Occupations · Life, Physical, and Social Science

School Psychologists

Diagnose and implement individual or schoolwide interventions or strategies to address educational, behavioral, or developmental issues that adversely impact educational functioning in a school. May address student learning and behavioral problems and counsel students or families. May design and implement performance plans, and evaluate performance. May consult with other school-based personnel.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 19-3034.00

$86,930median annual wage, May 2024

63,830people employed, United States

▲ 0.7%projected change, 2024→2034

3,800openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 10% between 2021 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$101,790	6,180
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$108,130	3,170
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$80,600	2,800
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$98,150	1,970
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$105,620	1,740
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$78,740	1,490
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$92,650	1,470
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$80,030	1,260
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$127,730	940
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA	$108,010	920
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$104,890	840
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$85,090	820

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: Master's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Compile and interpret students' test results, along with information from teachers and parents, to diagnose conditions and to help assess eligibility for special services.
Maintain student records, including special education reports, confidential records, records of services provided, and behavioral data.
Report any pertinent information to the proper authorities in cases of child endangerment, neglect, or abuse.
Select, administer, and score psychological tests.
Interpret test results and prepare psychological reports for teachers, administrators, and parents.
Assess an individual child's needs, limitations, and potential, using observation, review of school records, and consultation with parents and school personnel.
Develop individualized educational plans in collaboration with teachers and other staff members.
Counsel children and families to help solve conflicts and problems in learning and adjustment.
Collect and analyze data to evaluate the effectiveness of academic programs and other services, such as behavioral management systems.
Provide consultation to parents, teachers, administrators, and others on topics such as learning styles and behavior modification techniques.
Collaborate with other educational professionals to develop teaching strategies and school programs.
Design classes and programs to meet the needs of special students.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Active Listening4.4

Speaking4.2

Reading Comprehension4.2

Critical Thinking4.0

Writing4.0

Monitoring4.0

Active Learning3.6

Learning Strategies3.5

Mathematics2.8

Science2.0

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●Zoom●Centris Group IEP DirectCentris Group RTIm DirectChalkware Education Solutions IEPProEmail softwareEwing Solutions QuickWriterGlobal Education Technologies EXCENTGoogle MeetInstructional softwareMediaNet Solutions e-IEP PROOasys structural design and analysis softwarePowerSchool Group PowerSchool SISPsychsoft !ObserveSmart Solutions IEP AnywhereSpED FormsSpectrum K12 School Solutions EncoreSunGard Pentamation IEPplusTechnical Perspectives CLASS IEP ProgramTest scoring softwareTesting softwareVision Management Consulting IEP PlaNETWeb browser softwareXperts iep.online

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

5 / 5Extensive preparation — graduate school, and often a licence on top.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−2.0 below average

Exposed to Contaminants−1.6 below average

Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions−1.4 below average

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls−1.3 below average

Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers−1.3 below average

Health and Safety of Other Workers−1.3 below average

Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled−1.1 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2019-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Post-Master's Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master's degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.53%

Master's Degree46%

First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.0%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2019-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Social6.8

Investigative5.0

Conventional4.0

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Social Perceptiveness4.0

Judgment and Decision Making3.9

Complex Problem Solving3.8

Service Orientation3.8

Coordination3.6

Persuasion3.5

Time Management3.4

Negotiation3.4

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

PsychologyTherapy and CounselingEducation and TrainingSociology and AnthropologyCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministrative

Abilities it leans on

Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionDeductive ReasoningWritten ComprehensionSpeech ClarityProblem Sensitivity

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

PsychologistPsychometristAutism ConsultantBehavioral AnalystChild PsychologistSchool PsychologistBehavior SpecialistLearning ConsultantChild PsychometristSchool PsychometristAssessment SpecialistBehavioral SpecialistConsulting PsychologistCounseling Psychologist

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2020

Comparing O*NET release 25.1 (2020-11-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 3

+Zoom+Oasys structural design and analysis software+Google Meet

No longer listed 4

−Spreadsheet software−Presentation software−Oasys−Word processing software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

PsychologistPsychometristAutism ConsultantBehavioral AnalystChild PsychologistChild PsychometristSchool PsychologistLearning ConsultantBehavior SpecialistSchool PsychometristAssessment SpecialistBehavioral Specialist

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
educational psychologist	2634.2.2	exact
education welfare officer	2635.3.10	close
educational counsellor	2359.6	close
psychologist	2634.2	broader
learning mentor	2359.9	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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