Salary Report for Washington Forensic Psychologists

  • The number of Forensic Psychologists currently employed in Washington is 400.
  • Forensic Psychologists in Washington earn an average of $105,640 per year or $50.79 per hour.
  • The percentage of U.S. Forensic Psychologists who work in Washington is 3%.

Washington Rankings

  • Washington ranks #6 in the U.S. for Forensic Psychologists salary and #7 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Washington ranks #13 in the U.S. for the total number of Forensic Psychologists employed.

Compare Washington to U.S.

Washington Forensic Psychologists earn an average of $105,640 which is 7% more than the national average salary of $98,010.

TypeWashingtonU.S.% Difference
Average Hourly Wage$50.79$47.127.79%
Average Annual Salary$105,640$98,0107.78%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Washington, 50% of Forensic Psychologists earn between $96,200 and $124,490 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Forensic Psychologists earn more than $131,210, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Forensic Psychologists.

Approximately 10% of Forensic Psychologists earn under $56,730, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Forensic Psychologists.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year40Under $56,730
15%2 – 4 years60$56,730 – $96,200
25%5 – 9 years100$96,200 – $111,030
25%10 – 14 years100$111,030 – $124,490
15%15 – 20 years60$111,030 – $131,210
10%20+ years40Above $131,210
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 Washington psychologists earn about $98,398 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $98,010.

Cost-of-living in Washington is 7% higher than the national average, which means Washington residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

  • National average salary for Forensic Psychologists is $98,010.
  • Average Washington Forensic Psychologists salary is $105,640.
  • Adjusted for cost-of-living, Washington Forensic Psychologists earn an average salary of $98,398.

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 ($49,220), Substance Abuse Counselors ($56,500), Social Workers ($60,230), Health Care Social Workers ($71,800), Psychology Teachers ($74,460), School Psychologists ($95,780), and Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($103,190).

TitleAnnual Salary
Forensic Psychologists$105,640
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$103,190
School Psychologists$95,780
Psychology Teachers$74,460
Health Care Social Workers$71,800
Social Workers$60,230
Substance Abuse Counselors$56,500
Marriage and Family Therapists$49,220
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salaries Ranked by Washington Cities

The average salary for Forensic Psychologists in Washington is $105,640. The top cities that pay Forensic Psychologists the most is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ($106,180).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Forensic Psychologists the highest average annual salary is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ($94,846).

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
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$106,180$94,846$-11,334
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary FAQ for Washington Forensic Psychologists

Washington Forensic Psychologists earn between $56,730 and $131,210 a year depending on their level of education, experience and skill.

There are currently 400 Forensic Psychologists employed in Washington which is about 3% of the U.S. total.

Forensic Psychologists are the highest paid psychologists in Washington with an average annual wage of $105,640.

An entry level psychologist makes as much as $56,730 a year in Washington

The most Forensic Psychologists work in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area where 330 Forensic Psychologists are employed.

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Forensic Psychologists in Washington earn 98,398 per year, while the average across the United States earns $98,010.

By 0, Washington will need 0 Forensic Psychologists. A less than 5 Forensic Psychologists will need to enter into the Washington work forces each year.

City and Rural Summaries

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue

Average Forensic Psychologists Salary: $106,180
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $94,846
Hourly Wage: $51.05
Currently Employed: 330
Cost-of-Living Index: 111.95
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Salary Report

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