Psychiatrists Salary
The median pay for a psychiatrists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $246,990/year ($118.75/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $377K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $226,846 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,246/month, or 15.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $247K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About psychiatrists
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Pay for psychiatrists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $282K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,246/month, 16.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Lower pay, lower costs, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria can be a reasonable trade-off for psychiatristss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for psychiatrists in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $318K | $304K |
| Roanoke | $295K | $315K |
| Richmond | $291K | $297K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $277K | $283K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level psychiatrists (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $247K. Top earners bring in $377K or more, a $332K spread from bottom to top.
Psychiatrists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Psychiatrists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $354K | +25% | 5,420 |
| Louisiana | $345K | +22% | 90 |
| Alaska | $342K | +21% | 50 |
| Minnesota | $336K | +19% | 580 |
| Wisconsin | $331K | +17% | 550 |
| Connecticut | $327K | +16% | 560 |
| Florida | $316K | +12% | 1,930 |
| Oregon | $315K | +12% | 430 |
| Missouri | $313K | +11% | 240 |
| Maryland | $305K | +8% | 460 |
| Washington | $305K | +8% | 360 |
| Vermont | $303K | +7% | 80 |
| Maine | $300K | +6% | 80 |
| Utah | $300K | +6% | 260 |
| Iowa | $295K | +5% | 170 |
| Virginia | $295K | +5% | 370 |
| Michigan | $292K | +4% | 560 |
| Hawaii | $290K | +3% | 170 |
| Rhode Island | $288K | +2% | 270 |
| Indiana | $284K | +1% | 410 |
| Delaware | $279K | -1% | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $279K | -1% | 830 |
| Kansas | $278K | -1% | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $272K | -4% | 80 |
| Colorado | $266K | -5% | 270 |
| New York | $266K | -6% | 4,130 |
| Illinois | $259K | -8% | 870 |
| Arizona | $250K | -11% | 380 |
| New Hampshire | $246K | -13% | 90 |
| Ohio | $245K | -13% | 690 |
| Kentucky | $238K | -16% | 160 |
| Georgia | $237K | -16% | 470 |
| South Carolina | $237K | -16% | 200 |
| Texas | $228K | -19% | 1,690 |
| New Mexico | $228K | -19% | N/A |
| South Dakota | $226K | -20% | 60 |
| Tennessee | $215K | -24% | 410 |
| Mississippi | $214K | -24% | 110 |
| Nevada | $210K | -25% | 90 |
| New Jersey | $194K | -31% | 1,290 |
| District of Columbia | $183K | -35% | 310 |
| North Carolina | $169K | -40% | 620 |
| Nebraska | $135K | -52% | 180 |
| Arkansas | $125K | -56% | 150 |
| Idaho | $75K | -73% | 110 |
| West Virginia | $63K | -78% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track psychiatrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a psychiatrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Yes — at the median salary of $247K, rent takes 16.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for psychiatrists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new psychiatrists typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,709/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 83% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $247K here vs. $282K nationally.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for psychiatrists?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $247K median vs. the U.S. average of $282K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $227K — below the national median.
How much do psychiatrists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $246,990 a year, that works out to about $119 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,150, and experienced psychiatrists can clear $377,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $247K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $13,551/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 16.6% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $226,846 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.