Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Kentucky make a median of $99,140 a year, or about $47.66 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $175K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $109,875 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 17.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $99K get you in Kentucky?
About clinical and counseling psychologists
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Clinical and counseling psychologists pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $99K locally vs. $101K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 18% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kentucky
Entry-level clinical and counseling psychologists (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $175K or more, a $126K spread from bottom to top.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary by metro in Kentucky
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $83K | -16% | 240 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $75K | -24% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track clinical and counseling psychologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a clinical and counseling psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 18% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new clinical and counseling psychologists typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,953/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $99K locally vs. $101K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for clinical and counseling psychologists?
Kentucky pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $110K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make in Kentucky?
The median is $99,140 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,220, and experienced clinical and counseling psychologists can clear $174,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,180/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 18% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $109,875 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.