Salary Report for Iowa Forensic Psychologists

  • The number of Forensic Psychologists currently employed in Iowa is 90.
  • Forensic Psychologists in Iowa earn an average of $106,200 per year or $51.06 per hour.
  • The percentage of U.S. Forensic Psychologists who work in Iowa is 1%.
  • Iowa will need 110 new Forensic Psychologists by 2030 or 10 new psychologists per year.

Iowa Rankings

  • Iowa ranks #5 in the U.S. for Forensic Psychologists salary and #46 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Iowa ranks #37 in the U.S. for the total number of Forensic Psychologists employed.
  • Iowa ranks #42 in U.S. for the number of new Forensic Psychologists needed by 2030.
  • Iowa ranks #38 in U.S. for the percentage of new Forensic Psychologists needed by 2030.

Compare Iowa to U.S.

Iowa Forensic Psychologists earn an average of $106,200 which is 8% more than the national average salary of $98,010.

TypeIowaU.S.% Difference
Average Hourly Wage$51.06$47.128.36%
Average Annual Salary$106,200$98,0108.36%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Iowa, 50% of Forensic Psychologists earn between $98,280 and $124,310 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Forensic Psychologists earn more than $129,040, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Forensic Psychologists.

Approximately 10% of Forensic Psychologists earn under $62,350, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Forensic Psychologists.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year9Under $62,350
15%2 – 4 years14$62,350 – $98,280
25%5 – 9 years22$98,280 – $113,630
25%10 – 14 years22$113,630 – $124,310
15%15 – 20 years14$113,630 – $129,040
10%20+ years9Above $129,040
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Forensic Psychologists in Iowa psychologists earn about $116,639 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $98,010.

Cost-of-living in Iowa is 9% less than the national average, which means Iowa residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

  • National average salary for Forensic Psychologists is $98,010.
  • Average Iowa Forensic Psychologists salary is $106,200.
  • Adjusted for cost-of-living, Iowa Forensic Psychologists earn an average salary of $116,639.

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

Salary Compared to Related Professions

Forensic Psychologists tend to earn more than Marriage and Family Therapists ($49,920), Social Workers ($50,380), Substance Abuse Counselors ($51,570), Health Care Social Workers ($57,840), School Psychologists ($67,710), Psychology Teachers ($90,930), and Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($103,070).

TitleAnnual Salary
Forensic Psychologists$106,200
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$103,070
Psychology Teachers$90,930
School Psychologists$67,710
Health Care Social Workers$57,840
Substance Abuse Counselors$51,570
Social Workers$50,380
Marriage and Family Therapists$49,920
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Iowa the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (4,160), Social Workers (3,620) and Health Care Social Workers (1,430).

The three professions in Iowa needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (30.8%), Marriage and Family Therapists (22.4%) and Social Workers (13.5%).

Title20202030ChangeYearly Openings
Social Workers3,1903,62013.5%350
Substance Abuse Counselors3,1804,16030.8%430
Health Care Social Workers1,2601,43013.5%140
Marriage and Family Therapists67082022.4%80
Psychology Teachers40045012.5%40
Forensic Psychologists1101100%10
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, 2022*

Salaries Ranked by Iowa Cities

The average salary for Forensic Psychologists in Iowa is $106,200. The top cities that pay Forensic Psychologists the most is Iowa City ($105,090).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Forensic Psychologists the highest average annual salary is Iowa City ($110,238).

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.

AreaAverage SalaryCOL AdjustedDifference
Iowa City$105,090$110,238$5,148
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary FAQ for Iowa Forensic Psychologists

Iowa Forensic Psychologists earn between $62,350 and $129,040 a year depending on their level of education, experience and skill.

There are currently 90 Forensic Psychologists employed in Iowa which is about 1% of the U.S. total.

Forensic Psychologists are the highest paid psychologists in Iowa with an average annual wage of $106,200.

An entry level psychologist makes as much as $62,350 a year in Iowa

The most Forensic Psychologists work in the Iowa City area where 50 Forensic Psychologists are employed.

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Forensic Psychologists in Iowa earn 116,639 per year, while the average across the United States earns $98,010.

By 2030, Iowa will need 110 Forensic Psychologists. A total of 10 Forensic Psychologists will need to enter into the Iowa work forces each year.

City and Rural Summaries

Iowa City

Average Forensic Psychologists Salary: $105,090
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $110,238
Hourly Wage: $50.52
Currently Employed: 50
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.33
Iowa City Salary Report

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