School Psychologist Salary in Riverside, CA
School Psychologists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $139,400 a year — 45% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,999 take-home, or $8,000 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median school psychologist salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,190
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,643
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,021
- California income tax$8,735
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,812
- Take-home pay$95,999
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
School Psychologist pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $103,470 | $49.75 | $74,883 | $6,240 |
| 25th percentile | $121,190 | $58.26 | $85,471 | $7,123 |
| Median (50th) | $139,400 | $67.02 | $95,999 | $8,000 |
| 75th percentile | $149,740 | $71.99 | $101,970 | $8,498 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,170 | $77.97 | $109,149 | $9,096 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $139,400 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median school psychologist's $95,999 take-home pay has the buying power of $90,189 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
School Psychologist jobs are about as common in Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for school psychologists, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #1 of 24 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverside, CA | $139,400 | $95,999 | $90,189 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $129,340 | $94,687 | $89,512 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $131,920 | $91,679 | $85,947 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $131,070 | $91,189 | $81,501 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $115,570 | $90,133 | $81,104 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $114,520 | $84,299 | $80,679 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $130,540 | $90,882 | $78,609 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $117,540 | $85,625 | $76,068 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 24 metros →
School Psychologist salaries elsewhere in California
- Sacramento, CA — $131,920
- San Diego, CA — $131,070
- San Francisco, CA — $130,540
- Los Angeles, CA — $122,390
Frequently asked questions
How much does a school psychologist make in Riverside, CA?
The median school psychologist salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $139,400 a year, or about $67.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $121,190 and $149,740.
What is a school psychologist’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $139,400 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $95,999 a year ($8,000 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,547 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a school psychologist?
Pay here is 45% above the national median of $95,990. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $90,189 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #1 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a school psychologist afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median school psychologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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