Being a Psychologist in Plano, Henderson, Lincoln, and Atlanta: A Comparative Analysis
Lincoln, Nebraska, has the strongest numbers here, a $120,000 median and about $131,032 at U.S. prices, though only 150 jobs back them up. Plano and Henderson report through bigger metros, Dallas-Fort Worth and Las Vegas, and they’re close together after prices at $103,288 and $101,751.
| City | BLS metro area | Psychologist jobs | Median pay | Price level | Median at U.S. prices | HRSA shortage area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plano | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 950 | $106,480 | 103.1 | $103,288 | Partial |
| Henderson | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 470 | $101,970 | 100.2 | $101,751 | Partial |
| Lincoln | Lincoln, NE | 150 | $120,000 | 91.6 | $131,032 | County-wide |
| Atlanta | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 770 | $97,090 | 100.1 | $97,034 | Partial |
Lincoln’s price level of 91.6 does much of that work. Its county also shows a county-wide HRSA mental health shortage designation, the only one in this group. That may matter for particular jobs or loan programs, so ask an employer, but it isn’t evidence that you’d be hired or how you’d be paid.
Licensing
| State | Supervised experience in total | After the doctorate | Rule read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | Internship, plus 1,500 postdoctoral | 1,500 | Ga. Rule 510-2-.01 |
| Nebraska | 1,500-hour internship, then a postdoctoral year | At least 1,500, with 1,000 direct service | 172 NAC 155-004 |
| Nevada | Two years: an internship year, then a postdoctoral year | At least 1,750 | NAC 641.080 |
| Texas | 3,500 | 1,750, after a 1,750-hour internship | 22 TAC 463.11 |
Nebraska’s rule covers a 1,500-hour internship and a postdoctoral year of at least 1,500 hours, 1,000 of them direct service. Nevada’s asks for an internship year and then at least 1,750 postdoctoral hours; a longer-licensed applicant from elsewhere has a different path. Texas sets 3,500, split evenly between internship and postdoctoral work. Georgia sets 1,500 postdoctoral hours after internship, and renewal takes 40 credits every two years, 6 in ethics. Rules read: Georgia: Ga. Rule 510-2-.01; Nebraska: 172 NAC 155-004; Nevada: NAC 641.080; Texas: 22 TAC 463.11.
Comparing suburb and city
Plano’s data isn’t Plano’s. It’s the same row you’d see for Fort Worth, Garland, Irving, or Arlington. So compare employers and commutes, since BLS can’t separate them. The same goes for Henderson and the rest of the Las Vegas metro. In Lincoln, ask how many employers would be options if your first job didn’t work out.
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025; employees only. Prices: BEA, 2024. Shortage: HRSA, November 2026; “Partial” means part of a county or a population group.