Psychiatrists
Also called: Addiction Psychiatrist, Adolescent Psychiatrist, Adult Inpatient Psychiatrist, Adult Outpatient Psychiatrist, Adult Psychiatrist, Attending Psychiatrist, Board Certified Psychiatrist, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent mental disorders.
What psychiatrists do
Typical tasks
- Prescribe, direct, or administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.
- Gather and maintain patient information and records, including social or medical history obtained from patients, relatives, or other professionals.
- Collaborate with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals to discuss treatment plans and progress.
- Counsel outpatients or other patients during office visits.
- Analyze and evaluate patient data or test findings to diagnose nature or extent of mental disorder.
- Examine or conduct laboratory or diagnostic tests on patients to provide information on general physical condition or mental disorder.
- Design individualized care plans, using a variety of treatments.
- Advise or inform guardians, relatives, or significant others of patients' conditions or treatment.
- Teach, take continuing education classes, attend conferences or seminars, or conduct research and publish findings to increase understanding of mental, emotional, or behavioral states or disorders.
- Review and evaluate treatment procedures and outcomes of other psychiatrists or medical professionals.
- Prepare and submit case reports or summaries to government or mental health agencies.
- Serve on committees to promote or maintain community mental health services or delivery systems.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Psychiatrists salary
The median annual wage for psychiatrists is $281,870 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $84,060 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $446,520. The mean annual wage is $269,940.
The mean hourly wage of $129.00 is 17.8× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Psychiatrists (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $281,870 → in 3 years $309,900 → in 5 years $330,100 → in 10 years $386,700 (10-year range $332,600–$449,000). The model assumes pay growth of +3.2% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Psychiatrists
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Psychiatrists? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Psychiatrists
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Psychiatrists United States | 精神科医 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $281,870 | ¥15.12M ≈ $96,169 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $386,700 | ¥19.59M |
| Outlook score | 67 | 71 |
| AI replacement risk | 43% Moderate | 28% Low |
| Workers | 28K | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Psychiatrists
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 5 — extensive preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become psychiatrists
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as psychiatrists
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.