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Public K-12 School Districts
New York City Public Schools, Los Angeles Unified School District, Chicago Public Schools
School Psychologists
School psychologists help figure out why a student is struggling, whether the issue is learning, behavior, emotions, or a mix of all three. The work stands out because it blends testing, counseling, and team-based problem solving, but the tradeoff is that most of the job depends on in-person school access, careful documentation, and a lot of coordination with teachers and families.
Also known as School PsychologistSchool-Based PsychologistEducational PsychologistPupil Services PsychologistSchool Psychology Specialist
Median Salary
$86,930
Mean $93,610
U.S. Workforce
~64K
3.8K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+0.7%
67.2K to 67.7K
Entry Education
Master's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
School Psychologists sits in the Education category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~64K workers, with a median annual pay of $86,930 and roughly 3.8K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 67.2 K in 2024 to 67.7K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Post-Master's Certificate in School Psychology, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around School Psychology Intern and can progress toward District Mental Health Coordinator. High-value skills usually include Psychoeducational Testing with WISC-V, WIAT-4 & Woodcock-Johnson, IEP Development in Frontline Special Education, PowerSchool & SEIS, and Special Education Eligibility Review & Record Analysis, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Meet with a student, observe them in class, and talk with parents and teachers to understand what is getting in the way of learning.
- Give and score learning and psychological tests, then compare the results with school records to decide what support the student may need.
- Counsel children and families who are dealing with behavior, learning, or adjustment problems.
- Work with teachers and other staff to build classroom strategies and individualized education plans.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Meet with a student, observe them in class, and talk with parents and teachers to understand what is getting in the way of learning.
02 Give and score learning and psychological tests, then compare the results with school records to decide what support the student may need.
03 Counsel children and families who are dealing with behavior, learning, or adjustment problems.
04 Work with teachers and other staff to build classroom strategies and individualized education plans.
05 Write reports and explain assessment results in plain language to teachers, principals, and parents.
06 Stay current through trainings and help promote a more inclusive school culture.
Industries That Hire
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Charter School Networks
KIPP, Success Academy Charter Schools, IDEA Public Schools
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Private and Independent Schools
Sidwell Friends School, The Harker School, St. Albans School
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Educational Assessment and Publishing
Pearson, McGraw Hill, NWEA
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Pediatric Hospitals and Behavioral Health
Boston Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Cleveland Clinic
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for an education role, with a median annual salary of $86.93K and a mean of $93.61K.
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You do not need prior work experience to enter the field, so the main barrier is graduate training rather than a long pre-career ladder.
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There are still about 3.8K annual openings, which gives job seekers a steady number of chances even though growth is slow.
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The work is varied: one day can include testing, counseling, a team meeting, and report writing.
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The job can have a real, visible impact because early identification and support can change a student’s school experience quickly.
Challenges
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Growth is nearly flat, with employment projected to rise only 0.7% from 67.2K to 67.7K over 10 years, so this is not a fast-expanding field.
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The education path is demanding: most workers need at least a master's degree, plus an internship or residency before they can work independently.
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Remote work is rare because the job depends on face-to-face assessments, classroom observation, and meetings with school staff and families.
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A lot of time goes into paperwork, testing, and eligibility decisions, so the job can feel more administrative than people expect.
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Pay often follows district salary schedules, which can create a ceiling unless you move into coordination or administration.
Career Progression
School Psychology Intern
0-2 years
$45K-$60K
Works under supervision while learning how to test students, join team meetings, and write school reports.
School Psychologist
2-6 years
$80K-$95K
Carries a regular caseload, evaluates students, helps build support plans, and meets with families and school staff.
Lead School Psychologist THIS ROLE
6-10 years
$96K-$115K
Handles more complex cases, mentors newer staff, and takes a bigger role in special education decisions and schoolwide supports.
District Mental Health Coordinator
10+ years
$116K-$140K
Oversees programs across multiple schools, shapes policy, and coordinates services with administrators and outside providers.
Education Paths
Post-Master's Certificate in School Psychology
The most common entry point, held by 53.03% of workers in this role, and often used by people who already have graduate training in psychology or education.
Master's Degree in School Psychology
A direct graduate route for 46.42% of workers in the distribution, usually paired with supervised internship or residency training.
First Professional Degree / Specialist-Level Program
A much less common route, shown for just 0.46% of workers in the distribution, but still a recognized way to meet school psychology requirements in some settings.
State Licensure After Supervised Internship/Residency
Some states also require supervised field training and a licensure exam before you can work independently, which makes the path longer even when no extra degree is added.
Key Skills
Technical
Psychoeducational Testing with WISC-V, WIAT-4 & Woodcock-Johnson 88%
IEP Development in Frontline Special Education, PowerSchool & SEIS 85%
Special Education Eligibility Review & Record Analysis 85%
Behavioral Observation & Progress Monitoring 80%
Psychological Report Writing & Documentation 80%
Special Education Law, IDEA & 504 Compliance 78%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+0.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
3.8K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 67.2K to 67.7 K over the next decade, representing 0.7% growth. Around 3.8 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.