Psychiatrist Salary in 2025: Average Pay, State Comparisons, and Career Outlook
How much do psychiatrists really make in 2025? If you are exploring psychiatry as a career, negotiating a new offer, or benchmarking your current compensation, this guide lays out what you need to know in plain English. We will cover national averages, how pay shifts by state and practice setting, which subspecialties tend to earn more, and the lifestyle factors that make psychiatry uniquely appealing. You will also find an at-a-glance table for experience levels, a quick tour of future trends like tele-psychiatry and AI documentation tools, and answers to the questions candidates and employers ask most.
Before we dive in, a quick calibration. Across recent data sets from large physician compensation surveys and federal statistics, psychiatrist pay in 2025 generally sits in the low to mid 300-thousands for total compensation, with many full-time attendings earning between the high 200s and upper 300s. Experienced clinicians in high-demand markets, private practice owners, and psychiatrists who blend locums or telepsychiatry frequently exceed those figures. The upshot: psychiatry remains a solid six-figure specialty with strong demand and unusually flexible ways to practice.
If you want a fast way to place yourself on the map and compare against verified peer submissions, start with the SalaryDr psychiatry hub.
Average Psychiatrist Salary in 2025
Most recent national snapshots show psychiatrist total compensation clustering around the mid 300-thousands, with median values usually a touch below or above that point depending on the sample and mix of practice settings. A reasonable expectation for a full-time adult psychiatrist in 2025 is a broad range from the high 200s to the high 300s. Early-career offers often start in the low-to-mid 300s in competitive markets or shortage regions and somewhat lower in academic roles.
Relative to other specialties, psychiatry sits comfortably above many cognitive fields and most primary care roles, though it remains below procedural heavyweights such as orthopedic surgery, cardiology, or radiology. In other words, psychiatry delivers upper-middle compensation among physicians while offering a schedule that for many psychiatrists is more predictable than procedural call-heavy disciplines.
Gender pay gaps persist in medicine, and psychiatry is not fully immune. Recent multi-year surveys show the gap narrowing, with differences often in the high single digits to low teens when adjusting for hours and role mix. Movement toward parity is driven by increased transparency, standardized salary bands in large health systems, and the rise of telepsychiatry roles with clearly posted rates.
Experience vs. Pay (national snapshot)
The numbers below reflect a synthesis of recent surveys and market data. They are directional and intended to help you benchmark an offer or set expectations.
Psychiatrist Salary by Experience Level (2025)
| Experience level | Typical total compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New attending (0–2 years) | $270,000–$340,000 | Higher in shortage markets, telepsychiatry, or inpatient roles; lower in academic roles |
| Early career (3–5 years) | $300,000–$360,000 | Productivity models and bonuses begin to matter more |
| Mid-career (6–10 years) | $320,000–$390,000 | Private practice, leadership stipends, and blended models lift the ceiling |
| Senior (10+ years) | $330,000–$420,000+ | Highest variance; owners and multi-stream clinicians often exceed averages |
Two things stand out. First, psychiatry’s pay curve is relatively flat compared to surgery; many psychiatrists reach a strong baseline early and then adjust earnings by changing setting, volume, or role. Second, bonuses and incentives are common. In productivity-based models, year-end bonuses frequently add five figures to base compensation, and sign-on or retention packages remain widespread.
For a broader cross-specialty context and negotiating benchmarks, see SalaryDr’s physician dashboards and yearly rollups:
Physician Salary Benchmarks 2025
Physician Compensation Analysis
Psychiatrist Salary by State
Location remains one of the strongest drivers of psychiatrist pay. Shortage states and rural regions often advertise higher salaries, loan-repayment incentives, and relocation packages. Large coastal metros can offer competitive pay as well, especially for inpatient coverage or hard-to-recruit subspecialties, but averages sometimes lag due to academic roles that pull medians downward and cost-of-living trade-offs.
A practical way to think about the map:
Highest paying clusters often include upper Midwest and certain Mountain or Southern states with persistent workforce gaps. Offers there frequently land in the mid-to-upper 300s with additional bonuses for inpatient coverage, medical directorships, or hard-to-fill shifts.
Middle-of-the-pack states are commonly in the high 200s to mid 300s depending on mix of academic vs. community positions and urban vs. rural.
Lowest averages tend to appear in states with a heavy academic footprint, tight reimbursement, or unique market quirks. That does not preclude excellent individual offers in those states, particularly in community systems and private groups.
If you are actively evaluating an offer, compare the posted salary with local cost of living, call expectations, payer mix, and any productivity or medical directorship stipends. A $315,000 offer with four-days-per-week clinic and light call in a moderate-cost city can be more favorable than a $350,000 job with heavy weekends and limited autonomy in a high-cost metro.
