California Median
$353,500
per year
Hourly Rate
$169.95
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+25% vs US median
US median $281,870
State Rank
#1 of 46
5,420 employed here
How much does a Psychiatrist make in California?
A Psychiatrist working in California earns a median salary of $353,500 per year, or about $169.95 per hour. That is 25% above the national median of $281,870 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $113,990 while the top 10% make $496,230 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $173,990 and $414,640 a year.
Psychiatrist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $113,990 | $54.80 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $173,990 | $83.65 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $353,500 | $169.95 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $414,640 | $199.35 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $496,230 | $238.57 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 46 states and territories for Psychiatrist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Psychiatrist salary in other states
Louisiana $345,040Alaska $342,170Minnesota $336,410Wisconsin $331,070Connecticut $326,670Florida $316,200Oregon $314,880Missouri $312,680Maryland $305,320Washington $304,920Vermont $302,770Maine $300,180Utah $299,670Iowa $295,270Virginia $295,010Michigan $291,850Hawaii $289,990Rhode Island $287,610Indiana $284,110Delaware $279,410Pennsylvania $278,970Kansas $278,100Oklahoma $271,640Colorado $266,370New York $265,890Illinois $258,740Arizona $249,720New Hampshire $246,140Ohio $244,990Kentucky $237,770Georgia $237,480South Carolina $237,250Texas $228,460New Mexico $227,730South Dakota $226,180Tennessee $214,880Mississippi $213,680Nevada $210,030New Jersey $194,070District of Columbia $183,080North Carolina $168,880Nebraska $135,180Arkansas $124,750Idaho $75,470West Virginia $63,320
Working as a Psychiatrist in California
Nationally, about 28,000 people work as Psychiatrists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($353,500) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Psychiatrist make in California?
The median Psychiatrist salary in California is $353,500 per year, or about $169.95 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $113,990 at the entry level to $496,230 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Psychiatrists about 25% more than the national median of $281,870. California ranks 1st out of 46 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Psychiatrists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $353,500 a year. About 5,420 Psychiatrists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Psychiatrist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.