Psychiatrists pay in California
$315,380avg. a year
$151.63 an hour · 5,420 employed
Psychiatrists in California earn an average of $315,380 a year. That is $45,440 (17%) more than the U.S. average of $269,940. The best-paying metro area is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $364,570.
$353,500Median pay
$151.63Average hourly
+29%Avg. pay since 2020
#5Of 45 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for psychiatrists by metro area. Swipe to see all 14.
1250 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$364,570
$175.28 an hour
21,610 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$358,510
$172.36 an hour
330 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$319,680
$153.69 an hour
4310 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$309,660
$148.88 an hour
560 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$308,520
$148.33 an hour
6490 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$294,420
$141.55 an hour
7
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$290,240
$139.54 an hour
860 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$287,650
$138.30 an hour
9130 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$281,270
$135.23 an hour
10140 jobs
Fresno, CA
$281,170
$135.18 an hour
1170 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$275,840
$132.62 an hour
12320 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$274,080
$131.77 an hour
1340 jobs
Salinas, CA
$258,960
$124.50 an hour
1440 jobs
Modesto, CA
$253,340
$121.80 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Psychiatrists pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California psychiatrists work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $221k$221k–$266k$266k–$282k$282k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $269,940 | $129.78 |
| California | $315,380 | $151.63 |
| Oregon | $282,210 | $135.68 |
| Arizona | $264,260 | $127.05 |
| Nevada | $203,980 | $98.07 |
Related jobs in California
- Registered Nurses$150,280
- Physicians, All Other$249,620
- Nurse Practitioners$176,760
- Pharmacists$162,340
- Physical Therapists$122,580
- Dental Hygienists$128,110
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do psychiatrists make in California?
The average is $315,380 a year, and the median is $353,500. That is $45,440 (17%) more than the U.S. average of $269,940.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$151.63 an hour on average; the median is $169.95.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($364,570), followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($358,510). The lowest average among 14 metro areas with data is Modesto, CA ($253,340).
How does California rank?
California ranks #5 of 46 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 29-1223. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national psychiatrists page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.