The Aloha State has a unique history as home to the most racially diverse population in the United States. Hawaii, with its unique culture, offers challenges and financial rewards for psychologists.
These professionals earn high incomes, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reporting an average Hawaii psychologist salary of $113,040. The state's nonmetropolitan areas on the island of Hawaii and Kauai also pay some of the highest wages, with psychologists making an average wage of $148,150.
Roughly 380 clinical counseling psychologists and 130 other types of psychologists work in Hawaii. In fact, Hawaii ranks among the top five states with the highest concentration of jobs for clinical and counseling psychologists — but not nearly enough to meet the kamaaina's needs.
Want to become a psychologist in Hawaii? Find out about salaries for these professionals and information on earning a psychologist license in Hawaii.
| Job Title | Lowest 10% | Median Annual Salary | Highest 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical and counseling psychologists | $62,310 | $101,310 | Not available |
| School psychologists | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Industrial-organizational psychologists | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Psychologists, all other | $23,680 | $105,640 | $142,380 |
Source: BLS
Online Doctorate Programs in Psychology
Psychologist Licensing in Hawaii
Hawaii's Board of Psychology, which operates through the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, regulates licensing for psychologists. Hawaii offers six pathways to licensure, including licensure by examination, waiver, or temporary permit. Psychologists receive either permanent or temporary licensure.
Applicants who apply for licenses in Hawaii by examination must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). Only the island of Oahu offers a site-based testing site. Test-takers can receive their results within 15 business days after completing the exam.
Hawaii also offers licensure by certificate, credential, or senior psychologist. Eligible applicants must hold a certification of professional quality in psychology credential, National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology credential, or American Board of Professional Psychology certificate.
Hawaii does not have a reciprocity agreement or recognize psychologists with licensure from other states. Fortunately, the licensure process in Hawaii makes it easier for applicants to become psychologists. The state applies fewer mandated postdoctoral hours compared to states such as Florida, Michigan, and New Jersey, which require about 3,500-6,000 postdoctoral hours, respectively.
However, states like Alabama provide even quicker pathways to licensure since they do not include exams or continuing education requirements.
License Requirements
Receive a bachelor's degree from an accredited school, preferably in psychology or a related field Earn a doctoral degree from an American Psychological Association-approved program or a program offered through an accredited school Complete the required graduate-level courses Finish one year or 1,900 hours of post-graduate supervised training Registered for the EPPP and pay the $600 fee Pass the computer-based EPPP Submit an online application for licensure and transfer scores to the Board of Psychology in Hawaii Send transcripts, a copy of the doctorate degree, and proof of internship to Hawaii's licensing agency
Demand for Psychology in Hawaii
Hawaii lacks the proper resources to meet increasing demand for mental health services. This demand is fueled by many factors, including substance abuse and addiction, poverty, and the state's homelessness crisis. According to Continuums of Care's report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in January of 2020 Hawaii counted 6,458 people experiencing homelessness.
The Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center estimates that that state needs hundreds of mental health providers. The demand has forced mental health providers at Kaiser Permanente in 2022 to go on strike in protest of backlogged patients and heavy caseloads.
With most of Hawaii's mental health providers concentrated on Oahu, neighbor islands such as the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai face a greater need for services. Underserved areas include the westside of Oahu and populations on less accessible islands, such as individuals on Lanai.