Median Salary
$281,870
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$135.51
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$446,520
entry level starts ~$84,060
Pay Grade
A+
elite pay · 28,000 employed
How much does a Psychiatrist make?
The median pay for a Psychiatrist in the United States is $281,870 per year — about $135.51 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $84,060, while the most experienced Psychiatrists in the top 10% earn $446,520.
That is $220,480 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Psychiatrist salary range by percentile
Half of all Psychiatrists earn between $154,150 and $362,740 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,060 | $40.41 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $154,150 | $74.11 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $281,870 | $135.51 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $362,740 | $174.39 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $446,520 | $214.67 |
|
Highest-paying states for Psychiatrist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Psychiatrist pay at $353,500 a year, followed by Louisiana ($345,040) and Alaska ($342,170). At the other end, West Virginia posts the lowest median at $63,320 — a gap of $290,180 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Psychiatrist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 46 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
California $353,500Louisiana $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
Workforce and education
About 28,000 people work as Psychiatrists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $269,940 — below the median, unusual for salaried roles. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Psychiatrist make in the United States?
The median Psychiatrist salary in the United States is $281,870 per year, or about $135.51 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $84,060, while the top 10% of earners make $446,520 or more.
How does Psychiatrist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A+ (elite pay), the Psychiatrist median of $281,870 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Psychiatrists the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Psychiatrists, with a median salary of $353,500 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Psychiatrist?
Becoming a Psychiatrist typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Psychiatrists work in the United States?
About 28,000 people were employed as Psychiatrists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.