All About School Psychologists
Position Description Investigate processes of learning and teaching and develop psychological principles and techniques applicable to educational problems.
List of School Psychologist Job Duties
- Design classes and programs to meet the needs of special students.
- Collect and analyze data to evaluate the effectiveness of academic programs and other services, such as behavioral management systems.
- Provide educational programs on topics such as classroom management, teaching strategies, or parenting skills.
- Attend workshops, seminars, or professional meetings to remain informed of new developments in school psychology.
- Maintain student records, including special education reports, confidential records, records of services provided, and behavioral data.
- Develop individualized educational plans in collaboration with teachers and other staff members.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a School Psychologist?
These are the skills School Psychologists say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Early Intervention School Psychologist
- Preliminary School Psychologist
- School Counselor
- School Psychological Examiner
- Psychometrist
Is There Going to be Demand for School Psychologists?
In the United States, there were 147,500 jobs for School Psychologist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 14.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 21,000 new jobs for School Psychologist by 2026. The BLS estimates 12,100 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for School Psychologist are Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Maine, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a School Psychologist
The typical yearly salary for School Psychologists is somewhere between $44,040 and $129,310.

School Psychologists who work in California, Oregon, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do School Psychologists make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $69,070 |
Alaska | $91,450 |
Arizona | $66,040 |
Arkansas | $69,000 |
California | $108,350 |
Colorado | $85,470 |
Connecticut | $90,870 |
Delaware | $78,850 |
District of Columbia | $95,500 |
Florida | $76,190 |
Georgia | $89,190 |
Hawaii | $94,550 |
Idaho | $64,270 |
Illinois | $75,180 |
Indiana | $73,350 |
Iowa | $85,260 |
Kansas | $65,320 |
Kentucky | $64,330 |
Louisiana | $86,630 |
Maine | $75,620 |
Maryland | $79,820 |
Massachusetts | $86,490 |
Michigan | $83,210 |
Minnesota | $85,860 |
Mississippi | $67,570 |
Missouri | $76,480 |
Montana | $63,720 |
Nebraska | $66,510 |
Nevada | $83,760 |
New Hampshire | $84,270 |
New Jersey | $98,470 |
New Mexico | $73,600 |
New York | $94,140 |
North Carolina | $77,470 |
North Dakota | $87,090 |
Ohio | $75,710 |
Oklahoma | $60,760 |
Oregon | $103,870 |
Pennsylvania | $83,610 |
Rhode Island | $83,030 |
South Carolina | $63,050 |
South Dakota | $73,900 |
Tennessee | $69,510 |
Texas | $73,650 |
Utah | $80,920 |
Vermont | $77,670 |
Virginia | $80,380 |
Washington | $73,840 |
West Virginia | $59,200 |
Wisconsin | $83,420 |
Wyoming | $78,360 |
Tools & Technologies Used by School Psychologists
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that School Psychologists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Presentation software
- Testing software
- Instructional software
How to Become a School Psychologist
Are there School Psychologists education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a School Psychologist?

Where do School Psychologists Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a School Psychologist might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: BruceBlaus via Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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