Healthcare practitioners
Psychiatrist
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent mental disorders.
Median pay
$281,870
Growth to 2035
+7%
faster than average
Openings a year
900
Time to qualify*
7 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Psychiatrist
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Psychiatrist: 77% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: Adolescent Psychiatrist · Adult Psychiatrist · Attending Psychiatrist · Board Certified Psychiatrist · Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist · Child Psychiatrist · Consulting Psychiatrist · Forensic Psychiatrist
Outlook and AI
Psychiatrists held 30,000 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 32,100 by 2035 (+7%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).