Forensic Psychology Salary
Though not as visible as police officers, forensic psychologists are just as important in law enforcement for prosecuting crimes. They use psychological principles to understand cases and generally specialize in family, civil or criminal court. They can evaluate mental competency, provide psychotherapy to crime victims and assess criminals. They typically work a standard 40-hour week with some overtime during important cases. Forensic psychologists typically need a minimum doctorate degree as well as state licensing.
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Experience
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As of April 2010, forensic psychologists start out with a salary of $20,226 to $49,500 annually according to PayScale. At one to four years of experience, they receive $40,507 to $69,756, and at five to nine years, they earn $47,173 to $82,437. Those with 10 to 19 years show the greatest range at $63,077 to $117,916, while those with 20 or more years get $71,899 to $102,920.
Employer
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PayScale reports that the salary can vary by employer. Those working for the federal government earn $40,406 to $65,480, and those in state and local government receive $44,717 to $75,299. Those in private practice make $46,082 to $105,914, while those who work for a company get $45,781 to $76,271. Finally, those in hospitals take home $44,219 to $77,092, while those in nonprofit organizations make $30,000 to $60,565.
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Location
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Where the psychologist works affects salary according to PayScale. New York professionals receive $39,663 to $68,293, while those in Miami get $39,305 to $66,129. In Atlanta, they get $35,000 to $78,000, and in Orlando they earn $27,500 to $87,500. Californians make $65,000 to $101,961, while those in New York state earn $38,884 to $75,851. Ohio shows a range of $51,886 to $101,714, while Florida earn $32,938 to $68,351. Finally, those in Massachusetts are paid $34,183 to $74,533, and those in Texas take home $32,556 to $83,524.
Other
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PayScale reveals that men earn $54,000 to $97,855, which is more than their female counterparts who earn $49,606 to $74,334. Company size shows no correlation to pay with those working in locations with 10 to 49 employees receiving the greatest range at $59,000 to $145,000 followed by one-to-nine person offices, which pay $55,955 to $109,419. Employers with 50 to 199 workers give out $50,000 to $70,750, while those with 600 to 1999 employees pay $72,908 to $83,148.
Outlook
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of all psychologists is expected to grow at 12 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is about average for all jobs. Opportunities will be best for those with degrees from leading universities and specialties required by law enforcement. Training in computer science may also give a competitive edge.
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