School Psychologists Salary
The median pay for a school psychologists in Texas is $83,690/year ($40.24/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $91,474 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 25.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $84K get you in Texas?
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for school psychologists in Texas runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $96K. Rent runs $1,415/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Texas
Entry-level school psychologists (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
School Psychologists salary by metro in Texas
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $90K | +8% | 180 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $89K | +7% | 360 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $85K | +1% | 1,300 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $84K | +1% | 930 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $81K | -3% | 560 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $81K | -4% | 30 |
| El Paso | $81K | -4% | 90 |
| Abilene | $79K | -5% | 30 |
| Longview | $77K | -8% | 40 |
| Corpus Christi | $76K | -9% | 50 |
| Amarillo | $74K | -12% | 40 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $73K | -13% | 40 |
| Lubbock | $68K | -18% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a school psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 25.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for school psychologists in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new school psychologists typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,059/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $84K here vs. $96K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for school psychologists?
Texas pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $96K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — below the national median.
How much do school psychologists make in Texas?
The median is $83,690 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,650, and experienced school psychologists can clear $116,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,605/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 25.2% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $91,474 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.