How much does a psychologist make in San Diego?
$148,800a year
Median yearly pay for psychologists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $71.55 an hour or $12,400 a month.
- Hourly
- $71.55
- Vs. national median
- +34%
- Rank among cities
- 10 of 82
- Jobs in the area
- 250
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $59,650Median: $148,800Highest 10%: $182,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,650 | $28.68 | |
| 25th | $98,870 | $47.53 | |
| Median | $148,800 | $71.55 | |
| 75th | $163,200 | $78.48 | |
| 90th | $182,400 | $87.71 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for psychologists.
| San Jose, CA | $175,200 |
| San Francisco, CA | $168,000 |
| Sacramento, CA | $166,500 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $153,600 |
| Riverside, CA | $148,500 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $156,500 |
| 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 |
| Biological Scientist | $108,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a psychologist make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $71.55 ($148,800 a year).
Do psychologists make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $148,800 against $110,800 nationally, 34% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $157,500, so San Diego pays 6% less.
Where does San Diego rank for psychologist pay?
10 of 82 metro areas with data.
How much does a psychologist make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $59,650 or less a year; the top 10% make $182,400 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.