School Psychologists Salary
The median pay for a school psychologists in Pennsylvania is $82,190/year ($39.51/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $86,543 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 25.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $82K get you in Pennsylvania?
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for school psychologists in Pennsylvania runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $96K. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level school psychologists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
School Psychologists salary by metro in Pennsylvania
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| York-Hanover | $100K | +21% | 60 |
| Lancaster | $97K | +18% | 150 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $94K | +14% | 50 |
| Pittsburgh | $92K | +12% | 280 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $92K | +12% | 150 |
| Reading | $86K | +5% | 70 |
| Erie | $83K | +0% | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $82K | +0% | 1,690 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $77K | -6% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track school psychologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a school psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 25.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for school psychologists in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new school psychologists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,753/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $82K here vs. $96K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for school psychologists?
Pennsylvania pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $96K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — below the national median.
How much do school psychologists make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $82,190 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,550, and experienced school psychologists can clear $118,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,307/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 25.5% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $86,543 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.