What is the average salary for a criminal psychologist in Australia?

There is no official average salary published specifically for criminal psychology. The ABS groups psychologists under the broader category of Psychologists and Psychotherapists. For that group, the median full-time weekly earnings are $2,204 (about $114,608 a year), based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025. This is above the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 a year). Actual pay for criminal psychologists will vary by employer, experience, and location.

How does criminal psychology pay compare to other psychology specialisations?

The ABS does not break down earnings by psychology specialisation. However, the median for all psychologists and psychotherapists ($2,204 per week full-time) is higher than the national full-time median of about $1,740 per week (estimated from ABS data). Clinical, forensic, and organisational psychologists may earn at different points within the distribution. Factors such as working in private practice versus public health, and whether you hold a registrar program or endorsement, can significantly affect income.

What factors can move a criminal psychologist's pay above or below the national average?

Several factors influence earnings: sector (public vs private), years of experience, location (e.g., ACT average full-time $119,090 vs Tasmania $96,008), and whether you work full-time or part-time. Criminal psychologists employed by state governments or in correctional services may be covered by awards or enterprise agreements that set pay scales. Those in private practice or consulting may earn more but face variable income. The national full-time average is a useful benchmark, but individual circumstances can push pay well above or below that line.

Criminal psychology salary: How it compares to the national average

Criminal psychology salary and the national average

Criminal psychology – also referred to as forensic psychology – is a specialised field within psychology. Because the ABS and other official sources do not publish a separate earnings figure for this niche, the best available benchmark is the broader category of Psychologists and Psychotherapists. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for psychologists and psychotherapists is $2,204 (based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025). That works out to roughly $114,608 a year before tax, assuming a 38-hour week.

Where the national line sits

The site’s line is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, May 2026. That figure is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year. The psychologist median sits above that line by about $120 a week. However, remember that the line is an average (mean) while the psychologist figure is a median. The average for all full-time psychologists may be higher or lower than the median, depending on the distribution of earnings within the occupation.

What could push pay above or below

Several factors determine whether a criminal psychologist earns more or less than the national average:

Sector: Psychologists in the public sector (e.g., state health departments, corrective services) often have structured pay scales under awards or enterprise agreements. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings data for May 2026 shows that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings in the public sector were $2,399.30 for men and $2,154.00 for women – above the national average. Private sector earnings were lower on average ($2,139.50 for men, $1,840.80 for women). Criminal psychologists working for government may therefore be closer to or above the line.
Experience and seniority: Entry-level psychologists or those still completing their registrar program will earn less than the median. Senior psychologists, clinical leads, or those with endorsements in forensic psychology can earn significantly more.
Location: State and territory full-time averages vary widely. The Australian Capital Territory has the highest average at about $119,090, while Tasmania is lowest at $96,008. Criminal psychologists in the ACT or Western Australia ($115,825) are more likely to be above the national line than those in Tasmania or South Australia ($102,450).
Full-time vs part-time: Only about 50% of psychologists and psychotherapists work full-time, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. Part-time earnings are lower on a weekly basis, but hourly rates may be comparable. The national average is based on full-time workers, so part-time criminal psychologists will typically fall below the line in weekly terms.
Method of setting pay: The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025) found that 38.5% of all employees had pay set by individual arrangement, while 34.6% were on collective agreements. Criminal psychologists in private practice or consulting may negotiate higher rates, while those in public hospitals or prisons are more likely to be on awards or agreements that cap pay at certain levels.

How the figures are set

How the figures are set explains that the national average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, which captures ordinary-time earnings for full-time adults. The median for psychologists comes from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, which uses a different methodology and population (non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate). The minimum wage, set by Fair Work from 1 July 2026, is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week – well below both the national average and the psychologist median.

Using this site to compare

You can place a salary on the line to see how a criminal psychology salary compares to the national average, state averages, and the minimum wage. The tool shows weekly and hourly equivalents on a 38-hour week, and calculates the distance from the full-time average. Remember that the line is an average, not a guarantee – many workers earn above or below it.

Other benchmarks

For a broader view, Job medians lists median weekly earnings for hundreds of occupations. The all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100 a year, while the full-time median is about $90,532. Criminal psychologists, with a median of $114,608, sit well above both. However, individual circumstances vary, and the figures should be used as a guide only.

Summary

Criminal psychology pay in Australia is not separately published, but the psychologist and psychotherapist median of $2,204 per week is above the national full-time average of $2,083.70. Factors such as sector, experience, location, and employment type can move pay above or below that line. Use the site’s tools to see where a specific salary sits.