Psychiatrists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $84,060 | $40.41 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $281,870 | $135.51 |
| Mean (average) | $269,940 | $129.78 |
| 90th percentile | $446,520 | $214.67 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Psychiatrists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 47 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $342,170 | $83,170 | $421,650 | 50 | 0.93 |
| Arizona | $249,720 | $128,350 | $385,760 | 380 | 0.64 |
| Arkansas | $124,750 | $66,030 | $375,080 | 150 | 0.65 |
| California | $353,500 | $113,990 | $496,230 | 5,420 | 1.66 |
| Colorado | $266,370 | $134,050 | $353,330 | 270 | 0.52 |
| Connecticut | $326,670 | $75,190 | $481,590 | 560 | 1.85 |
| Delaware | $279,410 | $57,150 | $410,910 | 100 | 1.11 |
| District of Columbia | $183,080 | $45,150 | $304,250 | 310 | 2.45 |
| Florida | $316,200 | $71,680 | $568,460 | 1,930 | 1.08 |
| Georgia | $237,480 | $89,990 | $369,790 | 470 | 0.54 |
| Hawaii | $289,990 | $156,990 | $302,450 | 170 | 1.47 |
| Idaho | $75,470 | $75,470 | $302,230 | 110 | 0.69 |
| Illinois | $258,740 | $134,770 | $447,930 | 870 | 0.79 |
| Indiana | $284,110 | $161,820 | $454,930 | 410 | 0.72 |
| Iowa | $295,270 | $77,320 | $427,810 | 170 | 0.62 |
| Kansas | $278,100 | $147,070 | $339,990 | 60 | 0.22 |
| Kentucky | $237,770 | $74,200 | $361,640 | 160 | 0.45 |
| Louisiana | $345,040 | $190,550 | $443,710 | 90 | 0.27 |
| Maine | $300,180 | $110,690 | $328,390 | 80 | 0.71 |
| Maryland | $305,320 | $154,720 | $449,640 | 460 | 0.93 |
| Massachusetts | Data unavailable | 1,060 | 1.62 | ||
| Michigan | $291,850 | $81,390 | $399,920 | 560 | 0.71 |
| Minnesota | $336,410 | $90,470 | $446,520 | 580 | 1.09 |
| Mississippi | $213,680 | $61,380 | $339,790 | 110 | 0.55 |
| Missouri | $312,680 | $122,240 | $644,800 | 240 | 0.45 |
| Nebraska | $135,180 | $53,160 | $353,450 | 180 | 0.97 |
| Nevada | $210,030 | $100,880 | $377,600 | 90 | 0.31 |
| New Hampshire | $246,140 | $69,970 | $294,770 | 90 | 0.76 |
| New Jersey | $194,070 | $87,120 | $404,870 | 1,290 | 1.67 |
| New Mexico | $227,730 | $172,340 | $388,100 | ||
| New York | $265,890 | $86,120 | $443,340 | 4,130 | 2.37 |
| North Carolina | $168,880 | $101,080 | $297,250 | 620 | 0.7 |
| Ohio | $244,990 | $82,650 | $423,440 | 690 | 0.69 |
| Oklahoma | $271,640 | $123,220 | $356,840 | 80 | 0.26 |
| Oregon | $314,880 | $62,300 | $391,230 | 430 | 1.21 |
| Pennsylvania | $278,970 | $148,050 | $394,740 | 830 | 0.76 |
| Rhode Island | $287,610 | $145,780 | $480,690 | 270 | 2.98 |
| South Carolina | $237,250 | $129,250 | $308,430 | 200 | 0.49 |
| South Dakota | $226,180 | $130,000 | $341,360 | 60 | 0.75 |
| Tennessee | $214,880 | $65,820 | $359,990 | 410 | 0.69 |
| Texas | $228,460 | $73,330 | $391,890 | 1,690 | 0.67 |
| Utah | $299,670 | $158,990 | $358,180 | 260 | 0.83 |
| Vermont | $302,770 | $77,450 | $424,200 | 80 | 1.55 |
| Virginia | $295,010 | $129,440 | $372,180 | 370 | 0.5 |
| Washington | $304,920 | $92,320 | $363,850 | 360 | 0.57 |
| West Virginia | $63,320 | $63,320 | $465,770 | 90 | 0.69 |
| Wisconsin | $331,070 | $86,340 | $393,500 | 550 | 1.03 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for psychiatrists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for psychiatrists
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Medicine CIP 51.1201
- Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy CIP 51.1202
- Family Medicine/Psychiatry Combined Specialty Program CIP 61.0107
- Internal Medicine/Psychiatry Combined Specialty Program CIP 61.0117
- Pediatrics/Psychology/Child-Adolescent Psychology Combined Specialty Program CIP 61.0123
- Psychiatry/Neurology Combined Specialty Program CIP 61.0124
- Psychiatry Residency Program CIP 61.2401
- Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program CIP 61.2402
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program CIP 61.2403
- Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship Program CIP 61.2404
- Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program CIP 61.2405
- Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Program CIP 61.2406
- Psychiatry Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other CIP 61.2499
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prescribe, direct, or administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.
- Gather and maintain patient information and records, including social or medical history obtained from patients, relatives, or other professionals.
- Collaborate with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals to discuss treatment plans and progress.
- Counsel outpatients or other patients during office visits.
- Analyze and evaluate patient data or test findings to diagnose nature or extent of mental disorder.
- Examine or conduct laboratory or diagnostic tests on patients to provide information on general physical condition or mental disorder.
- Design individualized care plans, using a variety of treatments.
- Advise or inform guardians, relatives, or significant others of patients' conditions or treatment.
Technology skills
- Epic Systems (hot technology)
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- ADL Data Systems OptimumClinicals Electronic Health Record
- Advantage Software Psych Advantage
- Allscripts Sunrise
- Blumenthal Software PBSW24
- Cerner ProFile
- Computer Assisted Diagnostic Interview CADI software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Epic EpicCare Inpatient Clinical System
- FifthWalk BillingTracker Pro
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Instructing.
Common job titles: Adolescent Psychiatrist, Adult Psychiatrist, Attending Psychiatrist, Board Certified Psychiatrist, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Child Psychiatrist, Consulting Psychiatrist, Forensic Psychiatrist, Medical Doctor (MD), Physician.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do psychiatrists make?
The national median annual wage for psychiatrists was $281,870 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $84,060 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $446,520. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do psychiatrists need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and internship/residency on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is psychiatrists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of psychiatrists to change +7.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay psychiatrists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($353,500), Louisiana ($345,040), Alaska ($342,170). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.