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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The salary headline is just the beginning — location changes everything. The national median salary for Psychiatrists in 2026 is $296,792, with entry-level positions averaging $213,690 and senior roles reaching $421,444. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $540,600, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Psychiatrist falls within the Healthcare sector, specifically in Healthcare. The typical education path involves Medical degree + residency. The career outlook? High demand. Work style is clinical/remote — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
$328,950 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Psychiatrist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $540,600 — $328,950 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($211,650). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The three-tier salary picture for Psychiatrists in 2026: $213,690 at entry (P10), $296,792 at midpoint, and $421,444 at the senior end (P90). The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The $207,754 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $216,425 above the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $504,900 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $213,350 (average of the bottom 3). That $291,550 delta is real money — $24,296/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Psychiatrist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $540,600 — $328,950 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($211,650). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Psychiatrist is $213,690, while senior-level (P90) earners average $421,444. That $207,754 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Psychiatrists at $358,212 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $314,925) is $43,287.
At the 90th percentile, Psychiatrists pull in an average of $421,444. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $213,690 | $296,792 | $421,444 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £111,047 | £154,232 | £219,009 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$171,951 | CA$238,821 | CA$339,126 |
| Australia | 13 | A$198,793 | A$276,101 | A$392,064 |
| Sweden | 24 | 1,173,539 kr | 1,629,915 kr | 2,314,480 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $257,913 | $358,212 | $508,661 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $249,237 | $346,163 | $491,551 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $247,860 | $344,250 | $488,835 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $229,500 | $318,750 | $452,625 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $226,746 | $314,925 | $447,194 |
| Washington | 8 | $222,386 | $308,869 | $438,594 |
| New York | 5 | $209,304 | $290,700 | $412,794 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $209,304 | $290,700 | $412,794 |
| Florida | 22 | $207,718 | $288,498 | $409,667 |
| Colorado | 11 | $204,130 | $283,514 | $402,589 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $203,796 | $283,050 | $401,931 |
| Nevada | 5 | $203,429 | $282,540 | $401,207 |
| Arizona | 12 | $202,419 | $281,138 | $399,215 |
| Oregon | 5 | $201,960 | $280,500 | $398,310 |
| Idaho | 3 | $201,348 | $279,650 | $397,103 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $199,757 | $277,440 | $393,965 |
| Utah | 4 | $199,206 | $276,675 | $392,879 |
| Virginia | 7 | $195,927 | $272,121 | $386,412 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $193,392 | $268,600 | $381,412 |
| Alaska | 1 | $192,780 | $267,750 | $380,205 |
| Illinois | 5 | $190,577 | $264,690 | $375,860 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $185,844 | $258,117 | $366,526 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $183,600 | $255,000 | $362,100 |
| Montana | 1 | $183,600 | $255,000 | $362,100 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $182,988 | $254,150 | $360,893 |
| Texas | 40 | $182,085 | $252,896 | $359,113 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $181,764 | $252,450 | $358,479 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $180,846 | $251,175 | $356,669 |
| Georgia | 6 | $180,234 | $250,325 | $355,462 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $179,928 | $249,900 | $354,858 |
| Kansas | 4 | $179,010 | $248,625 | $353,048 |
| Michigan | 6 | $178,398 | $247,775 | $351,841 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $176,256 | $244,800 | $347,616 |
| Maryland | 1 | $176,256 | $244,800 | $347,616 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $174,420 | $242,250 | $343,995 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $174,420 | $242,250 | $343,995 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $169,830 | $235,875 | $334,943 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $168,912 | $234,600 | $333,132 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $166,617 | $231,413 | $328,606 |
| Missouri | 4 | $166,617 | $231,413 | $328,606 |
| Alabama | 5 | $165,974 | $230,520 | $327,338 |
| Indiana | 3 | $163,404 | $226,950 | $322,269 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $163,404 | $226,950 | $322,269 |
| Iowa | 2 | $161,568 | $224,400 | $318,648 |
| Ohio | 6 | $161,262 | $223,975 | $318,045 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $154,224 | $214,200 | $304,164 |
The state salary map for Psychiatrists: California at $358,212, Massachusetts at $346,163, Hawaii at $344,250 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($214,200), Ohio ($223,975), Iowa ($224,400) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $144,012.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($540,600 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $255,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $540,600 | 212 | $255,000 | $267,760 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $504,900 | 198 | $255,000 | $252,034 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $469,200 | 184 | $255,000 | $236,308 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $461,550 | 181 | $255,000 | $232,938 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $453,900 | 178 | $255,000 | $229,568 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $451,350 | 177 | $255,000 | $228,445 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $451,350 | 177 | $255,000 | $228,445 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $441,150 | 173 | $255,000 | $223,952 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $441,150 | 173 | $255,000 | $223,952 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $430,950 | 169 | $255,000 | $219,459 |
The $207,754 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Psychiatrist career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Healthcare sector, high demand, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Psychiatrists is $296,792 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $213,690, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $421,444.
The highest-paying city for Psychiatrists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $540,600. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($540,600), Santa Clara ($504,900), Irvine ($469,200). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Psychiatrist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $211,650. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Psychiatrists (10th percentile) average $213,690 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $389,232. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Psychiatrists average $421,444 nationally — $207,754 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Psychiatrists can earn up to $767,652.
The top-paying states for Psychiatrists are California ($358,212 median), Massachusetts ($346,163 median), Hawaii ($344,250 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Psychiatrist involves Medical degree + residency. The field is in the Healthcare sector (Healthcare), and the career outlook is high demand. Work style is typically clinical/remote.
With a national median of $296,792 and representation across 288 metro areas, Psychiatrist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $207,754 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.