Clinical and Counseling Psychologists: Entry-Level vs Senior Salary in California (2024)

How does Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary grow from entry-level to senior in California? State salary progression based on 2024 BLS data.

192% career growth potential

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California salary data • Updated 2026-04-06

Entry-Level (P10)
$64,010
$5,334/mo
Mid-Career (Median)
$126,450
$10,538/mo
Senior (P90)
$187,020
$15,585/mo

California vs National Average

Entry-Level (P10)
$64,010
National: $49,523
+29.3%
Mid-Career (Median)
$126,450
National: $87,274
+44.9%
Senior (P90)
$187,020
National: $153,834
+21.6%

Salary Progression: Entry-Level to Senior

The salary range for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California spans from $64,010 at entry-level to $187,020 at senior level — a difference of $123,010 per year.

P10
$64K
P25
$89K
Median
$126K
P75
$152K
P90
$187K

Career Growth Premium: +192%

Senior Clinical and Counseling Psychologistss in California earn $123,010 more per year than entry-level professionals.

Annual Difference
+$123,010
Monthly Difference
+$10,251
Hourly Difference
+$59.14
Growth Multiple
2.9x

Detailed Salary Breakdown by Experience Level

Complete percentile breakdown showing how Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary increases with experience in California, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).

Experience Level Percentile Annual Salary Monthly Hourly
Entry-Level P10 $64,010 $5,334 $30.77
Early Career P25 $89,830 $7,486 $43.19
Mid-Career Median $126,450 $10,538 $60.79
Experienced P75 $152,950 $12,746 $73.53
Senior / Expert P90 $187,020 $15,585 $89.91
Key Insight

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in California shows strong salary progression over a career. Entry-level professionals start around $64,010, while senior-level professionals earn $187,020 — a 192% increase. The biggest salary jump typically occurs between mid-career ($126,450) and experienced level ($152,950), suggesting that specialization and leadership responsibilities are the key drivers of higher pay.

How California Compares to Other States

Where does California rank for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists senior-level salaries? Compare California's P90 pay to other top-paying states.

1
$230,050
Entry: $79K
+191%
2
$224,620
Entry: $85K
+161%
3
$222,560
Entry: $51K
+334%
4
$215,660
Entry: $56K
+284%
5
$208,730
Entry: $63K
+231%
6
$192,740
Entry: $64K
+198%
7
$187,020
Entry: $64K
+192%
8
$180,270
Entry: $38K
+365%
9
$179,200
Entry: $60K
+198%
10
$174,650
Entry: $27K
+542%

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the entry-level salary for a Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?

Entry-level Clinical and Counseling Psychologistss (10th percentile) earn approximately $64,010 per year, or $5,334 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $89,830. Based on 2024 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.

How much does a senior Clinical and Counseling Psychologists make?

Senior Clinical and Counseling Psychologistss (90th percentile) earn approximately $187,020 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $152,950. This represents a career premium of 192% over entry-level pay.

What is the salary growth potential for a Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?

The career salary growth potential for Clinical and Counseling Psychologistss is 192%. Entry-level professionals start at $64,010, while senior-level can earn up to $187,020 — a difference of $123,010 per year.

Which state pays the highest salary for senior Clinical and Counseling Psychologistss?

The highest-paying state for senior Clinical and Counseling Psychologistss is California, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $187,020 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.

How are entry-level and senior Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salaries determined?

We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.

Related Salary Pages

About This Data

Salary percentile data for California from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. State averages differ from national averages due to regional variations in cost of living, demand, and workforce composition. Actual salaries vary based on employer, experience, education, certifications, and specific location within California.

Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS

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