What Is the Employment Outlook for a Psychiatrist Career?
Psychiatrists attend medical school and are fully trained in psychotherapy, psychopharmacology and electroconvulsive therapy. They prescribe and administer medications, as well as treating more intense mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The market for all physicians and surgeons is expected to grow quickly over the next several years.
Job Growth
There were an estimated 25,630 psychiatrists practicing in the country in 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The number of psychiatrists' jobs is expected to grow faster than most fields, increasing 11% between 2016 and 2026. Although the BLS expects job prospects to be good overall, rural areas might have more job opportunities.
Important Facts About This Occupation
| Professional Certification | The American Board of Physician Specialties offers board certification in psychiatry. |
| Key Skills | communication, patience, organization/recordkeeping and tracking the details of patient care |
| Work Environment | clinics and private offices are most common, assisted by nurses and clerical personnel; long and irregular hours are common |
| Similar Occupations | Registered Nurses, Physician Assistants and Dentists |
Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Reasons for Growth
The expansion of the healthcare industry and improved access to health insurance due to healthcare reform are two factors that will drive growth for all physicians and surgeons. More professionals will be needed to treat the aging population and newly insured patients who are gaining access to healthcare. However, there may be less demand due to out-of-pocket costs for some health services. In addition, hospitals might hire other professionals who can provide routine services at a lower cost, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Salary Information
Like many physicians, psychiatrists have relatively high incomes. The BLS reported that the median salary for these professionals was $208,000 in May 2018. The lowest-paid psychiatrists earned an annual wage of $75,590 or less.
Salary by Employer
Out of the five top industries that employed these workers, salaries for those working for home health care services were the highest, at $253,370 on average in May 2018, reported the BLS. Average salaries were $220,010 for physicians' offices, $209,080 for psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals and $208,870 for general hospitals. Psychiatrists working for local government earned an average wage of $253,140.
Salary by Location
According to the BLS, states paying psychiatrists the highest average wages in May 2018 included Hawaii ($269,800), Connecticut ($258,200), Maine ($256,270), California ($255,790) and New Mexico ($255,410). States paying the lowest average wages included Louisiana (120,090), Utah ($145,700) and Arkansas ($153,920).
Training Requirements
Psychiatrists may prepare 9 years or more after their undergraduate degree. Before being licensed to practice, they must complete four years of medical school, participate in one year of rotations and undergo 4-6 years of residency in psychiatry. Psychiatrists may choose a specialty, such as child and adolescent psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry or neuropsychiatry.