State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Psychiatrist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Psychiatrists is $281,870 a year ($135.51/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 6.1% through 2034, with about 900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
SOC 29-1223Healthcare Practitioners and TechnicalLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $281,870
- Projected growth
- +6.1%
- Openings a year
- 900
- Typical education
- Doctorate
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Adult Psychiatrist, Child Psychiatrist, Consulting Psychiatrist, Medical Doctor (MD), Outpatient Psychiatrist, Prison Psychiatrist.
How much do Psychiatrists make?
10th percentile$84,060
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$154,150
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$281,870
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$362,740
Upper quartile
90th percentile$446,520
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $281,870 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $135.51/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $269,940 |
| People employed | 27,980 |
Versus all US occupations
At $281,870, Psychiatrists earn 453% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $230,890 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $97,870, this is 188% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $446,520 or more while the bottom 10% earn $84,060, a gap of 5.3×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 98% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($353,500), but once local prices are taken into account Louisiana leads at $391,171 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Psychiatrists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $353,500 | $319,274 | 5,420 |
| Louisiana | $345,040 | $391,171 | 90 |
| Alaska | $342,170 | $334,284 | 50 |
| Minnesota | $336,410 | $341,114 | 580 |
| Wisconsin | $331,070 | $351,847 | 550 |
| Connecticut | $326,670 | $315,288 | 560 |
| Florida | $316,200 | $305,761 | 1,930 |
| Oregon | $314,880 | $304,641 | 430 |
| Missouri | $312,680 | $344,297 | 240 |
| Maryland | $305,320 | $290,895 | 460 |
Is Psychiatrist a growing career?
Psychiatrists6.1%
All US occupations3.1%
+6.1% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Psychiatrists to change 6.1% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 1,700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 900 openings are projected each year, 3.3% of the 27,100 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of physicians and surgeons varies by occupation (see table). An increasing number of older adults, who are more likely than younger people to experience health problems and to need complex care, is expected to drive overall employment growth for physicians and surgeons.
In addition, increasing rates of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, will result in continued reliance on physicians and surgeons by large numbers of people seeking medical care.
How to become a Psychiatrist
Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as a degree from a medical school, which takes an additional 4 years to complete. Depending on their specialty, they also need 3 to 9 years in internship and residency programs. Subspecialization includes additional training in a fellowship of 1 to 3 years.
| Typical entry-level education | Doctoral or professional degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Considerable preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Internship/residency |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as psychiatrists.
- Post-Doctoral Training58.5%
- Doctoral Degree34.2%
- Master's Degree5.0%
- First Professional Degree1.8%
- High School Diploma0.5%
What does a Psychiatrist do?
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent mental disorders.
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They often counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare. Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.
There are two types of physicians, with similar degrees: M.D. (Medical Doctor) and D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). Both use the same methods of treatment, including drugs and surgery, but D.O.s place additional emphasis on the body's musculoskeletal system, preventive medicine, and holistic (whole-person) patient care. D.O.s are most likely to be primary care physicians, although they work in all specialties.
Day-to-day tasks
- Prescribe, direct, or administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.
- Collaborate with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals to discuss treatment plans and progress.
- Teach, take continuing education classes, attend conferences or seminars, or conduct research and publish findings to increase understanding of mental, emotional, or behavioral states or disorders.
- Gather and maintain patient information and records, including social or medical history obtained from patients, relatives, or other professionals.
- Design individualized care plans, using a variety of treatments.
- Advise or inform guardians, relatives, or significant others of patients' conditions or treatment.
- Examine or conduct laboratory or diagnostic tests on patients to provide information on general physical condition or mental disorder.
- Analyze and evaluate patient data or test findings to diagnose nature or extent of mental disorder.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most physicians and surgeons work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week. Many physicians and surgeons work long shifts, which may include irregular and overnight hours or being on call. Physicians and surgeons may travel between their offices and the hospital to care for patients. While on call, a physician may need to address a patient’s concerns over the phone or make an emergency visit to another location, such as a nursing home.
Where the work happens
- Indoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day
Physical demands
- Seated for more than half the working day
Working with people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
- Handling conflict situations at least monthly
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Core skills
- Active Listening4.6/5
- Speaking4.3/5
- Critical Thinking4.3/5
- Reading Comprehension4.1/5
- Writing4.1/5
- Active Learning4.0/5
- Monitoring4.0/5
- Science3.9/5
Transferable skills
- Social Perceptiveness4.5/5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.1/5
- Coordination3.9/5
- Service Orientation3.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Persuasion3.5/5
- Instructing3.5/5
- Negotiation3.3/5
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Billing and invoicing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Internet browser software
- Time accounting software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Psychiatrist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic2.3
Investigativeprimary6.6
Artistic2.6
Socialprimary5.8
Enterprising1.9
Conventionalprimary3.6
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Psychiatrist: frequently asked questions
How much do Psychiatrists make?
Psychiatrists earn a median of $281,870 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 453% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $135.51/hr. The middle half earn between $154,150 and $362,740. The top 10% earn $446,520 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Psychiatrist?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Psychiatrists. BLS also lists internship/residency as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 58.5% hold post-doctoral training.
Is Psychiatrist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6.1% over 2024–2034, faster than the 3.1% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Psychiatrist do?
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. A core O*NET task: prescribe, direct, or administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Medical software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Psychiatrists the most?
The highest state medians for Psychiatrists are California ($353,500), Louisiana ($345,040), Alaska ($342,170) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Louisiana moves to the top at $391,171.
What personality type suits a Psychiatrist?
O*NET scores Psychiatrists highest on the Investigative, Social and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with INFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.