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Psychiatrist Salary in the United States

How much does a Psychiatrist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Psychiatrist in the United States is $295,261 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $142.

However, a Psychiatrist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $353,627
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $277,921 to $325,812
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $262,134
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Psychiatrist Salaries

A Psychiatrist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Psychiatrist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Psychiatrist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $288,273
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $289,567
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $290,861
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $292,673
  • Expert (over 8 years): $297,541
Levels Salary
Entry Level Psychiatrist$288,273
Intermediate Level Psychiatrist$289,567
Senior Level Psychiatrist$290,861
Specialist Level Psychiatrist$292,673
Expert Level Psychiatrist$297,541
View as Graph

How Do Psychiatrists Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Psychiatrists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $326,913.
  • California: $325,673.
  • Massachusetts: $321,333.

Top Paying Cities for Psychiatrist

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $372,413
  • San Francisco: $368,335
  • Oakland: $360,573

What Skills Can Increase a Psychiatrist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Scheduling (Mentioned in 5.26% Job Postings): Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.
  • Case Management (Mentioned in 3.48% Job Postings): Connecting patients with suitable healthcare providers, resources, and services to ensure they receive optimal, cost-effective care.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 2.24% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
Skills Demand Percentage
Scheduling 5.26%
Case Management 3.48%
CPR 2.24%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Psychiatrist's salary.

  • Healthcare Services: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Medication Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Healthcare Services $318,882
8%
Medication Management $315,929
7%
Collaboration $310,024
5%
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Psychiatrist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Psychiatrist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $332,238. While startup companies pay approximate $282,191.

Psychiatrist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $282,191
Growth Stage 51~500 $298,130
Established 501~5000 $321,123
Enterprise 5000+ $332,238

Psychiatrist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Psychiatrist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Psychiatrist positions in Biotechnology or Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Psychiatrist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Psychiatrist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$324,787$156.010%
Pharmaceuticals$324,787$156.010%

How Education impacts an Psychiatrist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Psychiatrist enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Psychiatrist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $0 and $0.

Psychiatrist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Psychiatrist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 2.3%
Associates 1.6%
Bachelors 4.2%
Masters 5.7%
Doctorate 85.6%
View as Graph

Psychiatrist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Psychiatrist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$277,921
Average $295,261/year
$325,812
$23,160
Average $24,605/month
$27,151
$5,345
Average $5,678/week
$6,266
$134
Average $142/hour
$157
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $325,812 $27,151 $6,266 $157
Average $295,261 $24,605 $5,678 $142
25th Percentile $277,921 $23,160 $5,345 $134

Most common benefits for Psychiatrist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Psychiatrist

Here are companies hiring for Psychiatrist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Psychiatrist

1. Where can a Psychiatrist earn the most?

A Psychiatrist's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Psychiatrist earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Psychiatrist is $372,413.

2. What is the highest pay for Psychiatrist?

The highest pay for Psychiatrist is $353,627.

3. What is the lowest pay for Psychiatrist?

The lowest pay for Psychiatrist is $262,134.

4. What are the responsibilities of Psychiatrist?

Evaluates, diagnoses, and treats patients with mental illnesses through a combination of personal counseling (psychotherapy), psychoanalysis, hospitalization, and/or medication. Performs initial psychiatric assessments, develops individualized care plans, and implements treatment for the patient. Prescribes psychopharmacological medications as needed. Monitors and records client progress, and amends treatment plan according to patient response. Requires a MD. Typically requires Board Certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). Requires State License to Practice. Typically reports to a medical director. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Psychiatrist?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Psychiatrist roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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