What Is a Forensic Psychologist's Salary?
Forensic psychologists apply the knowledge and practice of psychology to the legal system, helping police investigators, attorneys and judges understand the psychological dimensions of criminal and other legal cases. Forensic psychology specialists may investigate child abuse cases, conduct child custody evaluations, assess defendants' mental competency and provide expert testimony in court. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, reports that the salaries of many forensic specialists, including those in psychology, are similar to those of practitioners in the larger profession.
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Median Salary for Psychologists
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2008 that psychologists earned a median annual salary of $64,140. This estimate is not limited to forensic psychologists, but includes other types of psychological professionals. The middle 50 percent of psychologists earned between $48,000 and $83,000 a year, BLS added, while the 10 percent earned more than $100,000 a year. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $38,000 a year.
Forensic Psychologist Salary Range
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PayScale reported on its website in 2010 that forensic psychologists earn salaries ranging from $42,800 to $82,672 a year. Top industries and sectors employing forensic psychologists include clinical psychology practices, police departments, correctional facilities, community mental health organizations and government agencies. PayScale reports that clinical forensic psychologists earned between $40,734 and $75,031 a year, while psychologists working for police and correctional facilities had salaries ranging from $41,242 to $82,886 a year.
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FBI Psychologists
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation is one of the leading government agencies employing forensic psychological specialists. PayScale reports that forensic psychologists in the FBI earn between $57,000 and $90,000 a year.
Considerations
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Factors such as education and experience affect a forensic psychologist's salary. The American Psychology-Law Society, a division of the American Psychological Association, reports that master's degree-level psychologists in correctional facilities, for example, earn lower salaries than forensic psychologists with doctoral degrees.
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