School Psychologists
Also called: Area School Psychologist, Autism Consultant, Bilingual School Psychologist, Certified School Psychologist, Challenging Behavior Consultant, Child Psychologist, Child Psychometrist, Contract School Psychologist
Diagnose and implement individual or schoolwide interventions or strategies to address educational, behavioral, or developmental issues that adversely impact educational functioning in a school.
What school psychologists do
Typical tasks
- Report any pertinent information to the proper authorities in cases of child endangerment, neglect, or abuse.
- Interpret test results and prepare psychological reports for teachers, administrators, and parents.
- Maintain student records, including special education reports, confidential records, records of services provided, and behavioral data.
- Compile and interpret students' test results, along with information from teachers and parents, to diagnose conditions and to help assess eligibility for special services.
- Collaborate with other educational professionals to develop teaching strategies and school programs.
- Select, administer, and score psychological tests.
- Assess an individual child's needs, limitations, and potential, using observation, review of school records, and consultation with parents and school personnel.
- Collect and analyze data to evaluate the effectiveness of academic programs and other services, such as behavioral management systems.
- Initiate and direct efforts to foster tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of diversity in school communities.
- Promote an understanding of child development and its relationship to learning and behavior.
- Develop individualized educational plans in collaboration with teachers and other staff members.
- Provide consultation to parents, teachers, administrators, and others on topics such as learning styles and behavior modification techniques.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
School Psychologists salary
The median annual wage for school psychologists is $95,990 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $63,070 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $142,330. The mean annual wage is $99,160.
The mean hourly wage of $47.00 is 6.5× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for School Psychologists (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $95,990 → in 3 years $102,700 → in 5 years $107,400 → in 10 years $120,100 (10-year range $103,300–$139,500). The model assumes pay growth of +2.3% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for School Psychologists
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace School Psychologists? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for School Psychologists
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for School Psychologists
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 5 — extensive preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become school psychologists
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as school psychologists
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.