School Psychologist Salary in Sacramento, CA
School Psychologists in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $131,920 a year — 37% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $91,679 take-home, or $7,640 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median school psychologist salary in Sacramento, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,395
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,179
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,913
- California income tax$8,039
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,715
- Take-home pay$91,679
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
School Psychologist pay by experience in Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $103,030 | $49.53 | $74,620 | $6,218 |
| 25th percentile | $111,990 | $53.84 | $79,974 | $6,664 |
| Median (50th) | $131,920 | $63.42 | $91,679 | $7,640 |
| 75th percentile | $137,180 | $65.95 | $94,717 | $7,893 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $155,500 | $74.76 | $105,297 | $8,775 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $131,920 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median school psychologist's $91,679 take-home pay has the buying power of $85,947 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 Sacramento, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for school psychologists, adjusted for cost of living
Sacramento, CA ranks #3 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
- Riverside, CA — $139,400
- 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 Sacramento, CA?
The median school psychologist salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $131,920 a year, or about $63.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $111,990 and $137,180.
What is a school psychologist’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $131,920 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $91,679 a year ($7,640 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,754 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a school psychologist?
Pay here is 37% above the national median of $95,990. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $85,947 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #3 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a school psychologist afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median school psychologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Sacramento, CA
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $153,050
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $137,640
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers — $119,950
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $108,430
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $104,770
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $98,220
- Urban and Regional Planner — $96,580
- Biological Technician — $64,410
- Agricultural Technician — $62,680
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health — $57,170