Average Psychiatrist Salary by State
At the same time the U.S. is facing a mental health crisis (suicide has become the second-leading cause of death for people between 10 and 34), the country is also facing a growing shortage of psychiatrists, doctors who can help people address their mental health challenges.
According to an analysis by the Medical Director Institute, more than 3 in 4 counties are underserved by their psychiatrist workforce, and a majority of states have a potentially dangerous shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists.
Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health, and jobs in the field are not necessarily easy to get. But for those who have a passion for studying and treating psychological health issues, becoming a psychiatrist is likely to be a worthwhile endeavor.
So how much do psychiatrists make? Nationally, the average psychiatrist makes upwards of $220,000 per year, and in every state, the average psychiatrist earns a considerably higher wage than other workers. In addition, most states are expected to see demand for psychiatrists rise, some quite dramatically.
SEE ALSO: Best States in America for Mental Health Workers
Let’s explore where each state stands when it comes to how much a psychiatrist can expect to earn in that state.
What’s On This Page
- Highest Psychiatrist Salaries
- Mid-Range Psychiatrist Salaries
- Lowest Psychiatrist Salaries
Psychiatrist Highest Salaries
In a total of nine states, the average annual wage for psychiatrists exceeds $250,000, which, in addition to being on the high end of the state-level scale, is considerably higher even than the national average of about $220,000. Four of the top nine states are the West, three are in the Midwest, and two are in the Northeast.
High-range states (#1-#9)
| Hawaii | $269,800 |
| South Dakota | $267,520 |
| Connecticut | $258,200 |
| Maine | $256,270 |
| California | $255,790 |
| New Mexico | $255,410 |
| Illinois | $251,390 |
| Wyoming | $251,070 |
| Minnesota | $250,550 |
#1, Hawaii
Hawaii boasts the highest average wage for psychiatrists at $269,800, which leads the nation and is more than 5 times higher than the state’s average wage for all jobs of just under $53,000. Psychiatrist job openings are expected to grow in Hawaii through 2026, though the increase is expected to be lower than the overall U.S. increase (6.7% compared to 11.3%). In addition to the state’s place at the top of the list, Honolulu has the second-highest average psychiatrist salary of any major metro area ($282,940).
#2, South Dakota
Second-place South Dakota’s average psychiatrist salary is $267,520, making the state the best-paying Midwestern state for psychiatrists. The average psychiatrist in South Dakota earns more than 6 times the average other workers in the state, which is the largest spread in the country.
#3, Connecticut
The average psychiatrist in third-place Connecticut earns $258,200 per year, putting Connecticut in first place in the Northeast. That amount is about 325% higher than the average wage in the state, and psychiatrist jobs are expected to grow in Connecticut by 7.3% through 2026. The Bridgeport metro area boasts the fourth-highest average salary among all metro areas at $282,210, considerably higher than the average psychiatrist wage for the state.
#4, Maine
Maine is just behind its regional neighbor Connecticut with a $256,270 average salary, high enough for fourth place nationally. Psychiatrists in Maine earn about 5 times what the average worker in the state earns, and jobs are projected to increase by 4.5% through 2026.
#5, California
At No. 5, California’s average annual psychiatrist wage is $250,790, more than 300% higher than the average wage for all workers in the state. California is also home to multiple cities with high wages, including San Francisco ($278,480) and San Jose ($276,830). The state is expected to see job openings for psychiatrists increase by more than 11% through 2026.
#6, New Mexico
The average psychiatrist in New Mexico makes $255,410 per year, good enough for sixth place nationally. New Mexico psychiatrists earn more than 460% more than their average counterpart, who earns an average of about $45,000 per year.
#7, Illinois
Illinois’ average salary for psychiatrists of $251,390 is high enough to put the state in seventh place nationally. Psychiatrists in the state earn nearly 5 times what the average worker earns, and Chicago metro area psychiatrists make more than $252,000, which puts the Windy City in the top 25 among all metro areas.
#8, Wyoming
Wyoming is eighth on the list thanks to an average annual psychiatrist salary of $251,070, which is more than 400% higher than the average wage for all workers in the state. Additionally, psychiatrists in Wyoming should have lots of job options, as demand is projected to grow by 25% in the state through 2026, which is one of the highest growth rates in the nation.
#9, Minnesota
Rounding out the high end of the salary range is Minnesota, where the average psychiatrist makes $250,550 per year. In addition to being over a quarter of a million dollars, this figure is nearly 5 times higher than the wage for all jobs in the state. Psychiatrists in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area make more than $268,000, which is the 12th-highest rate among all metro areas in the U.S. Psychiatrist jobs are also expected to grow rapidly in the state, with 16.3% job growth projected through 2026.
