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Psychiatrist

$239,200+
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Diagnose and treat mental illness, prescribe medication, and provide therapy to patients with psychiatric conditions.

Where you work

Hospitals, clinics, and private practice

The hours

Full-time, some on-call

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$239,200+
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~900
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+6%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
27,100
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Doctoral / professional degree

Training path: Medical degree plus residency.

License or certification

A medical degree, residency, and state medical license are required.

What it takes

Clinical judgmentListeningDiagnosisEmpathy

The honest take

Among the highest-paid work in medicine and badly needed, but it takes a medical degree and years of residency to reach.

Standard Occupational Classification 29-1223. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.