As is the case with most jobs, that of a forensic psychologist yields a salary based on education, experience, employer, and location. Here’s a detailed look into how much a forensic psychologist is capable of earning.
Forensic psychologists have the main duty of testing or evaluating individuals who are being prosecuted for offenses. A sound knowledge of the field along with that of the criminal justice system of the country is imperative to practice in this field. According to several surveys conducted regarding a career in forensic psychology, it has been found that the future prospects in terms of both, career growth and salary are quite impressive.
Salary
The salary depends largely on the educational qualifications, acquired skills, number of years of experience in the industry, and one’s location. Plus, those with master’s and doctorate degrees will definitely earn more in this profession.
• As per several job market surveys, the average salary of forensic psychologists is around US $78,000 per year (Source: Indeed).
• Those who are among the low earning group make around $57,000 per year (Source: PayScale).
• The highest paid lot is known to earn more than US $110,000 per year.
• The median salary of a forensic psychologist is around US $60,636 (Source:PayScale).
• Those working in the state or local governments can earn anything between $45,000 to $88,000 per year.
• As a forensic psychologist, you can also get a high-paying and prestigious job as a teacher in a reputed university.
• The salary range is higher for those working in large hospital chains or have their private practice.
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the federal government is the largest employer of forensic psychologists.
Given below is the salary data for forensic psychologists, based on their location in the United States of America.
| Alabama | $79,000 |
| Alaska | $57,000 |
| Arizona | $64,000 |
| Arkansas | $79,000 |
| California | $84,000 |
| Colorado | $69,000 |
| Connecticut | $90,000 |
| Delaware | $68,000 |
| Florida | $73,000 |
| Georgia | $89,000 |
| Hawaii | $48,000 |
| Idaho | $51,000 |
| Illinois | $89,000 |
| Indiana | $75,000 |
| Iowa | $77,000 |
| Kansas | $71,000 |
| Kentucky | $67,000 |
| Louisiana | $70,000 |
| Maine | $69,000 |
| Maryland | $80,000 |
| Massachusetts | $94,000 |
| Michigan | $79,000 |
| Minnesota | $68,000 |
| Mississippi | $82,000 |
| Missouri | $77,000 |
| Montana | $65,000 |
| Nebraska | $57,000 |
| Nevada | $59,000 |
| New Hampshire | $77,000 |
| New Jersey | $84,000 |
| New Mexico | $68,000 |
| New York | $94,000 |
| North Carolina | $74,000 |
| North Dakota | $69,000 |
| Ohio | $75,000 |
| Oklahoma | $72,000 |
| Oregon | $75,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,000 |
| Rhode Island | $71,000 |
| South Carolina | $77,000 |
| South Dakota | $59,000 |
| Tennessee | $72,000 |
| Texas | $76,000 |
| Utah | $61,000 |
| Vermont | $69,000 |
| Virginia | $79,000 |
| Washington | $81,000 |
| West Virginia | $74,000 |
| Wisconsin | $69,000 |
| Wyoming | $64,000 |
Jobs for forensic psychologists are expected to grow at a rate of 15% up to 2018. It definitely appears to be a lucrative field, and with the government being its biggest employer, there is a lot to achieve in terms of job satisfaction as well as remuneration.