Psychiatrist Salary

Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Psychiatrists

The median psychiatrist salary in the United States is $281,870 per year ($135.51/hour). Salaries range from $84,060 at the entry level to $446,520+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 27,980 psychiatrist jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 6.1% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asPsychiatrist
Median Salary
$281,870
per year
Hourly Rate
$135.51
per hour
Employment
27,980
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$84,060
25th percentile
$154,150
Median
$281,870
75th percentile
$362,740
90th percentile
$446,520

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+6.1%
Faster than average

Annual Openings

900
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Doctoral or professional degree

Training Needed

Internship/residency

Psychiatrist Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for psychiatrists.

Psychiatrists are MDs/DOs specializing in mental health β€” diagnosis, medication management, and therapy. Path: 4 years med school + 4 years psychiatry residency. Optional 1-2 year fellowship (child/adolescent, addiction, forensic, geriatric, C-L). Practice settings: private practice (highest earnings + autonomy), academic medical centers (lower pay + research), hospital / inpatient (higher acuity), community mental health (public service loan forgiveness), telepsychiatry (surged post-Covid, flexible + growing). Demand is severe nationwide β€” psychiatry has one of the largest supply gaps in medicine. Cash-pay + telepsych practices now common alternative to insurance grind.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Diagnostic assessment (DSM-5-TR)
Comprehensive interview + differential diagnosis. Distinguishing mood, anxiety, psychotic, personality, substance-use, and neurocognitive disorders.
Psychopharmacology
SSRIs, SNRIs, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, stimulants, novel agents (ketamine, TMS referral). Understanding metabolism + interactions + augmentation.
Suicide + violence risk assessment
Standardized assessment (Columbia SSRS). Safety planning. When to hospitalize vs. outpatient.
Therapy fundamentals (CBT, motivational interviewing, supportive)
Even med-focused practices need therapy vocabulary. Full therapy practices require additional training.
Documentation + coding
E/M coding (99213, 99214, 99215), add-on psychotherapy codes (90833, 90836). Insurance auth for procedures.
Boundaries + countertransference
Managing therapeutic relationship. Recognizing personal reactions. Avoiding role blurring.
Consultation + collaboration
PCP consult, therapist coordination, family involvement, emergency systems integration.

How to Become a Psychiatrist

  1. 1
    Bachelor's + strong MCAT (usually 510+)
    Any major with pre-med prerequisites. Volunteering in mental health settings + shadowing psychiatrists.
  2. 2
    Medical school (MD or DO) β€” 4 years
    Both paths accepted for psychiatry. Third year rotations include psychiatry required. Fourth-year subinternship in psych recommended.
  3. 3
    Psychiatry residency (PGY-1 through PGY-4) β€” 4 years
    PGY-1: intern year (medicine + neurology + psychiatry). PGY-2-4: adult psychiatry + rotations in child, addiction, C-L, ER, inpatient.
  4. 4
    Board certification (ABPN)
    Written boards after PGY-4. Optional oral boards discontinued 2013 (now MOC only).
  5. 5
    State medical license + DEA registration
    State licensure + DEA for controlled substances. Some states allow independent practice immediately.
  6. 6
    Optional fellowship (1-2 years)
    Child + adolescent psychiatry (2 yrs), addiction psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, geriatric, consult-liaison, sleep.
  7. 7
    First practice setting
    Hospital-employed, academic faculty, group practice, PE-owned group (LifeStance, Talkspace, Cerebral competitors), or private practice.

Career Progression

PGY-1 Intern β†’ PGY-4 Chief Resident
0-4 (residency) yrs$62-78k/year salary + benefits
  • β€’Increasing clinical autonomy each year
  • β€’PGY-4 leadership + teaching
  • β€’Board prep
Next: Fellowship or attending.
Fellow (Child, Forensic, Addiction, etc.)
4-6 yrs$75-90k/year
  • β€’Subspecialty training
  • β€’Increased research or clinical scope
Next: Attending psychiatrist in subspecialty.
Attending Psychiatrist (hospital / academic / employed)
0-5 post-residency yrs$240-320k Β· Higher-acuity or leadership $300-400k+
  • β€’Independent patient care
  • β€’Full clinic or unit load
  • β€’Supervision of residents (academic)
Next: Group practice partner, private practice, or leadership.
Private Practice / Group Practice Psychiatrist
3-10+ yrs$280-500k Β· Cash-only NYC/SF/LA $500-800k+
  • β€’Own patient panel + schedule
  • β€’Insurance panels or cash-pay model
  • β€’Practice ops (billing, staff)
Next: Multi-provider practice or medical director.
Medical Director / Chief of Service / Practice Owner
10+ yrs$350-600k+ Β· Practice owner $500k-$1M+
  • β€’Multi-provider practice management
  • β€’Quality + compliance oversight
  • β€’Business development

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 12 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through a suicide risk assessment.technical
Structured: ask directly about ideation, plan, intent, means, prior attempts, protective factors. Columbia SSRS + collateral info. Safety planning collaboratively. Higher acuity = hospitalize (voluntary preferred, involuntary if needed). Documentation critical. Screens for real risk mgmt.
Q2. How do you decide when to hospitalize a patient?situational
Danger to self/others + inability to care for self are the classic criteria. Consider outpatient intensity (partial hospital, IOP, more frequent visits) before inpatient. Voluntary preferred. Family + supports assessment. Weigh trauma of hospitalization against risk. Documentation of decision-making.
Q3. Tell me about a difficult patient interaction.behavioral
STAR. Real case (de-identified): borderline crisis, delusional patient refusing treatment, family conflict, transference/countertransference. Boundaries + care + consultation. Never disparage the patient.
Q4. Why psychiatry vs. another specialty?culture
Concrete: 'Long-term therapeutic relationships + intellectual complexity + underserved demand.' Not: 'Lifestyle' or 'Money.' Genuine interest in mental health + patient dignity.
Q5. How do you approach medication non-adherence?situational
Non-judgmental exploration first: side effects, cost, beliefs about medication, stigma, cognitive symptoms affecting adherence. Motivational interviewing. Simplify regimen if possible. Depot options for select cases. Never punitive.

Resume Template β€” Attending Psychiatrist (0-3 yrs post-residency)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Attending Psychiatrist (0-3 yrs post-residency)
  • β–ΈManage panel of 220+ outpatients across mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders at [Practice/Health System].
  • β–ΈBoard certified in psychiatry (ABPN, 2023). Currently pursuing fellowship track in [subspecialty].
  • β–ΈReduced hospitalization rate by 24% among high-risk patients through intensive outpatient program collaboration.
  • β–ΈPrecept psychiatric residents 2 days/week; consistently rated top-quartile in resident teaching evaluations.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Unprofessional communication about patients or peers.
  • βœ—Weak understanding of medication interactions or contraindications.
  • βœ—Discomfort with severe illness (psychosis, mania, suicidality).
  • βœ—Poor documentation habits β€” legal + billing risk.
  • βœ—Rigid diagnostic thinking β€” misses comorbid + complex presentations.
  • βœ—Board complaint or malpractice history without honest disclosure.
  • βœ—Burnout signals: cynicism, detachment, or preference for cash-only escape route framed negatively.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Board certification + subspecialty fellowship.
  • βœ“Rural or underserved area = higher pay + potential loan forgiveness (NHSC, state programs, Public Service Loan Forgiveness).
  • βœ“Sign-on bonus $30-100k common; higher in high-demand geographies.
  • βœ“Educational loan repayment $50-200k over 3-5 year commitment.
  • βœ“Relocation package $10-25k.
  • βœ“Malpractice tail coverage (occurrence vs claims-made) is negotiable.
  • βœ“Non-compete radius + duration.
  • βœ“Call schedule + moonlighting rights.
  • βœ“Practice buy-in path (private groups).
  • βœ“CME budget $3-8k/year.
  • βœ“Telemedicine allocation + license coverage for multi-state.

Psychiatrist Resume Review β€” $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired psychiatrists. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

  • βœ“ Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
  • βœ“ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
  • βœ“ Missing skills / keywords flagged
  • βœ“ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
  • βœ“ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

Psychiatrist Career Kit β€” $19

  • βœ“ All 12 interview questions with expert answers
  • βœ“ 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
  • βœ“ Interview format intel for 8 top employers
  • βœ“ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
  • βœ“ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
  • βœ“ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
  • βœ“ Downloadable PDF for offline access
  • βœ“ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
βœ“ 7-day money-back guarantee β€” no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

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Psychiatrist Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$63K
$354Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

California
$354K
+25%
Louisiana
$345K
+22%
Alaska
$342K
+21%
Minnesota
$336K
+19%
Wisconsin
$331K
+17%
Connecticut
$327K
+16%
Florida
$316K
+12%
Oregon
$315K
+12%
Missouri
$313K
+11%
Maryland
$305K
+8%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
California$353,500+25.4%
Louisiana$345,040+22.4%
Alaska$342,170+21.4%
Minnesota$336,410+19.3%
Wisconsin$331,070+17.5%
Connecticut$326,670+15.9%
Florida$316,200+12.2%
Oregon$314,880+11.7%
Missouri$312,680+10.9%
Maryland$305,320+8.3%
1–10 of 46

Psychiatrist Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Springfield, IL$413,890+46.8%
Burlington-South Burlington, VT$409,950+45.4%
Gainesville, FL$404,240+43.4%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$403,430+43.1%
Ocala, FL$396,200+40.6%
New Haven, CT$381,890+35.5%
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$370,510+31.4%
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$364,530+29.3%
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$358,020+27.0%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$353,500+25.4%
1–10 of 100
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A psychiatrist earning $281,870/year would need 211 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 227 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how psychiatrist salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Psychiatrist salary trend (2011–2024) β†’