GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / School Psychologists
Best States to Be a School Psychologists
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a school psychologists salary goes furthest in Colorado — a $124,770 BLS median worth $116,388 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 136.1).
Which US states are best for a school psychologists after cost of living and tax?
For a school psychologists, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Colorado #1: a $124,770 BLS median becomes $116,388 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 136.1). Mississippi ranks last ($68,069, index 79.6). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
Colorado ranks #1 of 51 states for a school psychologists. Index 100 = the average state; 136.1 means pay goes 36.1% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedSchool Psychologists — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $124,770 | $4,830 | 103.1 | $116,388 | 136.1 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $110,360 | $4,131 | 92.2 | $115,201 | 134.7 |
| 3 | California | $127,780 | $7,762 | 110.7 | $108,398 | 126.7 |
| 4 | Washington | $108,780 | — | 107.0 | $101,651 | 118.8 |
| 5 | Maryland | $109,700 | $4,888 | 105.0 | $99,860 | 116.7 |
| 6 | Georgia | $99,110 | $4,695 | 96.3 | $98,049 | 114.6 |
| 7 | Ohio | $91,010 | $1,720 | 92.8 | $96,244 | 112.5 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $88,980 | $3,531 | 90.1 | $94,835 | 110.9 |
| 9 | Oregon | $106,070 | $8,477 | 103.4 | $94,419 | 110.4 |
| 10 | New York | $106,550 | $5,345 | 107.9 | $93,777 | 109.6 |
| 11 | Nevada | $93,680 | — | 100.0 | $93,700 | 109.5 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $100,600 | $3,958 | 103.6 | $93,275 | 109.0 |
| 13 | Alaska | $94,460 | — | 102.4 | $92,283 | 107.9 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $107,500 | $6,263 | 109.9 | $92,117 | 107.7 |
| 15 | Delaware | $95,990 | $4,994 | 99.8 | $91,171 | 106.6 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $83,740 | — | 92.7 | $90,343 | 105.6 |
| 17 | Arizona | $92,380 | $1,835 | 100.7 | $89,937 | 105.1 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $94,900 | $2,959 | 102.3 | $89,892 | 105.1 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $98,670 | $4,714 | 105.8 | $88,842 | 103.9 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $78,370 | — | 88.6 | $88,468 | 103.4 |
| 21 | Texas | $83,690 | — | 97.1 | $86,228 | 100.8 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $83,330 | $3,264 | 94.1 | $85,090 | 99.5 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $95,160 | $3,872 | 108.8 | $83,901 | 98.1 |
| 24 | Michigan | $83,960 | $3,322 | 96.2 | $83,809 | 98.0 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $76,850 | — | 91.9 | $83,651 | 97.8 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $85,190 | $4,304 | 98.6 | $82,017 | 95.9 |
| 27 | Florida | $84,760 | — | 103.4 | $81,962 | 95.8 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $82,190 | $2,523 | 97.6 | $81,649 | 95.5 |
| 29 | Iowa | $74,410 | $2,788 | 87.8 | $81,610 | 95.4 |
| 30 | Vermont | $82,820 | $3,084 | 98.0 | $81,398 | 95.2 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $75,220 | $2,691 | 89.5 | $81,041 | 94.7 |
| 32 | Montana | $80,010 | $3,582 | 94.6 | $80,752 | 94.4 |
| 33 | Indiana | $77,640 | $2,299 | 93.3 | $80,726 | 94.4 |
| 34 | Illinois | $84,690 | $4,051 | 100.0 | $80,673 | 94.3 |
| 35 | Virginia | $85,670 | $4,126 | 101.1 | $80,653 | 94.3 |
| 36 | Alabama | $75,060 | $3,488 | 88.8 | $80,578 | 94.2 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $75,370 | $2,884 | 90.2 | $80,398 | 94.0 |
| 38 | Maine | $81,650 | $3,897 | 97.0 | $80,117 | 93.7 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $76,720 | $3,149 | 93.7 | $78,476 | 91.7 |
| 40 | Kansas | $73,020 | $3,275 | 90.1 | $77,436 | 90.5 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $68,960 | $107 | 89.0 | $77,399 | 90.5 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $69,020 | $1,696 | 88.2 | $76,325 | 89.2 |
| 43 | Utah | $77,820 | $3,541 | 98.9 | $75,133 | 87.8 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $73,220 | $2,570 | 94.3 | $74,900 | 87.6 |
| 45 | Missouri | $70,290 | $2,423 | 90.8 | $74,730 | 87.4 |
| 46 | Idaho | $71,700 | $2,963 | 95.5 | $71,981 | 84.1 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $64,030 | $2,289 | 86.9 | $71,018 | 83.0 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $64,930 | $2,547 | 87.8 | $71,017 | 83.0 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $73,490 | — | 104.2 | $70,552 | 82.5 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $82,110 | $4,710 | 110.0 | $70,395 | 82.3 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $61,070 | $1,882 | 87.0 | $68,069 | 79.6 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In Colorado, a $124,770 salary is worth about $115,748 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $5,490 (flat 4.40%) · take-home $119,280 · BEA cost of living 103.1 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $140,846, a $25,099 gain over Colorado.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $140,846 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $137,921 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $137,208 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $137,178 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $136,766 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $136,749 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $135,811 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $135,291 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $134,609 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $133,447 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $132,853 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $132,693 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
School Psychologists — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a school psychologists?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Colorado is the best state for a school psychologists: a BLS median of $124,770 is worth $116,388 after the 2025 state income tax ($4,830) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 103.1), an index of 136.1 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a school psychologists at $127,780, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 51 on real pay (index 126.7). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a school psychologists salary go least far?
- Mississippi ranks last of 51 states for a school psychologists: a $61,070 BLS median is worth only $68,069 after tax and cost of living (index 79.6). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
Get the Gera US Real Pay Index when BLS refreshes OEWS
BLS OEWS updates roughly once a year. Save your email and we’ll send the refreshed real-pay rankings when new wage data lands.
Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a school psychologists is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.