Forensic psychologists employed in the United States generally report earning salaries in the range from $33,557 to $122,920 a year including bonuses and contributions from profit sharing according to the salary information provided by Payscale. Professionals specializing in forensic psychology report earning $1,250 a year on average from profit sharing.
Professionals with the certification of Licensed Psychologist earn an annual income in the range from $34,335 to $108,027. Psychologists specializing in forensic psychology make between $36,943 and $97,436 a year, and those specializing in clinical psychology are paid between $50,367 and $106,523 a year.
Forensic psychologists employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) typically earn an annual pay in the range from $39,850 to $88,466 according to Payscale’s salary data.
Based on the salary data reported by Forensic Psychology Online, forensic psychologists with more than 10 years of professional experience can expect to earn around $70,000 annually, and those with even more work experience in the field can earn up to $110,000 a year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a good job outlook for this occupation, estimating employment in the field of forensics to grow by 15% through 2016.
Average salary
The average salary for forensic psychologists working in the United States is $62,202 a year according to Payscale, $52,000 a year according to the salary statistics provided by ForensicPsychologyOnline.com, and $85,000 a year according to the data reported by Indeed.
Starting salary
The average starting salary for forensic psychologists in their first year on the job is typically in the range from $34,437 to $95,000 a year according to the salary data reported by Payscale. These professionals report getting $750 a year on average in bonuses.
Salary range
Forensic psychologists’ annual pay can vary depending on a wide range of factors. Work experience is one of the major ones. Forensic psychologists with 1 to 4 years of experience generally earn salaries in the range from $29,187 to $79,463 a year, and those with 5 to 9 years of professional experience under their belt are usually paid between $45,000 and $112,143 annually.
Forensic psychologists with 10 to 19 years of experience typically earn an annual income in the range from $30,639 to $171,275, and professionals with 20 or more years of work experience generally report earning an annual pay in the range from $62,136 to $105,000 according to Payscale’s salary data.
Women generally earn salaries in the range from $29,900 to $93,307 a year, and men are typically paid between $38,391 and $123,639 annually.
Academic degree is one of the factors that can affect a forensic psychologist’s annual salary. Professionals with a Doctorate (PhD) generally earn salaries in the range from $40,647 to $117,413 a year, and those with a bachelor’s degree are typically paid between $21,975 and $63,871 annually. Professionals with a PhD in Psychology generally report earning salaries in the range from $58,958 to $84,924 a year.
Forensic psychologists with the degree of Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Forensic Psychology typically make between $49,132 and $81,389 annually, and those with a PhD in Forensic Psychology are generally paid an income in the range from $44,219 to $91,690 a year according to Payscale’s salary figures.
Forensic psychologists’ annual salaries also vary from industry to industry. Professionals employed by police departments generally earn between $20,608 and $93,146 a year, and those working at clinical psychologists’ offices are paid between $37,443 and $97,436 annually. Forensic psychologists employed by the government typically make between $45,000 and $75,000 a year, and those working in the health care sector earn salaries in the range from $78,611 to $91,563 a year according to Payscale’s data.
Benefits
Forensic psychologists usually get a wide range of perks and benefits along with their basic annual salary and yearly bonus earnings. Their benefits packages can sometimes reflect their yearly income.
Forensic psychologists who have 401(k) plans as part of their benefits package typically earn salaries in the range from $30,410 to $102,352 a year, and those who have paid sick leave are usually paid between $45,615 and $106,937 a year. Professionals who have life and disability insurance generally make between $45,000 and $99,603 annually, and those who get reimbursement for professional education, tuition, training, or certification are generally paid between $82,780 and $108,000 a year.
Forensic psychologists who have paid holidays and vacations included in their benefits package typically earn an annual pay in the range from $48,722 to $104,669, those who have a company pension plan earn between $39,305 and $76,302 a year, and professionals who have relocation expenses covered generally earn a yearly income in the range from $52,866 to $104,443 according to Payscale’s salary data.
The most popular benefits and perks among forensic psychologists, as reported by Payscale, are 401(k), paid sick leave, life and disability insurance, paid vacation, reimbursement for education, tuition, training, and certification, malpractice and liability insurance, and company pension plans.
Salary by state
Forensic psychologists’ annual salary depends on geographical location and can vary significantly from state to state. For example, forensic psychologists based in New York typically report earning salaries in the range from $14,838 to $90,300 a year, and those employed in California are usually paid between $30,639 and $119,195 annually. Professionals working in Florida earn salaries in the range from $45,000 to $87,500 a year, and those based in Illinois are generally paid an income in the range from $37,500 to $68,500 a year according to Payscale’s salary figures.
Salary by city
Forensic psychologists’ annual pay can also vary considerably from city to city. For instance, forensic psychologists employed in New York typically report earning an annual income in the range from $39,191 to $85,000, while professionals based in Los Angeles generally make between $30,837 and $71,972 a year according to the salary figures reported by Payscale.
Hourly wage
Forensic psychologists’ hourly salary depends on a wide range of factors, including work experience. For example, professionals with 1 to 4 years of experience generally make between $17.50 and $37.50 per hour, and those with 20 or more years of experience earn an hourly wage in the range from $69.50 to $125 based on Payscale’s salary data.
Forensic psychologists with the certification of Licensed Psychologist generally make between $40 and $125 per hour. Professionals specializing in forensic psychology typically report earning an hourly salary in the range from $25.43 to $98.26. Those employed at clinical psychologists’ offices are generally paid between $19.65 and $127.17 per hour. Forensic psychologists with a PhD earn between $34.39 and $75.28 per hour.
Other income factors
Forensic psychologists’ yearly income also varies depending on the type of employer. Professionals employed by the federal government generally earn an annual pay in the range from $30,639 to $102,541, and those working for the state or local government typically make between $35,034 and $91,262 annually. Forensic psychologists working at hospitals earn salaries in the range from $51,097 to $91,563 a year, and those employed by companies are paid an income in the range from $14,597 to $98,633 a year according to the salary data reported by Payscale.