Psychiatrists · California

Psychiatrists Salary in California

Psychiatrists in California earn a median annual wage of $353,500 —25.4% above the national median of $281,870. That ranks CA #1 of 46 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$353,500
Median hourly
$169.95
Entry level (P10)
$113,990
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$496,230
90th percentile
Employment
5,420
0.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+25.4%
U.S. $281,870

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$113,990
$173,990
$353,500
$414,640
$113,990$353,500$496,230
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $353,500.

Employment is 1.66× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for psychiatrists

All 46 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$353,500$169.955,4201.66
2Louisiana$345,040$165.88900.27
3Alaska$342,170$164.51500.93
4Minnesota$336,410$161.745801.09
5Wisconsin$331,070$159.175501.03
6Connecticut$326,670$157.055601.85
7Florida$316,200$152.021,9301.08
8Oregon$314,880$151.394301.21
9Missouri$312,680$150.332400.45
10Maryland$305,320$146.794600.93

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Registered Nurses$140,270$97,550
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,750$64,400
Pharmacy Technicians$55,110$45,750
Physicians, All Other$281,590$265,930
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$76,010$62,930
Nurse Practitioners$168,520$132,300

Frequently asked questions

How much do psychiatrists make in California?

The median annual wage for psychiatrists in California is $353,500, or $169.95 per hour. That is 25.4% above the national median of $281,870.

What is the entry-level psychiatrists salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $113,990 per year ($54.80/hour). The 25th percentile is $173,990.

How many people work as psychiatrists in California?

About 5,420 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for psychiatrists?

California ranks #1 of 46 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.66x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays psychiatrists the most?

California has the highest median wage at $353,500 per year, followed by Louisiana ($345,040) and Alaska ($342,170).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes