Psychologist Pay

Cottonwood Heights vs Salt Lake City: Clinical and Counseling Psychologist Salary (2026)

Compare clinical and counseling psychologist salaries between Cottonwood Heights, UT and Salt Lake City, UT. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Cottonwood Heights, UT
$101,951
$49.02/hr
Salt Lake City, UT
$104,197
$50.10/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCottonwood Heights, UTSalt Lake City, UT
Median Salary$101,951$104,197
Hourly Rate$49.02$50.10
Entry Level (P10)$59,132$42,200
25th Percentile$73,453$77,791
75th Percentile$130,497$137,550
Top Earner (P90)$158,024$171,911
Total Employed5500
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Cottonwood Heights ($101,951) and Salt Lake City ($104,197) clinical and counseling psychologist salaries.Cottonwood HeightsSalt Lake CityMedian Salary$101,951$104,197Entry Level (P10)$59,132$42,200Top Earner (P90)$158,024$171,911US Median $105,689

Verdict

Salt Lake City, UT offers better overall compensation for clinical and counseling psychologists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Cottonwood Heights.

The salary gap between Cottonwood Heights and Salt Lake City is $2,246 (2.20%). Salt Lake City's median is -1.41% compared to the US national median of $105,689.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Cottonwood Heights spans $98,892,Salt Lake City spans $129,711. Salt Lake City has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced clinical and counseling psychologists.

Cottonwood Heights
P10 (Entry)$59,132
P25$73,453
Median$101,951
P75$130,497
P90 (Top)$158,024
Salt Lake City
P10 (Entry)$42,200
P25$77,791
Median$104,197
P75$137,550
P90 (Top)$171,911

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Cottonwood Heights ($103,926 effective) pays 0.61% more than Salt Lake City ($103,300 effective).

Cottonwood Heights
Nominal: $101,951
CoL Index: 98.1
Adjusted: $103,926
Salt Lake City
Nominal: $104,197
CoL Index: 100.868
Adjusted: $103,300

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Cottonwood Heights if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $103,926)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Choose Salt Lake City if…

  • Higher median salary ($104,197/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($171,911)
  • Larger job market (500 employed)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, clinical and counseling psychologist salaries in Cottonwood Heights grew 16.8% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 11.1% growth in Salt Lake City over the same period.

Cottonwood Heights, UT

+16.8%

$83,083 (2024) → $97,022 (2025)

Salt Lake City, UT

+11.1%

$89,250 (2021) → $99,160 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays clinical and counseling psychologists more: Cottonwood Heights or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has a higher median clinical and counseling psychologist salary at $104,197/year, compared to Cottonwood Heights at $101,951/year — a difference of $2,246 (2.20%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Cottonwood Heights and Salt Lake City?

Cottonwood Heights clinical and counseling psychologists earn $49.02/hr while Salt Lake City hygienists earn $50.10/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Cottonwood Heights to Salt Lake City as a clinical and counseling psychologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Cottonwood Heights and Salt Lake City. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Cottonwood Heights = $103,926, Salt Lake City = $103,300), job availability (5 vs 500 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level clinical and counseling psychologists earn in Cottonwood Heights vs Salt Lake City?

Entry-level (10th percentile) clinical and counseling psychologists earn $59,132 in Cottonwood Heights and $42,200 in Salt Lake City. The Cottonwood Heights area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

MG

Written by Maria Gonzalez, PhD, LPC

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience in clinical psychology. She specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy. Maria works at a mental health clinic in Chicago.

Clinically reviewed by James Wu, PsyD, LCSWData verified by Fatima Khan, PhD, LCPC

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 5.08% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, PhD, LPC, a licensed clinical and counseling psychologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov