Forensic Psychologist Salary

Forensic psychologists have the main duty of testing or evaluating individuals who are being prosecuted for offenses. A sound knowledge of the field along with that of the criminal justice system of the country is imperative to practice in this field. According to several surveys conducted regarding a career in forensic psychology, it has been found that the future prospects in terms of both, career growth and salary are quite impressive.

Salary


The salary depends largely on the educational qualifications, acquired skills, number of years of experience in the industry, and one’s location. Plus, those with master’s and doctorate degrees will definitely earn more in this profession.

• As per several job market surveys, the average salary of forensic psychologists is around US $60,000 per year.


• Those who are among the low earning group make around US $40,000 per year.


• The highest paid lot is known to earn more than US $110,000 per year.


• The median salary of a forensic psychologist is around US $55,000 – US $75,000 per year.


• Those working in the state or local governments can earn anything between $45,000 to $88,000 per year.


• As a forensic psychologist, you can also get a high paying and prestigious job as a teacher in a reputed university.


• The salary range is higher for those working in large hospital chains or have their private practice.


• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the federal government is the largest employer of forensic psychologists.

Given below is the salary data for forensic psychologists, based on their location in the United States of America.

Alabama

$82,000

Alaska

$69,000

Arizona

$72,000

Arkansas

$80,000

California

$89,000

Colorado

$71,000

Connecticut

$87,000

Delaware

$76,000

Florida

$77,000

Georgia

$87,000

Hawaii

$59,000

Idaho

$71,000

Illinois

$85,000

Indiana

$82,000

Iowa

$74,000

Kansas

$72,000

Kentucky

$72,000

Louisiana

$65,000

Maine

$75,000

Maryland

$82,000

Massachusetts

$93,000

Michigan

$77,000

Minnesota

$74,000

Mississippi

$95,000

Missouri

$80,000

Montana

$82,000

Nebraska

$66,000

Nevada

$77,000

New Hampshire

$81,000

New Jersey

$85,000

New Mexico

$72,000

New York

$95,000

North Carolina

$79,000

North Dakota

$76,000

Ohio

$76,000

Oklahoma

$73,000

Oregon

$75,000

Pennsylvania

$69,000

Rhode Island

$82,000

South Carolina

$71,000

South Dakota

$64,000

Tennessee

$76,000

Texas

$75,000

Utah

$74,000

Vermont

$79,000

Virginia

$82,000

Washington

$76,000

West Virginia

$80,000

Wisconsin

$69,000

Wyoming

$80,000

*The above figures are as per Indeed as of September 2012.


Jobs for forensic psychologists are expected to grow at a rate of 15% up to 2018. It definitely appears to be a lucrative field, and with the government being its biggest employer, there is a lot to achieve in terms of job satisfaction as well as remuneration.

Forensic Psychologist Salary