Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists diagnose, treat, and help prevent disorders of the mind.
Table of contents
What they do
Psychiatrists diagnose, treat, and help prevent disorders of the mind.
- 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.
- Design individualized care plans, using a variety of treatments.
- Collaborate with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals to discuss treatment plans and progress.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Psychiatrists prescribe, direct, or administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. They counsel outpatients or other patients during office visits.
A typical day for a Psychiatrist will also include:
- Analyze and evaluate patient data or test findings to diagnose the nature or extent of mental disorder.
- 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.
- Advise or inform guardians, relatives, or significant others of patients’ conditions or treatment.
- Examine or conduct laboratory or diagnostic tests on patients to provide information on general physical conditions or mental disorders.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Psychiatrists also 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. They may also serve on committees to promote or maintain community mental health services or delivery systems.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Psychiatrists examine or conduct laboratory or diagnostic tests on patients to provide information on a general physical conditions or mental disorders. They might also prepare and submit case reports or summaries to the government or mental health agencies.
In addition, they review and evaluate treatment procedures and outcomes of other psychiatrists or medical professionals.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them design individualized care plans, using a variety of treatments.
To some Psychiatrists, it is also their responsibility to advise or inform guardians, relatives, or significant others of patients’ conditions or treatment.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
85% said they were satisfied with their job and 92% said they found their job meaningful.
I am a board-certified, attending Psychiatrist with the Autism Integrated Care Program and the Medical Director of Telehealth Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. As a psychiatrist, my main responsibility is seeing patients daily. Listening, learning their feelings and problems, and creating solutions through a plan of … Read More
My typical workday consists of seeing 10 to 15 follow up appointments with patients I see every one to three months. We discuss symptoms they are currently struggling with, risks and benefits of medication, and therapeutic strategies. Additionally, I see one to three intake consultations daily where I meet someone for the first time to … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.
Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Demand for this career is growing very fast.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.
It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Psychiatrists with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $69,470 to $135,300 per year or $33 to $65 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $208,000+ | $100+ |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $208,000+ | $100+ |
| Median | $208,000+ | $100+ |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $135,300 | $65 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $69,470 | $33 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Psychiatrists based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health Care Services | $262120 | $126.02 |
| Local Government | $259010 | $124.52 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | $256040 | $123.10 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $249260 | $119.84 |
| Other Residential Care Facilities | $235550 | $113.24 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $232550 | $111.80 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | $227570 | $109.41 |
| Individual and Family Services | $217250 | $104.45 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $212750 | $102.28 |
| Offices of Physicians | $210390 | $101.15 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Psychiatrists work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Psychiatrists including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians | 8360 | $210390 | $101.15 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 4160 | $193670 | $93.11 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | 3550 | $232550 | $111.80 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 3060 | $249260 | $119.84 |
| State Government | 1380 | $209900 | $100.91 |
| Local Government | 1250 | $259010 | $124.52 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 870 | $212750 | $102.28 |
| Individual and Family Services | 750 | $217250 | $104.45 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 630 | $164940 | $79.30 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | 570 | $256040 | $123.10 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Program
Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program
Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship Program
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program
Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program
Psychiatry Residency Program
Psychiatry/Neurology Combined Specialty Program
Pediatrics/Psychology/Child-Adolescent Psychology Combined Specialty Program
Internal Medicine/Psychiatry Combined Specialty Program
Family Medicine/Psychiatry Combined Specialty Program
Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
Medicine
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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