The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) reported that the number of forensic psychologists in the state is expected to increase by 6.2% between 2012 and 2022. Job growth is expected to be even higher in these regions:
- Hudson Valley 4%
- Capital Region 5%
- New York City 4%
Many of New York’s forensic pathologists work with the state’s Department of Corrections. As of 2015, more than 9,000 of New York’s prison inmates received services from the Office of Mental Health according to spokesman Ben Rosen.
The state is revamping its provision of mental health care to inmates being released after Daniel St. Hubert stabbed two children in Brooklyn nine days after being released from state prison without mental health counseling or medication for his mental illness.
The Office of Mental Health now provides psychiatric help to discharged inmates who have been deemed seriously mentally ill:
- Psychiatric medication (two-week supply and prescription for refill)
- A case manager
- A grant to cover the cost of medication while their application for Medicaid is pending
With the help of forensic psychologists, this program is expected to both improve the mental health of these individuals and help to reduce the likelihood that they will commit crimes after their release.
Salaries for New York’s Forensic Psychologists
The New York State Department of Civil Service offered a starting salary of $57,703 to forensic psychologists in 2015. After their initial service, those in the position of associate psychologist – forensic mental health earned $85,635 a year. Forensic psychologists who served in the downstate or mid-Hudson areas also received supplemental pay:
The New York State Department of Labor reported that the median salary for forensic psychologists in the state was $82,870 in 2015. Experienced professionals earned an average of $102,330, while those starting out averaged $54,280. Forensic psychology salaries varied greatly throughout the state in 2015:
Forensic Psychologist Salaries in New York’s Metropolitan and Rural Areas
Shown below for comparative purposes are salary statistics for forensic psychologists throughout New York as reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2014:
