Becoming a psychiatrist is a great career to pursue. A psychiatrist is a type of medical doctor who helps individuals with mental illnesses, addictions, mood disorders, and many other mental health problems. Psychiatrists help patients by using several different types of techniques, such as counseling, psychoanalysis, and medication options. While conducting therapy for the patient, the psychiatrist will examine the patient’s behavior by regularly meeting with them. The idea is to keep track of the patient’s mental health and lead them to progress and improvement. In addition, a psychiatrist also can prescribe medicine and decides and alter the types of medicine that will benefit the patient.
How to become a psychiatrist may feel like a long road, but it is worth it if you enjoy helping people overcome emotional problems they may be having. The psychiatrist’s salary and job outlook are wonderful compared to many other career options. Also, if an individual enjoys psychology and other scientific courses, the training may be interesting and fun. If you are planning to pursue a psychiatry career, some of the issues you will be assessing are panic attacks, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and many more.
What are the differences between a psychiatrist and psychologist?
Some individuals have a hard time differentiating and choosing between becoming a psychiatrist or a psychologist. The main difference is that a psychiatrist can prescribe the patient medications. A psychologist has an advanced degree as well as training in research or clinical practice like a psychiatrist. Both careers use psychotherapy techniques for mental disorders, but only the psychiatrist is able to prescribe medication to patients and clients.
How long does it take to become a psychiatrist?
If your question is how long it takes to become a psychiatrist, the answer is it takes at least eight years after earning a bachelor’s degree to become a psychiatrist. Including undergraduate study, it will take at least twelve years altogether to become a psychiatrist. Prospective students will need to plan on four years in undergraduate school, four years (sometimes five) to complete medical school, and at least four years of residency training. If there is a desire to becoming certified in a specialty area, this will add another one or two years in a fellowship program after the residency training.
What are the education and training requirements to become a psychiatrist?
There are several educational and clinical requirements to becoming a psychiatrist. First, the student must attend college after high school and earn a bachelor’s degree. The student interested in Psychiatry should prepare to attend medical school by earning a bachelor’s in pre-med, psychology, or physical sciences during undergraduate school. In order to get admitted to medical school, the student must continue to have good grades and take impressive undergraduate courses. Biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics are strongly required courses to be considered for medical school. Volunteering at a hospital or clinic will also look good on a resume for medical school admission.
During medical school, a prospective psychiatrist can pursue an MD or DO program. The MD program is a Doctor of Medicine program, and the DO program is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program. Both degree programs offer the same treatment techniques; the difference is that the DO program concentrates more on osteopathic manipulative medicine.
Medical school requires four to five years of training. During the first couple of years, the psychiatry student will take necessary pathology, anatomy, biology, and other scientific courses. The students will attend clinical rotations with doctors and medical professionals during the last few years. The student should plan to gain and improve their psychiatric skills during medical school to prepare for their career. Research programs also look great in terms of one’s background, so participating in them would be an excellent option.
Lastly, the student must complete a residency after graduating from medical school. Residencies last three to eight years in a clinic or hospital setting. This is another great time for the student to focus on sharpening their skills to become a psychiatrist. The residency is a critical time working under and taking direction from an actual licensed psychiatrist.
How does someone become a licensed psychiatrist?
Once the student completes medical school and the residency requirement, they can apply for their medical license. If the student graduates from an MD program, they will take the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE). If the student graduates from the DO program, they will take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam. Assuming the student passes, the medical board must grant the medical license to the student or they will be unable to practice psychiatry.
What are the certification requirements?
After passing the exam and earning the medical license, the student can take the test for the board certification. The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology offers the board certification, and students are able to continuously retake it until they pass. The board certification is completely voluntary, but this will show achievement and helps the student’s chances of earning a job. The different types of certification options to choose from are general psychiatry, adolescent psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry. Additionally, the certification should be renewed every ten years. To renew the certification, psychiatrists must continue being in good standing in their career, be actively practicing, and taking courses in continuing education.
Where are most psychiatrists employed?
Most psychiatrists are currently employed in many different healthcare settings. Some psychiatrists have their own private practice offices. Other psychiatrists choose to work at clinics, psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, university medical centers, emergency room departments, community agencies, courts or prisons, nursing homes, rehab facilities, hospice centers, general medical and surgical hospitals, outpatient care centers, and government and military settings.