Want to see what psychiatrists in your state reported for hours, bonuses, and lifestyle notes? Browse verified submissions on the SalaryDr psychiatry page
Salary by Practice Setting
Setting and pay structure shape outcomes as much as location. Here is how compensation typically changes by where and how you practice.
Private practice (solo or group). Highest upside and greatest variance. Owners who maintain full panels, offer cash-pay services, or stack ancillary roles can significantly exceed averages. Expect business overhead, credentialing and billing complexity, and swings tied to demand and payer mix. Partners in efficient groups often report total comp north of general medians, while new solo clinicians may need ramp-up time.
Hospital employed or large multispecialty group. Stable base salaries with productivity bonuses and comprehensive benefits. Community systems are often competitive with mid-to-high 300s for full-time outpatient plus call coverage, particularly in shortage regions. Academic centers typically pay lower bases but provide non-salary value in research, teaching, prestige, and schedule predictability.
Government and VA. Structured pay bands and strong benefits. Depending on locale and seniority, total comp can range from the mid 200s to low 300s, with loan repayment programs frequently sweetening the package.
Locum tenens. High hourly rates, travel stipends, and schedule control. Clinicians willing to travel or cover inpatient weeks can annualize into the mid-to-high 300s or more. Benefits and taxes are typically your responsibility as a contractor, and continuity with patients is limited.
Telepsychiatry. Mainstream and here to stay. Full-time remote roles often post hourly rates competitive with on-site work and sometimes higher for nights or weekends. Many outpatient psychiatrists layer telehealth moonlighting on top of employed positions to add five figures in annual income without office overhead.
The common thread is flexibility. Many psychiatrists create blended portfolios: three clinic days in an employed role, one telepsychiatry evening block, and a small share of weekend inpatient coverage. This mix often pushes total compensation above a single-setting baseline while preserving lifestyle.
Subspecialty Breakdown
Subspecialization typically changes your opportunity set more than it radically alters your pay ceiling, with one big exception.
Child and adolescent psychiatry. Persistent national shortage and strong payer demand. Child and adolescent psychiatrists frequently command a modest premium over general adult roles, and posted offers in community systems reflect that.
Forensic psychiatry. Compensation varies widely. Public-sector forensic hospitals and court-related roles often mirror general adult ranges, but private medico-legal consulting and expert witness work can add substantial fee-for-service income for psychiatrists who build that niche.
Addiction psychiatry. Rising demand across inpatient consult, outpatient recovery programs, and medical directorships. Compensation spans general adult ranges; medical director roles and private programs can add stipends that move total comp above baseline.
Geriatric psychiatry. Growing with the aging population. Pay commonly tracks general adult roles; VA and integrated memory-care programs can offer attractive packages, particularly when combined with leadership responsibilities.
Geography. Shortage states, rural regions, and fast-growing metros generally pay more. Within a state, community hospitals and private groups may outpay academic centers.
Experience. The curve is flatter than in surgical fields. Many psychiatrists reach strong earnings early; meaningful jumps often come from role changes, leadership, or ownership rather than just years served.
Hours and patient volume. Psychiatry’s typical outpatient week is about 40–45 hours, but income rises with additional sessions, weekend inpatient coverage, or after-hours telehealth. Conversely, a four-day clinic week will lower comp and may improve lifestyle.
Employment model. Salary-only roles trade upside for stability. wRVU or collections-based plans reward throughput. Partnerships add profit share and risk. Know what bonuses are measured on (access metrics, no-show rates, patient satisfaction, panel size).
Telemedicine adoption. Remote blocks can monetize time slots that otherwise go unused and grant access to higher-demand regions without relocating. Many psychiatrists add a weekly tele-evening to meaningfully increase annual take-home.
Admin and leadership. Department chair, service line lead, or medical director roles often carry stipends or higher base salaries. Even modest leadership supplements stack another five figures on top of clinical pay.
Skill stack. ECT/TMS competency, bilingual care, program building, and collaborative-care expertise can create negotiating leverage and incremental stipends.
Psychiatry Subspecialty Compensation Comparison (2025)
| Subspecialty | Typical relative pay vs. general adult | Where the premium shows up |
|---|---|---|
| Child and Adolescent | Slightly higher on average | Community systems, shortage regions, outpatient leadership |
| Forensic | Comparable to higher, wide variance | Legal evaluations, expert testimony, private consulting |
| Addiction | Comparable, sometimes higher | Medical director stipends, private programs, integrated hospital roles |
| Geriatric | Comparable | VA, memory clinics, consult-liaison roles with admin stipends |
Bottom line: choose the subspecialty you want to practice clinically. Income tends to follow demand and scope of responsibility; your personal fit and market selection often matter more than the fellowship label itself.
