Salary · CA · SOC 29-1223

Psychiatrist salary in California, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for psychiatrists in California, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for psychiatrists in California was $353,500 a year, or $169.95 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $113,990 to $496,230. About 5,420 were employed.

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Psychiatrist pay in California vs the US

Psychiatrist wages in California and the US, May 2025
Measure	CA annual	CA hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$353,500	$169.95	$281,870
Mean (average)	$315,380	$151.63	$269,940
10th percentile	$113,990	$54.80	$84,060
25th percentile	$173,990	$83.65	$154,150
75th percentile	$414,640	$199.35	$362,740
90th percentile	$496,230	$238.57	$446,520

Employment in California: 5,420. Location quotient: 1.66 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Psychiatrist salary by metro area in California

Psychiatrist median wage by metro area, California
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$370,510	$178.13	1,610
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$364,530	$175.25	490
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$230,560	$110.85	320
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$335,620	$161.36	310
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$353,500	$169.95	250
Fresno, CA	$315,470	$151.67	140
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$331,800	$159.52	130
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$299,990	$144.23	70
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$322,750	$155.17	60
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$333,300	$160.24	60
Modesto, CA	$151,270	$72.72	40
Salinas, CA	$178,630	$85.88	40
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$337,970	$162.48	30
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$230,560	$110.85	Not published

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Psychiatrist salary in California

Median pay: $353,500 a year ($169.95 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $113,990 to $496,230 a year

Employed: 5,420

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Psychiatrist salary in California</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$353,500</strong> a year ($169.95 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $113,990 to $496,230 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 5,420</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/psychiatrist/ca" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a Psychiatrist make per hour in California?

The median hourly wage was $169.95 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $54.80 and the 90th was $238.57.

What is the average Psychiatrist salary in California?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $315,380 a year and a median of $353,500 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do psychiatrists in California earn more than the US median?

The California median of $353,500 is 25% higher than the US median of $281,870 (BLS, May 2025).

How does California rank for psychiatrist pay?

California ranks 1 of 46 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for psychiatrists (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 29-1223. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.