Psychiatrist Mid-Range Salaries
A total of 34 states have what could be considered mid-range salaries, or those lower than $250,000 but higher than $175,000. Several states are very closely grouped together, which makes this tier by far the largest, and in every state, psychiatrists make at least double what their non-psychiatrist counterparts make.
Mid-range states (#10-#43)
| New Jersey | $245,990 |
| Washington | $245,990 |
| Indiana | $243,630 |
| Oregon | $242,020 |
| Arizona | $240,660 |
| Missouri | $240,300 |
| Nebraska | $240,180 |
| Colorado | $234,860 |
| Pennsylvania | $232,990 |
| Georgia | $231,410 |
| South Carolina | $226,120 |
| Kansas | $226,090 |
| Rhode Island | $224,440 |
| Alaska | $222,310 |
| Mississippi | $221,060 |
| Maryland | $215,000 |
| Nevada | $214,980 |
| New Hampshire | $212,710 |
| Michigan | $212,030 |
| Iowa | $211,870 |
| Kentucky | $210,680 |
| New York | $208,750 |
| Texas | $204,480 |
| Virginia | $198,810 |
| North Dakota | $196,410 |
| Tennessee | $195,670 |
| Florida | $195,400 |
| Ohio | $194,700 |
| Massachusetts | $194,220 |
| North Carolina | $189,190 |
| Vermont | $186,400 |
| Wisconsin | $186,200 |
| Oklahoma | $183,930 |
| Delaware | $177,720 |
#10 (tie), New Jersey
New Jersey isn’t far off from the highest salary tier with its average annual wage of $245,990, tying the state with Washington for No. 10. The average psychiatrist in the Garden State makes about 323% more than other workers, and those in the Trenton metro area make an average of $275,810, ninth-highest among all metro areas.
#10 (tie), Washington
The other half of our 10th-place tie is Washington, where the average psychiatrist makes $245,990, or just over 4 times the average worker in the state. Washington psychiatrists are expected to see job openings grow by more than 23% through 2026, and those in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area boast the highest salaries among all metro areas, $285,030.
#12, Indiana
Indiana comes in at No. 12 thanks to its average psychiatrist wage of $243,630, which is more than 4 times higher than what the average worker earns in the Hoosier State. Psychiatrist job openings are projected to increase by nearly 13% in Indiana through 2026.
#13, Oregon
Oregon takes the 13th spot with an average wage for psychiatrists of $242,020, which is more than 350% higher than the average wage for all workers in the state of $52,000. Psychiatrists in the Portland metro area make an average of $266,750 per year, which is, coincidentally, the 13th-highest among all metro areas. Job openings should grow by nearly 17% through 2026.
#14, Arizona
The average psychiatrist in Arizona makes $240,660 per year, which puts the state in No. 14 nationally. That compares to the average wage for all workers of $49,290, giving psychiatrists an average wage that’s nearly 400% higher than all employees in the state. Arizona is projected to have the highest rate of job growth for psychiatrists, with a 34.5% expansion expected by 2026. Psychiatrists in Tucson boast the fifth-highest wage level among all metro areas at $281,460.
#15, Missouri
Missouri’s average psychiatrist wage of $240,300 puts the state at No. 15 nationally, and that figure compares favorably to the average wage for all workers in the state of $46,460 — a 417% difference. Psychiatrists in the Kansas City metro area make an average of $254,470, among the 20 highest in the country.
#16, Nebraska
Nebraska is in 16th place thanks to an average psychiatrist salary of $240,180, about 414% higher than the average wage for all occupations in the state. Psychiatrist job openings are expected to grow by 13.3% in Nebraska through 2026.
#17, Colorado
Colorado psychiatrists can expect to earn an average of $234,860, which puts the state in 17th place among all states. Psychiatrists earn more than 3 times the average worker in Colorado, and a robust 27.5% job growth is expected through 2026. The Colorado Springs metro area has the 11th-highest average wage among all metro areas of $269,860.
#18, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania takes 18th place thanks to the average psychiatrist wage of $232,990, a figure that’s 366% higher than the average salary for all jobs in the state. Three metro areas in Pennsylvania are among the top 25 metros for psychiatrist wages — Lancaster ($256,820), York ($256,050) and Pittsburgh ($250,010).
#19, Georgia
No. 19 Georgia is the highest-ranking Southern state for psychiatrists, who earn an average of $231,410 per year. That’s nearly 5 times what the average worker in Georgia makes per year, and jobs for psychiatrists should grow by nearly 16% through 2026.
#20, South Carolina
South Carolina is 20th in the nation thanks to its average psychiatrist wage of $226,120, more than 400% higher than the overall average wage in the state. Jobs in the state for psychiatrists should grow by a relatively modest 10.7% through 2026.
#21, Kansas
Kansas is No. 21 behind its average psychiatrist salary of $226,090, which is just under 400% higher than the overall average salary for all workers in the state. Modest to low job growth is expected in Kansas over the next several years, with a 5.3% growth rate projected by 2026.
