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DSHS WSH Forensic Psychologist

State of Washington

Pierce County – Lakewood, WA · HybridFull-time$119–161K/yrPosted 1w agoStill listed 6 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$119–161K/yr
Location
Pierce County – Lakewood, WAHybrid
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

EPPP Approval Or PassedWashington Licensure ApplicationDoctorateValid Driver's License

Job overview

Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services is hiring psychologists for Western State Hospital’s Competency Restoration and Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity programs. Psychologists work with patients with complex cases using a trauma-informed approach and serve as team leads and consultants. The role also offers opportunities for professional development, teaching, policy work, student supervision, and research.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Evidence-Based TreatmentForensic TestingPsychological TestingTrauma-Informed CareTeam LeadershipConsultationPsychoeducationRisk Assessment

Qualifications

Doctoral Degree in PsychologyTwo Years Doctoral ExperienceEPPP Approval or PassedWashington Licensure ApplicationValid Driver's License

Full job description

Are you looking for a meaningful career in forensics with room to grow, job stability, consultation opportunities, and a chance to work within a multidisciplinary team? If you are passionate about working with severely behavioral ill patients, we have a spot for you! Check out Western State Hospital's Gage Center of Forensic Services (aka CFS), located on the historical Fort Steilacoom Campus and currently under expansion.

Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary. Pierce County employees are eligible to receive an Orca Card for transportation needs.

We're hiring motivated, enthusiastic candidates to work as Psychologists in either of two forensic programs under RCW 10.77 - Competency Restoration (Comp Rest) and Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI). Both programs are under review and evolving, so if you're interested in systemic and programmatic improvements, challenges, and rewards, this is for you.

In either program, you will work with patients with complex, challenging, and diverse cases from a trauma-informed care approach. As a multidisciplinary team member, you will be a team lead and consultant, ensuring the team uses evidence-based treatment modalities and behavior management strategies.

Outside of typical work duties, there are opportunities to enhance your professional development and leadership skills, teach various disciplines about psychological concepts, develop and inform policy and standards of practice, obtain free continuing education units, join committees, supervise students, and conduct research. There is much more offered. Let's talk.

Some of what you will be doing (depending on the program):

  • Therapeutically engage with patients
  • Consulting with the team and other stakeholders regarding patient care, practices, and procedure
  • Support non-medical and medical clinical staff by providing psychoeducation and appropriate modeling leadership
  • Complete assessments of violence and suicidal risk
  • Implement evidence-based treatment practices
  • Conduct psychological testing
  • Provide court testimony (where applicable)
  • Complete required documentation according to professional, hospital, and CMS standards.

Who should apply? Professionals with a Doctoral degree in Psychology from an accredited school or department of psychology and preferably two years of doctoral experience working in an inpatient or forensic setting with a severely behavioral ill population. Individuals with formal training in evidence-based treatment modalities or forensic/psychological testing are preferred.

In-training positions are available, but you must be approved to take EPPP in WA state or have passed EPPP and applied for licensure in WA state.

How to Apply: Completed applications will include:

  • Resume/CV
  • Letter of interest
  • Three professional references with current contact information.

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring an equity, anti-racism, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to create greater access and affirming representation of the communities we serve, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Questions about 00083? Contact [email protected]

ocarinaPrior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protect­ed veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.

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How this job compares

Set against the 1,096 open Psychologist jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$119–161K/yr
  • US median$100–150K/yr400 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $140K, is 9% above the US median midpoint ($129K) — in the middle half of Psychologist salary ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 24 open Psychologist jobs in Washington and 1,096 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Experience
Psychologist postings that state a minimum ask for 2 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 1 to 2 years (429 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a doctorate or professional degree; 765 of the 1,096 open Psychologist jobs (70%) ask for a doctorate or professional degree.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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