A Breakdown of Criminal Psychologist Salary in US for 2025

4 minute read
10 shares
Criminal Psychologist Salary in US

Criminal Psychologist Salary in US: A criminal psychologist is a mental health specialist who works in legal and criminal justice environments, utilising psychological concepts and methods. If you are interested in criminal justice, it is one of the most fulfilling professions in the US. Determining whether being a criminal psychologist is a suitable career option for you might be aided by learning about the duties and income of the field. The salary of a criminal psychologist in the United States is covered in this article.

How Much Do Criminal Psychologists Get Paid?

The salary of a Criminal Psychologist in the US can vary depending on experience, location, and employer. The numbers you provided suggest a wide range, from a low of 158,900 USD annually to a high of 439,700 USD annually. This translates to a monthly range of 13,241 USD to 36,641 USD. The average annual salary is around 291,000 USD, which comes out to 24,250 USD per month.  Keep in mind that these are just estimates, and the actual salary you can expect may differ.

Criminal psychologists have the ability to bargain for their salary and benefit packages. In 2025, the American Psychological Association conducted a survey, which revealed that 61% of psychologists negotiated their starting salary. Those who succeeded in securing a rise typically received 5,000 USD. The same survey also revealed higher levels of job satisfaction among psychologists who bargained for additional perks like flexible work hours, retirement plans, or opportunities for professional growth.

Check How to Find A Paid Internship in USA for International Students 

Experience-Wise Criminal Psychologist Salary in US

You will gain valuable experience at every stage of your journey working as a criminal psychologist, and your experience will help you increase your salary range. Depending on how many years of experience a criminal psychologist has, this is their typical paycheck in the picture below.

Experience YearsAverage Salary Per Year
0-2 Years USD 59,000
2-5 Years USD 67,900
5-10 Years USD 80,000
10-15 Years USD 96,000
15-20 Years USD 120,000
20+ Years USD 150,000

Education Wise Criminal Psychologist Salary in US

The salary of a Criminal Psychologist may differ by program and college. The average in-state student in a four-year school pays 9,377 USD in tuition each academic year, according to the Education Data Initiative. Criminal psychologists make almost 45,000 USD per year on average.

Education Average Salary per year 
Bachelor’s Degree USD 59,500
Master’s Degree USD 118,000

Here is a list of the best Part-time Jobs in USA for International Students 

Organisation-Wise Criminal Psychologist Salary in US

Salary may vary depending on the type of organisation. Here we have mentioned the salary range of different organisations in the United States. 

OrganisationAverage Salary Per year 
US Department of Veterans AffairsUSD 1,20,979
LifeStance HealthUSD 1,16,445
Kaiser PermanenteUSD 1,45,900
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation of CAUSD 1,16,157
US ArmyUSD 1,21,987
CHE Behavioral Health ServicesUSD 1,03,140
MedOptionsUSD 1,24,313
Federal Bureau of PrisonsUSD 1,11,526
US Air ForceUSD 1,12,042
US NavyUSD 1,23,186
Clay ConsultingUSD 1,16,128
LifespanUSD 1,00,488
CHE Behavioural Health ServicesUSD 1,17,422
California Department of State HospitalsUSD 1,19,081
UW HealthUSD 1,19,610
TeamHealthUSD 1,31,657

City-Wise Criminal Psychologist Salary in US

Income for a criminal psychologist can also vary depending on location. Based on the country’s main cities, we have listed the criminal psychologist pay in the US here. 

Cities Average Salary Per Year
New YorkUSD 105,000
Los AngelesUSD 100,000
HoustonUSD 85,000
PhoenixUSD 80,000
San DiegoUSD 95,000
BostonUSD 95,000

Position-Wise Criminal Psychologist Salary in US

The criminal justice system offers a multitude of opportunities for employment. These are the top choices in the US that we have highlighted for you to consider.

PositionAverage Salary Per Year 
Research DirectorUSD 124,536
Behaviour TherapistUSD 41,600
Behavior SpecialistUSD 48,753
School Social WorkerUSD 70,992
Behavior AnalystUSD 82,500
School PsychologistUSD 87,067
LinguistUSD 98,706
PsychologistUSD 99,919
Clinical DirectorUSD 106,086
Child PsychologistUSD 1,06,079
Staff PsychologistUSD 1,21,491
Counseling PsychologistUSD 95,483
Clinical PsychologyUSD 1,10,945

You can Know About Various Professions and Their Average Salary range in United States 

FAQs

Q1: Does psychology pay well in USA?

In the US, a psychologist makes an average of $1,37,378 annually. In the US, a psychologist’s additional financial pay ranges from 13,525 USD to 25,246 USD. The average additional cash compensation is 18,033 USD.

Q2: What state pays criminal psychologists the most?

Here are the top states that pay the highest criminal psychologist salaries:?
California: 120,010 USD
Oregon: 117,180 USD
Rhode Island: 116,810 USD
Hawaii: 115,220 USD
New York: 113,940 USD

Q3: Which field of psychology pays the most?

In the discipline of psychology, the biggest earning potential is usually found in clinical psychology, psychiatry, and industrial-organisational psychology. However, things like experience and geography might affect salary.

This was all about Criminal Psychologist Salaries in the US. For more such articles on salary updates, follow Leverage Edu and our official Page Jobs Abroad. Also, build your career with Leveage Career, offering various job opportunities abroad.

Related Reads 

An Overview Of Physician Salary In USASoftware Engineer Salary in USA
An Overview of Neuropsychologist Salary in US 2025Complete Information On Teacher Salary In USA
An Overview Of Nursing Salary In USA in 2025Truck Driver Salary in USA

Leave a Reply

Required fields are marked *

*

*