+ years) | $130,000–$170,000+ |
| Senior + Expert Witness Practice | $180,000–$300,000+ |
Criminal Psychologist Salary by Employer Type
| Employer Type | Salary |
|---|---|
| Private Forensic Consulting | $120,000–$200,000+ |
| Federal Government (BOP, FBI, VA) | $100,000–$140,000 |
| State Correctional Systems | $80,000–$115,000 |
| Forensic Hospitals & Evaluation Units | $85,000–$120,000 |
| Police & Public Safety Psychology | $95,000–$130,000 |
| Courts & Court-Appointed Evaluation | $90,000–$135,000 |
| Academia & Research | $75,000–$120,000 |
Criminal Psychologist Salary by Education Level
| Education Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree (related roles only) | $50,000–$70,000 |
| PsyD in Clinical/Forensic Psychology | $90,000–$120,000 |
| PhD in Clinical/Forensic Psychology | $100,000–$140,000 |
| PhD/PsyD + ABPP Board Certification | $120,000–$175,000+ |
How to Increase Your Criminal Psychologist Salary
Criminal psychologists raise their income the same way forensic psychologists do, by building court-recognized expertise and adding consulting work on top of a salary. The American Psychology-Law Society notes that the practitioners with the strongest reputations in legal circles see the biggest gains.
- Earn ABPP board certification, the credential courts and attorneys look for, which commands premium consulting rates.
- Build an expert-witness practice alongside a salaried role. Criminal psychologists can bill $250 to $500+ per hour for evaluations and testimony.
- Specialize in high-demand areas like violence risk assessment, competency evaluation, or sex-offender risk, where qualified experts are scarce.
- Target federal roles (BOP, FBI, VA) that pair higher base pay with strong benefits and loan repayment.
- Develop a niche in offender treatment program design, which corrections systems increasingly fund to reduce reoffending.
- Publish and present on criminal behavior and risk to build the credibility that translates into higher consulting fees.
Related Pages
How to Become a Criminal Psychologist
Education, training, and licensure steps to enter criminal psychology.
Forensic Psychologist Salary
Compare criminal psychologist pay with the closely related forensic specialty.
Best Online PsyD Programs
Doctoral programs that can lead to a career in criminal or forensic psychology.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
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