Being a Psychologist in San Bernardino, Birmingham, Spokane, and Atlanta: A Comparative Analysis
Spokane leads the published figures at about $112,112 at U.S. prices, Atlanta is at $97,034, and San Bernardino’s metro falls to $87,118, while Birmingham’s median isn’t published. BLS shows about 50 jobs for Birmingham and withholds the pay, so no figure can be given here. Spokane’s own base is small too, with 120 jobs.
| City | BLS metro area | Psychologist jobs | Median pay | Price level | Median at U.S. prices | HRSA shortage area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,130 | $92,730 | 106.4 | $87,118 | Partial |
| Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 50 | Not published | 91.6 | Not published | Partial |
| Spokane | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 120 | $112,500 | 100.3 | $112,112 | Partial |
| Atlanta | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 770 | $97,090 | 100.1 | $97,034 | Partial |
The Riverside-San Bernardino metro is the big market here, with 1,130 jobs. Its mean of $112,690 is well above its $92,730 median, so higher-paying positions exist there. Birmingham’s 91.6 price level means you could divide an offer by 0.916 to compare it with the last column.
Licensing
| State | Supervised experience in total | After the doctorate | Rule read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | Internship, plus 1,500 postdoctoral | 1,500 | Ga. Rule 510-2-.01 |
| Washington | 3,300, including 300 practicum and 1,500 internship | Optional for the last 1,500 | WAC 246-924-043 |
| Alabama | Ask the board | Ask the board | Ala. Admin. Code 750-X-2-.07 (internship) |
| California | 3,000 | At least one year, or 1,500 | 16 CCR 1387 |
Ask the Alabama board for its total supervised experience requirement. The internship rule linked below sets at least 20 hours a week and gives no total. Washington sets 3,300 hours, including a 300-hour practicum and a 1,500-hour internship. California sets 3,000. Georgia sets 1,500 postdoctoral hours after internship, with 40 renewal credits every two years, 6 in ethics. Rules read: Georgia: Ga. Rule 510-2-.01; Washington: WAC 246-924-043; Alabama: Ala. Admin. Code 750-X-2-.07 (internship); California: 16 CCR 1387.
Decision notes
In Spokane, a market of 120 jobs may have few openings at any one time. Ask whether Washington’s practicum hours in your training records will satisfy the rule, since a 300-hour practicum is in the requirement. In San Bernardino, ask about setting, because the 10th to 90th range runs from $74,910 to $168,350. In Birmingham, you may need to learn pay directly from employers and local psychologists.
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025; employees only. Prices: BEA, 2024. Shortage: HRSA, November 2026; “Partial” means part of a county or a population group.