Psychiatrists Salary
The median pay for a psychiatrists in California is $353,500/year ($169.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $114K at the entry level to $496K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $333,051 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 12.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $354K get you in California?
About psychiatrists
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for psychiatrists, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $282K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,471/month, 13.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, California offers a genuinely strong financial position for psychiatristss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level psychiatrists (10th percentile) start around $114K. Mid-career wages sit at $354K. Top earners bring in $496K or more, a $382K spread from bottom to top.
Psychiatrists salary by metro in California
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $371K | +5% | 1,610 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $365K | +3% | 490 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $354K | +0% | 250 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $338K | -4% | 30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $336K | -5% | 310 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $333K | -6% | 60 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $332K | -6% | 130 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $323K | -9% | 60 |
| Fresno | $315K | -11% | 140 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $300K | -15% | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $231K | -35% | N/A |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $231K | -35% | 320 |
| Salinas | $179K | -49% | 40 |
| Modesto | $151K | -57% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a psychiatrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $354K, rent takes 13.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for psychiatrists in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new psychiatrists typically earn — is $114K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,839/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is psychiatrist a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $354K here vs. $282K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for psychiatrists?
California pays $354K median vs. the U.S. average of $282K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $333K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do psychiatrists make in California?
The median is $353,500 a year, that works out to about $170 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $113,990, and experienced psychiatrists can clear $496,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $354K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $18,253/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 13.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a psychiatrists salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median psychiatrists salary is worth about $333,051 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do psychiatrists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.