Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Illinois make a median of $83,750 a year, or about $40.27 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $169K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $89,238 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 26.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $84K get you in Illinois?
About clinical and counseling psychologists
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What this looks like in Illinois
Pay for clinical and counseling psychologists in Illinois runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $101K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level clinical and counseling psychologists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $169K or more, a $132K spread from bottom to top.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary by metro in Illinois
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria | $98K | +17% | 70 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $85K | +2% | 5,030 |
| Rockford | $80K | -4% | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $76K | -10% | 130 |
| Springfield | $70K | -17% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track clinical and counseling psychologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a clinical and counseling psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new clinical and counseling psychologists typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,195/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Illinois?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $84K here vs. $101K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for clinical and counseling psychologists?
Illinois pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — below the national median.
How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make in Illinois?
The median is $83,750 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,580, and experienced clinical and counseling psychologists can clear $168,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,263/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 26.7% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $89,238 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.