#22, Rhode Island
An average annual psychiatrist wage of $224,440 puts Rhode Island in No. 22 among the states, and the typical psychiatrist in Rhode Island makes more than 4 times what the average worker makes. Rhode Island is the only state where job contraction for psychiatrists is expected over the long term, with jobs projected to decline by 2.8% in Rhode Island through 2026.
#23, Alaska
Alaska’s average annual salary for psychiatrists is $222,310, putting the state at No. 23. The spread between psychiatrists and all workers in the state is among the lowest in Alaska, but psychiatrists still earn more than 250% what the average worker makes in a year. Better-than-average job growth is expected in Alaska (+16.7% through 2026).
#24, Mississippi
At No. 24, Mississippi psychiatrists, with an average annual wage of $221,060, earn more than 5 times what the average worker in the state does, but psychiatrist jobs are expected to remain stagnant in the state over the short term and long term.
#25, Maryland
Psychiatrists in Maryland make an average of $215,000, which puts them 266% ahead of the average worker in the state, who earns $58,770, giving Maryland the No. 25 position. Maryland is expected to see psychiatrist jobs grow by more than 22% through 2026, one of the highest growth rates in the nation.
#26, Nevada
No. 26 Nevada has an average psychiatrist wage of $214,980, which is lower than the national average but still considerably higher than the average wage for all occupations in Nevada. Psychiatrists in the state earn 366% more than the average worker, and job openings should increase by 14.3% in the state through 2026.
#27, New Hampshire
The average psychiatrist in New Hampshire earns $212,710 per year, putting them at more than 300% higher than the typical worker in the state and putting New Hampshire in the 27th spot. In addition, jobs for psychiatrists should grow in the state, with New Hampshire having a projected psychiatrist job growth rate of 12.5% through 2026.
#28, Michigan
Michigan takes the 28th spot thanks to an average psychiatrist wage of $212,030. This figure is more than 300% higher than the average overall wage in the state, and jobs for psychiatrists should increase in Michigan by nearly 14% through 2026.
#29, Iowa
No. 29 Iowa boasts average psychiatrist salaries of $211,810, which is in the bottom half nationally but still stands at nearly 5 times what the typical worker in Iowa makes. Psychiatrist demand is expected to grow by 11.8% in Iowa through 2026.
#30, Kentucky
Kentucky’s average psychiatrist wage of $210,680 puts the Bluegrass State in 30th place among all states, and psychiatrists in the state make nearly 5 times what their counterparts make.
#31, New York
New York is 31st among the states with an average psychiatrist salary of $208,750, which is about 237% higher than the overall average wage for all workers in the state. New York expects to see psychiatrists become more in-demand, with growth of 16.2% expected through 2026.
#32, Texas
The average psychiatrist wage in Texas of $204,480, puts the Lone Star State in 32nd nationally. Psychiatrists in Texas make average salaries that are more than 300% higher than the average wage for all occupations in the state. A robust 18% growth rate is projected in Texas through 2026.
#33, Virginia
A typical psychiatrist in Virginia can expect to earn about $198,810, which puts Virginia at No. 33 nationally. The average psychiatrist wage in Virginia is about 260% higher than the wage for all workers in the state, and psychiatrist jobs should grow by about 13% through 2026.
#34, North Dakota
North Dakota is 34th in the nation thanks to an average psychiatrist salary of $196,410. This figure, while in the bottom half nationally, is considerably higher than the typical wage for all jobs in the state, which is $49,620. In addition to relatively high wages in the state, jobs for psychiatrists are expected to expand by about 12.5% through 2026.
#35, Tennessee
Tennessee ranks 35th nationally with an average annual wage for psychiatrists of $195,670, which is nearly 350% higher than the overall wage for all jobs in the state. Modest job growth is expected in Tennessee, with psychiatrist jobs expanding by 9.1% through 2026.
#36, Florida
No. 36 Florida’s average annual salary for psychiatrists of $195,400 is more than 4 times the overall average wage in the state of $46,010. Additionally, Florida is home to three metro areas that are among the top 25 for wages — Lakeland ($279,340), Tampa ($264,580) and Jacksonville ($252,230). Psychiatrist jobs are expected to grow by 17.5% in Florida through 2026.
#37, Ohio
Ohio’s average psychiatrist salary of $194,700 puts the state at No. 37 nationally. The typical psychiatrist in Ohio earns just over 4 times the average other worker in the state, and those in Dayton earn the 10th-highest average wage among all metro areas, $274,110.
#38, Massachusetts
Massachusetts comes in at No. 38 behind an average psychiatrist wage of $194,220, which is just over 3 times the average wage for all jobs in the state. The Springfield metro area is 15th among all metros in the U.S. with an average psychiatrist wage of $264,100.
