Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Fargo, ND-MN make a median of $116,130 a year, or about $55.83 an hour. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.87), which stretches that salary to about $127,798 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,112/month, or 14.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $116K get you in Fargo?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fargo’s Regional Price Parity (90.87). 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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What this looks like in Fargo
Fargo sits well above the national pay line for clinical and counseling psychologists, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $101K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,112/month, 15.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.87 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Fargo offers a genuinely strong financial position for clinical and counseling psychologistss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for clinical and counseling psychologists in metros near Fargo, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $108K | $103K |
| Rochester | $124K | $136K |
| Duluth | $98K | $110K |
| St. Cloud | $107K | $122K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fargo, ND-MN
Entry-level clinical and counseling psychologists (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $116K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $134K | +34% | 540 |
| New Jersey | $127K | +26% | 2,700 |
| New Mexico | $125K | +24% | N/A |
| Alaska | $124K | +24% | 40 |
| Arizona | $119K | +18% | 730 |
| Hawaii | $118K | +17% | 250 |
| North Dakota | $116K | +15% | 170 |
| California | $116K | +15% | 12,840 |
| Washington | $115K | +15% | 1,270 |
| Massachusetts | $115K | +15% | 2,860 |
| New York | $114K | +14% | 8,420 |
| Wisconsin | $113K | +13% | 1,150 |
| Colorado | $113K | +13% | 1,170 |
| Delaware | $113K | +12% | 280 |
| Rhode Island | $107K | +7% | 420 |
| Minnesota | $107K | +6% | 1,290 |
| District of Columbia | $107K | +6% | 220 |
| Nevada | $103K | +2% | 680 |
| Ohio | $101K | +1% | 2,080 |
| Missouri | $99K | -1% | 840 |
| Utah | $99K | -1% | 1,020 |
| Kentucky | $99K | -1% | 710 |
| Idaho | $98K | -3% | 300 |
| Georgia | $96K | -4% | 1,120 |
| Nebraska | $95K | -6% | 770 |
| South Carolina | $93K | -8% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $92K | -8% | 2,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $92K | -9% | 3,140 |
| Iowa | $92K | -9% | 440 |
| Alabama | $91K | -10% | 260 |
| Wyoming | $90K | -11% | 50 |
| Virginia | $87K | -14% | 2,140 |
| Florida | $86K | -15% | 3,040 |
| Indiana | $85K | -16% | 1,850 |
| Michigan | $85K | -16% | 2,170 |
| Illinois | $84K | -17% | 5,810 |
| Texas | $84K | -17% | 3,640 |
| Vermont | $83K | -17% | 190 |
| South Dakota | $80K | -20% | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $80K | -21% | 950 |
| Arkansas | $78K | -23% | 370 |
| West Virginia | $77K | -23% | 920 |
| Tennessee | $77K | -24% | 1,180 |
| Kansas | $77K | -24% | 400 |
| Mississippi | $76K | -24% | 210 |
| Louisiana | $71K | -29% | 320 |
| Montana | $68K | -32% | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $64K | -36% | 330 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
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 Fargo numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a clinical and counseling psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Fargo?
Yes — at the median salary of $116K, rent takes 15.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,112/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in Fargo?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new clinical and counseling psychologists typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,320/month. At HUD’s $1,112/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is clinical and counseling psychologist a high-paying job in Fargo?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $116K here vs. $101K nationally.
How does Fargo compare to the national average for clinical and counseling psychologists?
Fargo pays $116K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.87), the purchasing-power equivalent is $128K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make in Fargo, ND-MN?
The median is $116,130 a year, that works out to about $56 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,340, and experienced clinical and counseling psychologists can clear $134,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $116K enough to live in Fargo?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,318/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,112/month, which eats 15.2% 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 Fargo?
Fargo has a Regional Price Parity of 90.87 (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 $127,798 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.