Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Virginia make a median of $86,520 a year, or about $41.6 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $176K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $91,275 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 30.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $87K get you in Virginia?
About clinical and counseling psychologists
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What this looks like in Virginia
Pay for clinical and counseling psychologists in Virginia runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $101K. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level clinical and counseling psychologists (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $176K or more, a $134K spread from bottom to top.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary by metro in Virginia
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | $104K | +21% | 60 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $91K | +5% | 420 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $90K | +4% | 40 |
| Charlottesville | $87K | +0% | 90 |
| Harrisonburg | $86K | -1% | 40 |
| Richmond | $73K | -16% | 290 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a clinical and counseling psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 30.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new clinical and counseling psychologists typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,519/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Virginia?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $87K here vs. $101K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for clinical and counseling psychologists?
Virginia pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — below the national median.
How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make in Virginia?
The median is $86,520 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,990, and experienced clinical and counseling psychologists can clear $176,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,400/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 30.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a clinical and counseling psychologists salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $91,275 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.