Healthcare Practitioners
Psychiatrists
Also called: Adolescent Psychiatrist, Adult Psychiatrist, Attending Psychiatrist, Board Certified Psychiatrist
US median pay
$281,870
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+7.2%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
900
30,000 employed
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent mental disorders.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Teach, take continuing education classes, attend conferences or seminars, or conduct research and publish findings to increase understanding of mental, emotional, or behavioral states or disorders.
- Review and evaluate treatment procedures and outcomes of other psychiatrists or medical professionals.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness4.8/5
- Service Orientation4.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Instructing3.6/5
- Coordination3.6/5
- Persuasion3.5/5
- Time Management3.4/5
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry5.0/5
- Therapy and Counseling4.9/5
- Psychology4.8/5
- Biology4.6/5
- English Language4.6/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.1/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Doctoral or professional degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Post-doctoral training59%
- Doctoral degree34%
Who this job suits
Mostly Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.