2023 Salary Report for Forensic Psychologists in California

Salary Report for California Forensic Psychologists

California Rankings

Compare California to U.S.

California Forensic Psychologists earn an average of $112,210 which is 14% more than the national average salary of $98,010.

Type	California	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$53.95	$47.12	14.49%
Average Annual Salary	$112,210	$98,010	14.49%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In California, 50% of Forensic Psychologists earn between $88,480 and $136,780 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Forensic Psychologists earn more than $165,060, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Forensic Psychologists.

Approximately 10% of Forensic Psychologists earn under $52,520, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Forensic Psychologists.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	150	Under $52,520
15%	2 – 4 years	225	$52,520 – $88,480
25%	5 – 9 years	375	$88,480 – $116,490
25%	10 – 14 years	375	$116,490 – $136,780
15%	15 – 20 years	225	$116,490 – $165,060
10%	20+ years	150	Above $165,060

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Forensic Psychologists in California psychologists earn about $101,658 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $98,010.

Cost-of-living in California is 10% higher than the national average, which means California residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $112,210, California Forensic Psychologists tend to earn less than Industrial Organizational Psychologists ($123,090), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($122,790), and Psychology Teachers ($114,950).

However, Forensic Psychologists tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($59,320), Substance Abuse Counselors ($59,790), Social Workers ($64,940), Health Care Social Workers ($84,690), and School Psychologists ($96,530).

Title	Annual Salary
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	$123,090
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$122,790
Psychology Teachers	$114,950
Forensic Psychologists	$112,210
School Psychologists	$96,530
Health Care Social Workers	$84,690
Social Workers	$64,940
Substance Abuse Counselors	$59,790
Marriage and Family Therapists	$59,320

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in California the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (51,800), Substance Abuse Counselors (43,500) and Marriage and Family Therapists (32,700).

The three professions in California needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (17.3%), Health Care Social Workers (12.2%) and Marriage and Family Therapists (10.5%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	47,200	51,800	9.7%	4,970
Substance Abuse Counselors	37,100	43,500	17.3%	4,330
Marriage and Family Therapists	29,600	32,700	10.5%	3,170
Health Care Social Workers	13,100	14,700	12.2%	1,440
Forensic Psychologists	5,500	5,500	0%	360
Psychology Teachers	3,900	4,200	7.7%	410
Industrial Organizational Psychologists	1,800	1,900	5.6%	120

Salaries Ranked by California Cities

The average salary for Forensic Psychologists in California is $112,210. The top cities that pay Forensic Psychologists the most are Fresno ($90,600), Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade ($128,960) and San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward ($126,520).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Forensic Psychologists the highest average annual salary are San Diego-Carlsbad ($93,139), Fresno ($90,745) and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($89,458).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Forensic Psychologists in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.

The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Forensic Psychologists salary will have in that area.

Area	Average Salary	COL Adjusted	Difference
Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade	$128,960	$121,546	$-7,414
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward	$126,520	$107,796	$-18,724
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	$112,390	$100,447	$-11,943
San Diego-Carlsbad	$105,610	$93,139	$-12,471
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	$104,710	$100,964	$-3,746
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara	$100,300	$89,458	$-10,842
Fresno	$90,600	$90,745	$145

Salary FAQ for California Forensic Psychologists

City and Rural Summaries

Official Data Sources for Forensic Psychologists: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data