School Psychologists Salary
The median pay for a school psychologists in North Carolina is $73,220/year ($35.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $79,020 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 26.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $73K actually covers in North Carolina, month by month
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for school psychologists in North Carolina runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $96K. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, North Carolina
Entry-level school psychologists (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
School Psychologists salary by metro in North Carolina
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary | $83K | +14% | 260 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $81K | +10% | 410 |
| Winston-Salem | $77K | +5% | 40 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $76K | +4% | N/A |
| Wilmington | $66K | -10% | 80 |
| Asheville | $64K | -13% | 40 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $62K | -15% | 70 |
| Burlington | $61K | -17% | 30 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $61K | -17% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a school psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 27.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for school psychologists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new school psychologists typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,868/month. At HUD’s $1,284/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 school psychologist a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $73K here vs. $96K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for school psychologists?
North Carolina pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $96K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — below the national median.
How much do school psychologists make in North Carolina?
The median is $73,220 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,510, and experienced school psychologists can clear $91,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,717/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 27.2% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $79,020 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.