School Psychologists Salary
The median pay for a school psychologists in Lawrence, KS is $84,740/year ($40.74/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.24), which stretches that salary to about $93,905 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,182/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $85K get you in Lawrence?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lawrence’s Regional Price Parity (90.24). 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 school psychologists
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What this looks like in Lawrence
Pay for school psychologists in Lawrence runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $96K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,182/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.24 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Lawrence can be a reasonable trade-off for school psychologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for school psychologists in metros near Lawrence, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $67K | $75K |
| Topeka | $66K | $74K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $129K | , |
| Kansas City | $78K | $84K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lawrence, KS
Entry-level school psychologists (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
School Psychologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View School Psychologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $128K | +33% | 8,340 |
| Colorado | $125K | +30% | 1,380 |
| New Mexico | $110K | +15% | 630 |
| Maryland | $110K | +14% | 1,520 |
| Washington | $109K | +13% | 1,420 |
| District of Columbia | $108K | +12% | 250 |
| New York | $107K | +11% | 9,070 |
| Oregon | $106K | +11% | 570 |
| Connecticut | $101K | +5% | 1,140 |
| Georgia | $99K | +3% | 1,650 |
| Massachusetts | $99K | +3% | 3,300 |
| Delaware | $96K | +0% | 280 |
| New Jersey | $95K | -1% | 2,130 |
| Rhode Island | $95K | -1% | 210 |
| Alaska | $94K | -2% | 120 |
| Nevada | $94K | -2% | 290 |
| Arizona | $92K | -4% | 1,100 |
| Ohio | $91K | -5% | 2,050 |
| Nebraska | $89K | -7% | 440 |
| Virginia | $86K | -11% | 1,200 |
| Minnesota | $85K | -11% | 1,060 |
| Florida | $85K | -12% | 2,020 |
| Illinois | $85K | -12% | 3,590 |
| Michigan | $84K | -13% | 1,480 |
| Wyoming | $84K | -13% | 120 |
| Texas | $84K | -13% | 4,250 |
| Wisconsin | $83K | -13% | 1,180 |
| Vermont | $83K | -14% | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $82K | -14% | 2,600 |
| Hawaii | $82K | -14% | 90 |
| Maine | $82K | -15% | 120 |
| Montana | $80K | -17% | 170 |
| South Dakota | $78K | -18% | 110 |
| Utah | $78K | -19% | 490 |
| Indiana | $78K | -19% | 710 |
| Tennessee | $77K | -20% | 900 |
| South Carolina | $77K | -20% | 720 |
| Kentucky | $75K | -21% | 590 |
| West Virginia | $75K | -22% | 250 |
| Alabama | $75K | -22% | 370 |
| Iowa | $74K | -22% | 400 |
| New Hampshire | $73K | -23% | 360 |
| North Carolina | $73K | -24% | 1,540 |
| Kansas | $73K | -24% | 630 |
| Idaho | $72K | -25% | 310 |
| Missouri | $70K | -27% | 520 |
| Louisiana | $69K | -28% | 670 |
| North Dakota | $69K | -28% | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $65K | -32% | 510 |
| Arkansas | $64K | -33% | 440 |
| Mississippi | $61K | -36% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track school psychologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lawrence numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a school psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lawrence?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 22.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,182/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for school psychologists in Lawrence?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new school psychologists typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,990/month. At HUD’s $1,182/month FMR, rent would take 59% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is school psychologist a high-paying job in Lawrence?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $85K here vs. $96K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Lawrence compare to the national average for school psychologists?
Lawrence pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $96K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.24), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do school psychologists make in Lawrence, KS?
The median is $84,740 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,160, and experienced school psychologists can clear $100,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Lawrence?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,319/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,182/month, which eats 22.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a school psychologists salary go in Lawrence?
Lawrence has a Regional Price Parity of 90.24 (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 school psychologists salary is worth about $93,905 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do school 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.