Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA make a median of $101,880 a year, or about $48.98 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $164K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $111,101 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 20.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $102K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About clinical and counseling psychologists
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level clinical and counseling psychologists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $164K or more, a $100K spread from bottom to top.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $133K | +38% | 440 |
| Kentucky | $116K | +22% | 850 |
| Washington | $115K | +20% | 980 |
| California | $115K | +20% | 11,900 |
| New Jersey | $110K | +15% | 2,850 |
| Delaware | $109K | +14% | 190 |
| North Dakota | $109K | +14% | 150 |
| Hawaii | $109K | +14% | 300 |
| Arizona | $107K | +12% | 1,140 |
| Alaska | $106K | +10% | 80 |
| Maryland | $104K | +9% | 1,680 |
| Wisconsin | $104K | +8% | 980 |
| Nevada | $104K | +8% | 510 |
| Minnesota | $103K | +7% | 1,490 |
| Ohio | $102K | +7% | 1,360 |
| Rhode Island | $102K | +6% | 470 |
| Alabama | $100K | +5% | 360 |
| New York | $100K | +4% | 7,190 |
| Iowa | $99K | +3% | 760 |
| Maine | $98K | +2% | 180 |
| Illinois | $97K | +2% | 3,470 |
| Mississippi | $92K | -4% | 200 |
| Tennessee | $92K | -4% | 780 |
| North Carolina | $92K | -4% | 2,420 |
| Oklahoma | $91K | -5% | 360 |
| Pennsylvania | $90K | -6% | 3,850 |
| Utah | $89K | -7% | 1,000 |
| Virginia | $87K | -9% | N/A |
| Massachusetts | $87K | -9% | 3,470 |
| Missouri | $86K | -10% | 1,490 |
| South Dakota | $86K | -10% | 100 |
| Florida | $84K | -12% | 3,230 |
| Indiana | $81K | -16% | 1,630 |
| Michigan | $80K | -16% | 2,650 |
| Wyoming | $80K | -17% | 60 |
| Vermont | $80K | -17% | 160 |
| Idaho | $75K | -22% | 370 |
| New Mexico | $74K | -23% | 220 |
| Texas | $72K | -25% | 3,410 |
| West Virginia | $71K | -26% | 650 |
| Louisiana | $67K | -30% | 370 |
| Kansas | $62K | -36% | 350 |
| New Hampshire | $53K | -45% | 390 |
| Georgia | $51K | -47% | 1,210 |
Showing 1–10 of 44 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track clinical and counseling psychologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $101,880 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,860, and experienced clinical and counseling psychologists can clear $164,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,223/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 21.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a clinical and counseling psychologists salary go in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median clinical and counseling psychologists salary is worth about $111,101 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do clinical and counseling psychologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.