School Psychologists Salary
The median pay for a school psychologists in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY is $96,490/year ($46.39/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.69), which stretches that salary to about $110,035 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,405/month, or 23.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $96K get you in Watertown-Fort Drum?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Watertown-Fort Drum’s Regional Price Parity (87.69). 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 Watertown-Fort Drum
School psychologists pay in Watertown-Fort Drum tracks closely to the national median, $96K locally vs. $96K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,405/month, 23.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.69 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for school psychologists in metros near Watertown-Fort Drum, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $118K | $104K |
| Rochester | $73K | $75K |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $83K | $87K |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $82K | $83K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
Entry-level school psychologists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $64K 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 Watertown-Fort Drum numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a school psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Watertown-Fort Drum?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 23.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,405/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for school psychologists in Watertown-Fort Drum?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new school psychologists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,655/month. At HUD’s $1,405/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Watertown-Fort Drum?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $96K locally vs. $96K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Watertown-Fort Drum compare to the national average for school psychologists?
Watertown-Fort Drum pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $96K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.69), the purchasing-power equivalent is $110K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do school psychologists make in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
The median is $96,490 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,920, and experienced school psychologists can clear $125,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Watertown-Fort Drum?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,961/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,405/month, which eats 23.6% 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 Watertown-Fort Drum?
Watertown-Fort Drum has a Regional Price Parity of 87.69 (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 $110,035 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.