Psychiatrist Salary in USA

The average Psychiatrist Salary is calculated by the US Government Bureau of Labor Statistics from a variety of sources.  Psychiatrists work in a number of settings including hospitals, clinics and medical offices.  In 2011 average Psychiatrist Salary in USA was lower than in most medical fields, but were increasing.

New York, NY: $189,500/-
Los Angeles, CA: $181,000/-
Houston, TX: $166,000/-
Seattle, WA: $177,000


Psychiatrists are the highest paid public service employees in the county of Dutchess in New York, signaling a heightened demand and a waning supply - maybe the rising incomes will help bloom the supply in the coming years.

Specifically, a psychologist, Gatt, says: "Psychiatrists are in short supply. ... There's a great demand, and we're all competing for the same pool of people".

The other movement is on the corporate side: Companies are increasingly realizing the negative economic impact on productivity due to employee's work related stress. They are now buying health insurance packages for their employees which cover mental health services too, and that's good news for the Psych MDs !

According to the American Association of Medical Colleges:

"Psychiatry the fourth largest medical specialty. The number of qualified U.S. Medical Graduates selecting psychiatry residencies is insufficient to fill all of the positions. The annual salary for psychiatrists ranges from $168,251 to $248,195"

How to become a Psychiatrist in the USA?

A four year medical residency following medical school is what makes one a psychiatrist. Also there are combined residency programs like Family Practice / Psychiatry or Internal Medicine / Psychiatry which are 4 to 5 years long programs, but then pay-scales are higher too, especially if employed in a low-doctor supply area where the candidate doubles up as the psychiatrist and a primary care physician

Fellowship Options After Psych Residency

- Addiction Psychiatry
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Pain Management

NOTE: Salaries here are the 50th Percentile Salaries and may apply to mid-career levels - the lower percentile salaries (for fresh physicians) may actually be lower by 30,000- 40,000 $