Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $201,230 or more. The middle half of clinical and counseling psychologists in San Francisco earn between $112,130 and $182,910.
- $82K10th
- $112K25th
- $166KMedian
- $183K75th
- $201K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $153,490 | $12,791 | $73.79 |
| Median | $166,400 | $13,867 | $80.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $112,130 | $9,344 | $53.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $182,910 | $15,242 | $87.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Clinical and counseling psychologists in San Francisco earn 24% more than the California average ($123,570) and 36% more than the U.S. average ($112,750). At the median the gap is +65% against the U.S. median of $100,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $153,490 | $166,400 | $82,220 | $201,230 | 1,540 |
| California | $123,570 | $116,000 | $62,900 | $188,050 | 12,840 |
| United States | $112,750 | $100,580 | $55,170 | $180,960 | 75,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $153,490, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $105,994 a year, or $8,833 a month and $4,077 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for clinical and counseling psychologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $153,490 buys what about $132,762 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd of 19 California metro areas for this job; San Luis Obispo pays the most ($166,470).
- San Luis Obispo$166,470
- San Francisco$153,490
- Hanford$147,510
- Sacramento$141,690
- Vallejo$137,210
- Stockton$136,760
- Modesto$135,390
- Santa Rosa$127,910
- Oxnard$125,780
- Santa Cruz$120,840
All Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for clinical and counseling psychologists
San Luis Obispo, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($166,470).
- San Luis Obispo, CA$166,470
- San Francisco, CA$153,490
- Green Bay, WI$150,150
- Hanford, CA$147,510
- Salem, OR$144,240
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Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make an hour in San Francisco?
$73.80 an hour on average, and $80.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clinical and counseling psychologists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $112,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clinical and counseling psychologists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $105,994 a year ($8,833 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $153,490. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do clinical and counseling psychologists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% more than the U.S. average for this job ($112,750).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3033; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.33, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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