Healthcare career

Psychiatrist

Also called: Mental Health Physician · Child Psychiatrist · Addiction Psychiatrist · Psychiatric Physician

What psychiatrists do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does a psychiatrist do?

Psychiatrists are physicians who diagnose, treat and help prevent mental illness and substance use disorders, using medications, psychotherapy and other treatments. The median pay is $281,870 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 12 years after high school, and employment is projected to grow +7.2% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $281,870
    $135.51/hour · May 2025
  • Job growth
    +7.2%
    2025–35, much faster than average
  • Openings per year
    900
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    Doctoral or professional degree
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    12 years after high school
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    30,000
    Employment, 2025

What psychiatrists do

Psychiatrists treat the mind as part of medicine. They evaluate patients with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD and addiction, prescribe and manage medications, provide psychotherapy, order lab tests, and care for patients in clinics, hospitals and emergency settings. Many work in telepsychiatry.

Psychiatrists complete medical school and a four-year psychiatry residency; subspecialties include child and adolescent, addiction, geriatric and forensic psychiatry. Demand for mental health care is strong.

Typical duties

  • Evaluate mental health conditions
  • Diagnose psychiatric disorders
  • Prescribe and manage medications
  • Provide psychotherapy
  • Manage psychiatric emergencies
  • Coordinate care with therapists
  • Monitor side effects and labs

Work environment and schedule

Psychiatrists work in clinics, hospitals, community mental health centers, private practices and via telehealth.

Schedule: Outpatient psychiatrists keep regular hours; hospital psychiatrists may take call.

A day in the life

  1. Round on inpatient psychiatric unit.
  2. Evaluate a new patient with depression.
  3. Do medication follow-ups by telehealth.
  4. See a patient with bipolar disorder.

See a full day in the life of a psychiatrist →

Psychiatrist salary

Half of psychiatrists earned more than $281,870 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $84,060 for the lowest 10% to $446,520 for the top 10%.

Full psychiatrist pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a psychiatrist

  1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
  2. Complete medical school
  3. Complete psychiatry residency
  4. Pass boards
  5. Practice or subspecialize

Medical school plus a four-year psychiatry residency are required, along with a license and board certification.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a psychiatrist →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • Psychiatric assessment
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Psychotherapy
  • Risk assessment
  • Crisis management

People skills

  • Empathy
  • Listening
  • Boundaries
  • Calm under pressure

All psychiatrist skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • High demand
  • High pay
  • Telehealth flexibility
  • Meaningful long-term care

Cons

  • Emotionally heavy work
  • Safety risks in some settings
  • Stigma and access barriers
  • Long training

Certifications and licenses

  • ABPN psychiatry certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
  • State medical license: Required.
  • Child and adolescent psychiatry certification: Subspecialty.
  • Addiction psychiatry certification: Subspecialty.

Career path

  1. Psychiatry Resident: Train.
  2. Psychiatrist: Practice.
  3. Subspecialist: Child, addiction or forensic.
  4. Medical Director: Lead mental health services.

Learn the job before day one

Our Psychiatrist training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as assess suicide risk and start an antidepressant, safety and how to land your first job.

View Psychiatrist trainingIs this career right for me?

Psychiatric Technician

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Help people recover from addiction and mental health challenges.

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Compare: Psychiatrist vs. Family Therapist · Psychiatrist vs. Psych Tech · Psychiatrist vs. Addiction Counselor · Psychiatrist vs. Neurologist

Psychiatrist FAQ

What’s the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

Psychiatrists are physicians who can prescribe medication; psychologists hold doctorates in psychology and focus on testing and therapy.

How long is training?

About 12 years after high school.

Can psychiatrists work remotely?

Many practice partly or fully by telehealth.

How much does a psychiatrist make?

The median annual wage for psychiatrists was $281,870 ($135.51 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $84,060 and the highest 10% earned more than $446,520.

How long does it take to become a psychiatrist?

Most people need about 12 years after high school of training. Medical school plus a four-year psychiatry residency are required, along with a license and board certification.

Do you need a degree to be a psychiatrist?

Yes. BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education, and you also need a state license to practice.

More psychiatrist questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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