School Psychologist Salary in San Francisco, CA
School Psychologists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $130,540 a year — 36% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $90,882 take-home, or $7,574 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median school psychologist salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,064
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,093
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,893
- California income tax$7,911
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,697
- Take-home pay$90,882
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
School Psychologist pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $108,770 | $52.29 | $78,050 | $6,504 |
| 25th percentile | $110,610 | $53.18 | $79,149 | $6,596 |
| Median (50th) | $130,540 | $62.76 | $90,882 | $7,574 |
| 75th percentile | $146,300 | $70.34 | $99,984 | $8,332 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,620 | $81.07 | $112,874 | $9,406 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $130,540 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median school psychologist's $90,882 take-home pay has the buying power of $78,609 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 less concentrated in San Francisco, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for school psychologists, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #7 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 Diego, CA — $131,070
- Los Angeles, CA — $122,390
Frequently asked questions
How much does a school psychologist make in San Francisco, CA?
The median school psychologist salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $130,540 a year, or about $62.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $110,610 and $146,300.
What is a school psychologist’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $130,540 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $90,882 a year ($7,574 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,608 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a school psychologist?
Pay here is 36% above the national median of $95,990. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $78,609 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #7 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a school psychologist afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median school psychologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $166,400
- Biochemist and Biophysicist — $165,050
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $160,180
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $138,160
- Urban and Regional Planner — $136,250
- Microbiologist — $130,070
- Chemist — $127,790
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $127,210
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $126,860
- Biological Technician — $95,220
- Social Science Research Assistant — $82,020
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health — $80,840