#39, North Carolina
North Carolina’s average annual psychiatrist wage of $189,190 puts the state at No. 39 nationally, and psychiatrists in the state earn more than 300% higher wages than the typical worker.
#40, Vermont
Vermont’s average psychiatrist salary of $186,400 puts the state at No. 40 nationally, which is the lowest placement among all Northeastern states. Still, psychiatrists in the state earn nearly 275% higher wages than the typical worker in Vermont.
#41, Wisconsin
With its average wage for psychiatrists of $186,200, Wisconsin is 41st nationally and last in the Midwest. Typical psychiatrists in the state can still expect to earn considerably higher wages than the average worker, with a 293% spread.
#42, Oklahoma
Oklahoma psychiatrists can expect to earn a wage of $183,930 per year, which is about 4 times higher than the overall salary for all employed people in the state, putting Oklahoma at No. 42. Relatively slow job growth for psychiatrists is projected in Oklahoma, with a 2.8% increase through 2026.
#43, Delaware
Delaware’s average psychiatrist salary of $177,720 puts the state at No. 43 in the nation and is the lowest wage that’s upwards of $175,000, filling out the middle tier of salaries. In addition to being on the low end nationally, Delaware psychiatrists have among the lowest gaps between their typical wages and the overall average wage — 233%. Still, robust growth in job openings is expected, with a 16.7% increase projected through 2026.
Psychiatrist Lowest Salaries
Eight states have average psychiatrist wages that are lower than $175,000, with five of them being in the South and the other three in the West. The Midwest and Northeast do not have any states in the bottom tier.
Low-range states (#44-#51)
| Montana | $167,370 |
| District of Columbia | $167,190 |
| West Virginia | $166,400 |
| Alabama | $166,220 |
| Arkansas | $153,920 |
| Utah | $145,700 |
| Idaho | $137,280 |
| Louisiana | $120,090 |
#44, Montana
Montana is No. 44 with an average psychiatrist wage of $167,370, which is about 282% higher than the overall wage for all workers in the state. The state is expected to see jobs grow, however, with a 12.5% growth rate expected for psychiatrist jobs through 2026.
#45, District of Columbia
The District of Columbia comes in at No. 45 thanks to its average wage of $167,190, and the district also has the lowest spread between typical psychiatrist wages and the overall average wage — 90%.
#46, West Virginia
The average psychiatrist practicing in West Virginia earns an annual salary of $166,400, which is 46th in the nation. Despite being in the bottom bracket, psychiatrists in the state do earn considerably higher wages than other workers, with their wages comparing favorably to the overall average of $42,370.
#47, Alabama
In Alabama, psychiatrists can expect to earn about $166,220 per year, compared to $43,790 for all workers, putting Alabama at No. 47 among the states. Psychiatrist jobs in Alabama should grow by nearly 12% through 2026.
#48, Arkansas
An average salary figure of $153,920 puts Arkansas at No. 48 for psychiatrist wages, though this number is more than 270% higher than the average for all jobs. In addition, the state is expected to have one of the largest rates of growth for psychiatrist jobs, with openings projected to increase by 27.3% by 2026.
#49, Utah
Utah takes the 49th spot with its average annual wage for psychiatrists of $145,700, which is about 200% higher than the overall average salary in the state. Jobs look to be more available in the state, with openings expanding by 25.9% through 2026.
#50, Idaho
No. 50 Idaho, second to last in the nation, has an average annual salary for psychiatrists of $137,280, which is more than 200% higher than the overall wage in the state.
#51, Louisiana
At No. 51, Louisiana’s $120,090 is the lowest average wage in the nation for psychiatrists. The state’s spread between psychiatrists and all workers is also relatively low at 182%, the second-smallest spread in the country.
Conclusion
Tackling the growing mental healthcare crisis in the U.S. will mean increasing the number of qualified psychiatrists, who can diagnose and treat serious mental illness as well as helping people deal with their day-to-day anxiety. While choosing which state to practice in goes far beyond just what you’re making, there’s no doubt that some states present a much more attractive picture than others for prospective psychiatrists.
SEE ALSO: Top Online PsyD Programs for 2020
Additional References
- Note: Data on salary and jobs per 1,000 for most states was from 2018, but for four states, the most current Bureau of Labor Statistics release did not include data. For Idaho and Delaware, the data we used was from 2017, while for South Dakota and Wyoming, the data was from 2016. In all four cases, that was the most recent available data.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, Psychiatrists. (2019.) Custom tables accessed from https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/home
- Projections Managing Partnership, Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections. (Undated). Custom tables accessed from https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
- National Council, Medical Director Institute, The Psychiatric Shortage Causes and Solutions. (2017.) Retrieved from https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/resources/psychiatric-shortage-causes-and-solutions/