Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $170,400 or more. The middle half of clinical and counseling psychologists in Chicago earn between $53,650 and $128,480.
- $31K10th
- $54K25th
- $85KMedian
- $128K75th
- $170K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,510 | $8,042 | $46.40 |
| Median | $85,390 | $7,116 | $41.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,650 | $4,471 | $25.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,480 | $10,707 | $61.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Clinical and counseling psychologists in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($95,590) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($112,750). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $100,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $96,510 | $85,390 | $31,200 | $170,400 | 5,030 |
| Illinois | $95,590 | $83,750 | $36,580 | $168,730 | 5,810 |
| United States | $112,750 | $100,580 | $55,170 | $180,960 | 75,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $96,510, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $72,089 a year, or $6,007 a month and $2,773 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $73,859 | $6,155 |
| Working in IL | $72,089 | $6,007 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for clinical and counseling psychologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $96,510 buys what about $93,161 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 5 Illinois metro areas for this job; Peoria pays the most ($100,150).
- Peoria$100,150
- Chicago$96,510
- Rockford$96,450
- Champaign$94,370
- Springfield$86,780
All Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for clinical and counseling psychologists
San Luis Obispo, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($166,470).
- San Luis Obispo, CA$166,470
- San Francisco, CA$153,490
- Green Bay, WI$150,150
- Hanford, CA$147,510
- Salem, OR$144,240
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Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make an hour in Chicago?
$46.40 an hour on average, and $41.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clinical and counseling psychologists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clinical and counseling psychologists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $72,089 a year ($6,007 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,510.
Do clinical and counseling psychologists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($112,750).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3033; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.28, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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