Salary Report for California Industrial Organizational Psychologists

  • The number of Industrial Organizational Psychologists currently employed in California is 270.
  • Industrial Organizational Psychologists in California earn an average of $123,090 per year or $59.18 per hour.
  • The percentage of U.S. Industrial Organizational Psychologists who work in California is 44%.
  • California will need 1,900 new Industrial Organizational Psychologists by 2030 or 120 new psychologists per year.

California Rankings

  • California ranks #1 in the U.S. for Industrial Organizational Psychologists salary and #4 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • California ranks #1 in the U.S. for the total number of Industrial Organizational Psychologists employed.
  • California ranks #1 in U.S. for the number of new Industrial Organizational Psychologists needed by 2030.
  • California ranks #6 in U.S. for the percentage of new Industrial Organizational Psychologists needed by 2030.

Compare California to U.S.

California Industrial Organizational Psychologists earn an average of $123,090 which is 8% more than the national average salary of $113,320.

TypeCaliforniaU.S.% Difference
Average Hourly Wage$59.18$54.488.63%
Average Annual Salary$123,090$113,3208.62%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In California, 50% of Industrial Organizational Psychologists earn between $96,140 and $136,300 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Industrial Organizational Psychologists earn more than $168,550, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Industrial Organizational Psychologists.

Approximately 10% of Industrial Organizational Psychologists earn under $79,380, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Industrial Organizational Psychologists.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year27Under $79,380
15%2 – 4 years40$79,380 – $96,140
25%5 – 9 years68$96,140 – $117,980
25%10 – 14 years68$117,980 – $136,300
15%15 – 20 years40$117,980 – $168,550
10%20+ years27Above $168,550
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, Industrial Organizational Psychologists in California psychologists earn about $111,515 per year which is more than the average U.S. psychologist of $113,320.

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.

  • National average salary for Industrial Organizational Psychologists is $113,320.
  • Average California Industrial Organizational Psychologists salary is $123,090.
  • Adjusted for cost-of-living, California Industrial Organizational Psychologists earn an average salary of $111,515.

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

Salary Compared to Related Professions

Industrial Organizational 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), School Psychologists ($96,530), Forensic Psychologists ($112,210), Psychology Teachers ($114,950), and Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($122,790).

TitleAnnual 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
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 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%).

Title20202030ChangeYearly Openings
Social Workers47,20051,8009.7%4,970
Substance Abuse Counselors37,10043,50017.3%4,330
Marriage and Family Therapists29,60032,70010.5%3,170
Health Care Social Workers13,10014,70012.2%1,440
Forensic Psychologists5,5005,5000%360
Psychology Teachers3,9004,2007.7%410
Industrial Organizational Psychologists1,8001,9005.6%120
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, 2022*

Salaries Ranked by California Cities

The average salary for Industrial Organizational Psychologists in California is $123,090. The top cities that pay Industrial Organizational Psychologists the most is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim ($136,940).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Industrial Organizational Psychologists the highest average annual salary is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim ($122,388).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Industrial Organizational 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 Industrial Organizational Psychologists salary will have in that area.

AreaAverage SalaryCOL AdjustedDifference
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$136,940$122,388$-14,552
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary FAQ for California Industrial Organizational Psychologists

California Industrial Organizational Psychologists earn between $79,380 and $168,550 a year depending on their level of education, experience and skill.

There are currently 270 Industrial Organizational Psychologists employed in California which is about 44% of the U.S. total.

Industrial Organizational Psychologists are the highest paid psychologists in California with an average annual wage of $123,090.

An entry level psychologist makes as much as $79,380 a year in California

The most Industrial Organizational Psychologists work in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area where 70 Industrial Organizational Psychologists are employed.

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Industrial Organizational Psychologists in California earn 111,515 per year, while the average across the United States earns $113,320.

By 2030, California will need 1,900 Industrial Organizational Psychologists. A total of 120 Industrial Organizational Psychologists will need to enter into the California work forces each year.

City and Rural Summaries

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim

Average Industrial Organizational Psychologists Salary: $136,940
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $122,388
Hourly Wage: $65.84
Currently Employed: 70
Cost-of-Living Index: 111.89
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Salary Report

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