School Psychologists Salary
The median pay for a school psychologists in Virginia is $85,670/year ($41.19/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $90,379 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 30.4% 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 $86K get you in Virginia?
About school psychologists
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What this looks like in Virginia
Pay for school psychologists in Virginia runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $96K. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.7% 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 school psychologists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
School Psychologists salary by metro in Virginia
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $87K | +1% | 230 |
| Richmond | $82K | -4% | 150 |
| Charlottesville | $81K | -6% | 30 |
| Roanoke | $76K | -12% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track school psychologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a school psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 30.7% 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 school psychologists in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new school psychologists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,788/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Virginia?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $86K here vs. $96K 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 school psychologists?
Virginia pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $96K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do school psychologists make in Virginia?
The median is $85,670 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,130, and experienced school psychologists can clear $132,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,354/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 30.7% 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 school 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 school psychologists salary is worth about $90,379 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.