In 2014, the United States Department of Labor recognized Pennsylvania as a national leader in terms of employment for forensic psychologists. Employment highlights from that year are as follows:
- Pennsylvania held the fourth highest employment level of forensic psychologists in the nation. At that time, forensic psychologists working here earned an average annual salary of $68,250 and an average hourly wage of $32.81.
- The Philadelphia metropolitan division held the fifth highest employment level of forensic psychologists among all other metropolitan areas in the nation. Forensic psychologists practicing here took home an average annual salary of $72,910 and an average hourly wage of $35.05.
- The Altoona metropolitan district held the seventh highest concentration of forensic psychologist jobs compared to all other metropolitan areas in the nation. Forensic psychologists working here were paid an average annual salary of $68,600 and an average hourly wage $32.98.
- The nonmetropolitan regions of West Central and East Central Pennsylvania were both among the top five nonmetropolitan areas with the highest number of forensic psychologists in the nation. Forensic psychologists practicing in West Central Pennsylvania received an average annual salary of $61,640 and an average hourly wage of $29.63, while those in East Central earned an average annual salary of $72,290 and an average hourly wage of $34.75.
Salary Expectations for Forensic Psychologists in Pennsylvania Based on Experience
Forensic psychologists looking for jobs in Pennsylvania can expect local employers to offer salaries based on a candidate’s amount of previous work experience. For example, the United States Department of Labor found that forensic psychologists with several years of field experience in Pennsylvania typically earned nearly three times that of those in entry-level positions in 2014:
- Entry-level $34,000
- Mid-Career: $62,300
- Experienced: $101,300
Forensic Psychologist Salaries in Pennsylvania by Location
Forensic psychologists working in the Pittsburg, State College, and Scranton-Wilkes-Barre areas earned less than $59,000 annually, while those in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metropolitan division and the Far Western nonmetropolitan region were compensated with an average salary upwards of $80,000 annually (US Department of Labor, 2014):