Factors That Influence Pay
A helpful way to model your compensation is to think in layers. Each layer you add tends to nudge total comp up or down.
The practical takeaway is that psychiatrists have more levers than most to tailor compensation to preference. You can maximize income by selecting a high-demand market, choosing a productivity-aligned structure, layering telepsychiatry, and taking on a medical directorship. Or you can optimize for balance with a salaried clinic role, four-day weeks, and minimal call, accepting a smaller but still strong paycheck.
Lifestyle and Work-Life Balance
Compensation does not exist in a vacuum, and psychiatry’s lifestyle profile is a major reason many physicians choose it.
Typical outpatient schedules resemble a standard workweek. Many psychiatrists report 40–45 clinical hours with evenings and weekends protected, particularly in ambulatory roles. Inpatient coverage and consult-liaison services shift that pattern, but even then the intensity is different from procedure-or hospital-based specialties that revolve around emergent care and OR block time.
Job satisfaction is consistently high. Psychiatrists frequently cite autonomy, longitudinal patient relationships, and room to design their practice as top drivers. Burnout rates, while not trivial, tend to be lower than the most acute specialties. Clinicians who manage documentation load thoughtfully and build variety into their week usually report better balance.
Two anonymized sentiments that capture the theme:
I moved from five clinic days to four and added a tele-evening. My annual take-home barely changed, and my week feels sustainable.
I like that psychiatry lets me decide the mix. A day of inpatient consults, two outpatient days, one admin day, and a few tele sessions keep me engaged without being on a pager every night.
If you are selecting a role, ask practical, lifestyle-shaping questions during interviews: panel size expectations, average no-show rate and how it is handled, documentation support, call burden and escalation pathways, and whether there is flexibility to pilot telehealth blocks.
Future Outlook for Psychiatry in 2025 and Beyond
Demand is the headline. National projections continue to show a psychiatrist shortfall across many regions, and mental health utilization remains elevated across age groups. That imbalance supports firm salary floors, stronger recruiting packages, and a healthy market for new graduates.
Telepsychiatry is now a permanent part of delivery. Reimbursement parity in many payers, patient preference for virtual options, and system-level access goals keep telehealth competitive on rate. Expect more hybrid job designs, better remote workflow tooling, and greater flexibility for physicians to practice across state lines where licensing allows.
Efficiency tools are improving. AI-assisted documentation, automated screening workflows, and integrated measurement-based care can reduce after-hours charting time and let psychiatrists focus on clinical work. That does not directly raise base pay, but it increases effective hourly earnings and helps limit burnout.
Team-based care continues to expand. Collaborative care models embed psychiatrists as consultants to primary care panels, creating new roles and stipends. Leadership opportunities grow as systems build integrated behavioral health service lines, which translates into more chances to stack admin pay on top of clinical compensation.
Compensation trajectory, in short, looks stable to upward. While no trend is guaranteed, the combination of demand, flexible delivery models, and maturing compensation structures suggests that psychiatry will continue to offer strong financial rewards alongside lifestyle benefits through the late 2020s.
Related Specialties
Curious how psychiatry compares across the broader landscape? SalaryDr maintains running benchmarks for physicians and deep-dives by specialty. For cross-specialty context and negotiation prep, start here:
Physician Salary Benchmarks 2025
Physician Compensation Analysis
These resources pair well with the psychiatry hub for state and submission-level details:
salarydr.com/specialty/psychiatry
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much do psychiatrists make in the U.S. in 2025?
Most full-time psychiatrists earn in the low to mid 300-thousands in total compensation, with many clustered between about 300,000 and 380,000 depending on location, setting, and incentives. Entry offers often begin in the low 300s in competitive markets and somewhat lower in academic roles.
What state pays psychiatrists the most?
Highest averages often appear in shortage states across the upper Midwest, Mountain West, and parts of the South. Community systems and rural markets commonly post salaries in the mid-to-upper 300s with sign-on bonuses and relocation.
Are psychiatrists paid more in private or hospital settings?
Private practice has the highest upside, especially for owners and high-volume clinicians, but also the widest variance. Community hospital and large group roles provide stable base salaries plus productivity or quality bonuses. Academic centers typically pay less but offer research and teaching value.
How much do telepsychiatrists earn?
Full-time telepsychiatry rates are competitive with in-person work and can be higher for nights or weekends. Many psychiatrists add telehealth sessions as a side stream, increasing annual income by five figures without office overhead.
Is psychiatry a good-paying specialty?
Yes. While not at the top with procedural super-earners, psychiatry’s compensation sits above many cognitive fields and offers one of the best blends of pay, schedule control, and long-term flexibility.