The average annual forensic psychology salary tends to vary by geographical area. Forensic psychologists apply an understanding of human psychology to the arena of law. Forensic psychologists perform a variety of tasks, including standing as witnesses in court cases, assisting with the process of jury selection, interviewing defendants and mediating in civil and family disputes. Some forensic psychologists also teach at the postsecondary level.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for all other psychologists practicing in the United States was $89,900 as of May 2010. In general, the average annual forensic psychology salary tends to be slightly less, ranging from $40,000 to $90,000 and varying widely by state. According to U.S. government data, projected growth for 2008-2018 in the psychology sector is expected to be between 14 and 19%, which is higher than the national average for all industries.
The highest average annual forensic psychology salary — as of 2010 — was listed as $91,910 and was earned by forensic psychologists practicing in New Jersey. Forensic psychologists in New Jersey earned an average hourly wage of $44.19. Other top-paying states for forensic psychologists include Colorado ($88,930), California ($82,770), and New York ($82,300). States in which a forensic psychologist can expect to earn an average annual salary of between $70,000 and $80,000 include Washington ($73,140), South Dakota ($72,700), Michigan ($74,640), Ohio ($76,080) and Rhode Island ($79,070).
As of 2010, states in which forensic psychologists made between $60,000 and $70,000 included North Carolina ($63,120), North Dakota ($62,120), Pennsylvania ($66,570), Oregon ($67,740), South Carolina ($62,170) and Texas ($64,510). States in which forensic psychologists earned an average annual salary of less than $60,000 per year include Utah ($55,720), Kansas ($58,640), Kentucky ($54,860), New Mexico ($58,650), Oklahoma ($55,190), West Virginia ($48,170), Montana ($47,790) and Mississippi ($45,000). The lowest-paying area for practicing forensic psychologists was Puerto Rico, where forensic psychologists reported average annual earnings of $43,160 and an average hourly wage of $20.75.
Keep in mind that any forensic psychology salary will also depend on other factors, including the educational level of the psychologist, as well as the psychologist’s level of experience. Forensic psychologists in metropolitan areas tend to make more money, on average, than those working in rural areas. In addition, the salary of a forensic psychologist will depend on employment sector; forensic psychologists employed by the federal government tend to make significantly more than those employed by state and local agencies.