School Psychologist Salary in San Diego, CA
School Psychologists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $131,070 a year — 37% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $91,189 take-home, or $7,599 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median school psychologist salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,191
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,126
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,901
- California income tax$7,960
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,704
- Take-home pay$91,189
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
School Psychologist pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,820 | $38.38 | $60,752 | $5,063 |
| 25th percentile | $106,030 | $50.98 | $76,413 | $6,368 |
| Median (50th) | $131,070 | $63.01 | $91,189 | $7,599 |
| 75th percentile | $140,980 | $67.78 | $96,912 | $8,076 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $153,010 | $73.56 | $103,859 | $8,655 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $131,070 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median school psychologist's $91,189 take-home pay has the buying power of $81,501 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of school psychologist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for school psychologists, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #4 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
- Sacramento, CA — $131,920
- San Francisco, CA — $130,540
- Los Angeles, CA — $122,390
Frequently asked questions
How much does a school psychologist make in San Diego, CA?
The median school psychologist salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $131,070 a year, or about $63.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $106,030 and $140,980.
What is a school psychologist’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $131,070 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $91,189 a year ($7,599 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,664 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a school psychologist?
Pay here is 37% above the national median of $95,990. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $81,501 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #4 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a school psychologist afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median school psychologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $130,980
- Biochemist and Biophysicist — $121,740
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $108,350
- Urban and Regional Planner — $107,710
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $106,100
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $101,230
- Chemist — $95,160
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — $94,110
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other — $75,970
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $72,090
- Biological Technician — $67,060
- Social Science Research Assistant — $66,520