Even psychiatrists who work for home health care services will provide psychiatric services in the comfort of their client’s homes. This is a career field with so many employment settings to choose from. Around 50 percent of psychiatrists have their private practice, and the other 50 percent work in the different types of settings mentioned. With all these options, prospective psychiatrists should have no issue finding a setting to begin their employment in.
What is a Psychiatrist’s Salary?
Psychiatrists in the United States enjoy a lucrative salary range based on workplace, geographic location, and experience. As of 2025, the mean annual wage for psychiatrists is estimated at $268,774, according to Salary.com’s January 2025 analysis, with a typical range spanning $219,183 to $322,312 (Salary.com Psychiatrist Salary). This figure builds on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2023 data, which reported a mean annual wage of $256,930 and an hourly mean of $123.52 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Psychiatrists), adjusted for inflation and wage growth trends.
Salary by Industry
Where a psychiatrist works significantly impacts their earnings:
- Physicians’ Offices: Average annual salary of approximately $249,660.
- Outpatient Care Centers: Around $280,570 yearly, reflecting higher demand in these settings.
- Local Government (excluding schools/hospitals): Topping the list at $296,410.
- Home Health Care Services: Approximately $285,120 annually.
- State Government: Averaging $267,890 per year.
These figures are derived from BLS industry-specific data, adjusted slightly to reflect 2025 economic conditions.
Top-Paying States
Geography also plays a key role in salary disparities. The highest-paying states for psychiatrists, based on BLS state wage estimates updated for 2025, include:
- California: $306,910
- New Jersey: $298,750
- Alaska: $292,430
- South Carolina: $287,660
- Indiana: $284,210
These states offer premium compensation, often due to cost of living or regional demand.
What is the Job Outlook for a Psychiatrist?
The job market for psychiatrists is thriving as mental health needs escalate nationwide. The BLS projects a 7.6% employment growth for psychiatrists from 2023 to 2033, adding roughly 2,100 new jobs over the decade (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychiatrists). Starting from an employment base of 25,250 psychiatrists in May 2023, this growth suggests approximately 27,370 practicing psychiatrists by 2033—a pace that outstrips the 3% average for all occupations.
Drivers of Growth
This rapid expansion is fueled by several factors:
- Rising Mental Health Awareness: Increased societal focus on mental well-being boosts demand.
- Rural Shortages: The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) predicts a shortage of 39,550 psychiatrists by 2030, with rural areas facing the greatest need (HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Projections).
- Specialty Demand: Geriatric and child psychiatrists are particularly sought after, addressing aging populations and youth mental health crises.
Top Employment Regions and Industries
Employment opportunities concentrate in certain states and sectors:
- Highest Employment States:
- New York (3,870 jobs)
- California (3,510 jobs)
- Ohio (1,950 jobs)
- Texas (1,890 jobs)
- New Jersey (1,650 jobs)
- Leading Industries:
- Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals (3,770 jobs)
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (3,510 jobs)
- Outpatient Care Centers (2,980 jobs)
These figures, sourced from BLS May 2023 data, highlight where psychiatrists are most active.
Competitive Landscape
Despite the growth, competition remains fierce. The field attracts many aspiring professionals, particularly for specialized roles like geriatric or child psychiatry, where shortages are acute. Rural areas, however, offer less competition and more openings, making them prime targets for new psychiatrists entering the workforce.
Sources and Data Notes
Job Outlook: The 7.6% growth rate and employment projections (25,250 to 27,370) are from BLS 2023–2033 data. HRSA’s shortage estimate adds context to rural demand.
Salary Data: The 2025 mean salary ($268,774) is an estimate from Salary.com, building on BLS’s May 2023 baseline ($256,930), with a ~4.6% adjustment for wage trends. Industry and state specifics are BLS-derived, adjusted for relevance.
Becoming a psychiatrist is an incredible career choice, and you should invest in learning more about the length of time it will take to be able to practice, determine the costs of training, and find out more about the salary you can earn over time. Choosing a career is never an easy choice, and you should take the time to explore the many different options available within this career field.
Consider applying to our Mental Health Internship Program at International Medical Aid. This internship opportunity will provide you with the hands-on experience and in-depth understanding of the psychiatry medical field. International Medical Aid offers top-rated mental health internships abroad in several different mental health specialties. This is a great opportunity to gain unique learning and overseas experiences while also helping you decide on which specialty you would like to pursue in the field of psychiatry. Psychiatrists work and focus primarily on the mental health field, so this internship program would be very beneficial when it comes to your future career.
