How much does a clinical and counseling psychologist make in San Diego?
Median yearly pay for clinical and counseling psychologists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $34.66 an hour or $6,008 a month.
- Hourly
- $34.66
- Vs. national median
- -28%
- Rank among cities
- 193 of 210
- Jobs in the area
- 1,650
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,990 | $24.03 | |
| 25th | $63,500 | $30.53 | |
| Median | $72,090 | $34.66 | |
| 75th | $164,100 | $78.88 | |
| 90th | $187,700 | $90.25 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for clinical and counseling psychologists.
| San Francisco, CA | $166,400 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $156,000 |
| Sacramento, CA | $153,100 |
| Vallejo, CA | $143,600 |
| Stockton, CA | $129,900 |
| Fresno, CA | $129,100 |
| Modesto, CA | $123,000 |
| Oxnard, CA | $117,000 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $116,600 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $116,600 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $112,900 |
| San Jose, CA | $102,700 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $102,100 |
| Visalia, CA | $99,580 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $99,250 |
| Salinas, CA | $98,430 |
| Riverside, CA | $92,730 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $156,500 |
| Psychologist | $148,800 |
| Physical Scientist | $132,400 |
| School Psychologist | $131,100 |
| Medical Scientist | $131,000 |
| Epidemiologist | $125,300 |
| Economist | $122,800 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $121,700 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $120,400 |
| Microbiologist | $108,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a clinical and counseling psychologist make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $34.66 ($72,090 a year).
Do clinical and counseling psychologists make more in San Diego than the national average?
No: $72,090 against $100,600 nationally, 28% less.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $116,000, so San Diego pays 38% less.
Where does San Diego rank for clinical and counseling psychologist pay?
193 of 210 metro areas with data.
How much does a clinical and counseling psychologist make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $49,990 or less a year; the top 10% make $187,700 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.