Psychiatrists Salary
The median pay for a psychiatrists in Virginia is $295,010/year ($141.83/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $129K at the entry level to $372K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $311,225 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 9.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $295K get you in Virginia?
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What this looks like in Virginia
Psychiatrists pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $295K locally vs. $282K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 10.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level psychiatrists (10th percentile) start around $129K. Mid-career wages sit at $295K. Top earners bring in $372K or more, a $243K spread from bottom to top.
Psychiatrists salary by metro in Virginia
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | $295K | +0% | 70 |
| Richmond | $291K | -1% | 50 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $277K | -6% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track psychiatrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a psychiatrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $295K, rent takes 10.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for psychiatrists in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new psychiatrists typically earn — is $129K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,766/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is psychiatrist a high-paying job in Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $295K locally vs. $282K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for psychiatrists?
Virginia pays $295K median vs. the U.S. average of $282K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $311K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do psychiatrists make in Virginia?
The median is $295,010 a year, that works out to about $142 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $129,440, and experienced psychiatrists can clear $372,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $295K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $16,247/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 10.1% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median psychiatrists salary is worth about $311,225 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.