SOC 29-1223 · May 2025
Psychiatrist Salary
Psychiatrists in the US earn a median of $281,870 a year ($129.78 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Psychiatrist pay climbed from $220,430 in 2019 to $269,940 in 2025, a +22.5% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$281,870
Half of all Psychiatrists in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+22.5% since 2019 · +0.3% YoY
Hourly
$129.78
Job growth 2025-35
+7.2%
US workers
27,980
BLS series
Annual median wage for Psychiatrists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Psychiatrists is $84,060 – $446,520.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$84,060
25th
$154,150
Median
$281,870
75th
$362,740
90th
$446,520
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Psychiatrists. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $84,060 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $154,150 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $281,870 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $362,740 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $446,520 |
Geography
Psychiatrist pay by state
Psychiatrists earn the most in California ($353,500, +25% against the national median) and the least in West Virginia ($63,320). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 46 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$281,870
Highest-paying states for psychiatrists
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $353,500 | +25% | 5,420 |
| Louisiana | $345,040 | +22% | 90 |
| Alaska | $342,170 | +21% | 50 |
| Minnesota | $336,410 | +19% | 580 |
| Wisconsin | $331,070 | +17% | 550 |
| Connecticut | $326,670 | +16% | 560 |
| Florida | $316,200 | +12% | 1,930 |
| Oregon | $314,880 | +12% | 430 |
| Missouri | $312,680 | +11% | 240 |
| Maryland | $305,320 | +8% | 460 |
All 46 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $353,500 | 5,420 |
| Louisiana | $345,040 | 90 |
| Alaska | $342,170 | 50 |
| Minnesota | $336,410 | 580 |
| Wisconsin | $331,070 | 550 |
| Connecticut | $326,670 | 560 |
| Florida | $316,200 | 1,930 |
| Oregon | $314,880 | 430 |
| Missouri | $312,680 | 240 |
| Maryland | $305,320 | 460 |
| Washington | $304,920 | 360 |
| Vermont | $302,770 | 80 |
| Maine | $300,180 | 80 |
| Utah | $299,670 | 260 |
| Iowa | $295,270 | 170 |
| Virginia | $295,010 | 370 |
| Michigan | $291,850 | 560 |
| Hawaii | $289,990 | 170 |
| Rhode Island | $287,610 | 270 |
| Indiana | $284,110 | 410 |
| Delaware | $279,410 | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $278,970 | 830 |
| Kansas | $278,100 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $271,640 | 80 |
| Colorado | $266,370 | 270 |
| New York | $265,890 | 4,130 |
| Illinois | $258,740 | 870 |
| Arizona | $249,720 | 380 |
| New Hampshire | $246,140 | 90 |
| Ohio | $244,990 | 690 |
| Kentucky | $237,770 | 160 |
| Georgia | $237,480 | 470 |
| South Carolina | $237,250 | 200 |
| Texas | $228,460 | 1,690 |
| New Mexico | $227,730 | – |
| South Dakota | $226,180 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $214,880 | 410 |
| Mississippi | $213,680 | 110 |
| Nevada | $210,030 | 90 |
| New Jersey | $194,070 | 1,290 |
| D.C. | $183,080 | 310 |
| North Carolina | $168,880 | 620 |
| Nebraska | $135,180 | 180 |
| Arkansas | $124,750 | 150 |
| Idaho | $75,470 | 110 |
| West Virginia | $63,320 | 90 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists (BLS SOC 29-1223) diagnose and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. The role requires an MD or DO degree, a 4-year residency in psychiatry, and board certification. BLS top-codes wages; the published mean understates earnings in private practice and concierge / direct-pay practices common in major metropolitan markets.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $84,060 – $446,520. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are California, Louisiana and Alaska. Pay in California runs 5.6 times the level in West Virginia, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as doctoral or professional degree, and projects about 900 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 7.2% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Psychiatrist salary in the US?
How much does a Psychiatrist make an hour?
How much do Psychiatrists make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Psychiatrists the most?
Is the average Psychiatrist salary higher than the median?
Is Psychiatrist a growing career?
Open positions
Open Psychiatrist roles hiring now
Browse current Psychiatrist listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-1223. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.