Psychiatrist salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Psychiatrists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $353,500 a year ($169.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 250 workers.
Pay ranges from $127,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $505,280 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $281,870. Pay here is about the same as the California statewide median of $353,500. There are 0.22 psychiatrists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $364,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for psychiatrists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $127,000 | $61.06 |
| 25th percentile | $328,970 | $158.16 |
| Median | $353,500 | $169.95 |
| 75th percentile | $473,450 | $227.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $505,280 | $242.93 |
| Average (mean) | $364,570 | $175.28 |
Half of psychiatrists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $29,458.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $14,729.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $13,596.15 |
| Weekly | $6,798.08 |
| Hourly | $169.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $353,500 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Psychiatrist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $370,510 | 1,610 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $364,530 | 490 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $337,970 | 30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $335,620 | 310 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $333,300 | 60 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $331,800 | 130 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $322,750 | 60 |
| Fresno, CA | $315,470 | 140 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $299,990 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $230,560 | 320 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $230,560 | n/a |
| Salinas, CA | $178,630 | 40 |
| Modesto, CA | $151,270 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for psychiatrists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $353,500 |
| Louisiana | $345,040 |
| Alaska | $342,170 |
| Minnesota | $336,410 |
| Wisconsin | $331,070 |
| Connecticut | $326,670 |
| Florida | $316,200 |
| Oregon | $314,880 |
| Missouri | $312,680 |
| Maryland | $305,320 |
See Psychiatrist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $216,740 | $104.20 |
| Physicians, All Other | $98,870 | $47.54 |
| Pharmacist | $199,040 | $95.69 |
| Dental Hygienist | $139,990 | $67.30 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $231,560 | $111.33 |
| Physical Therapist | $139,000 | $66.83 |
| Dentists, General | $207,910 | $99.96 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $351,760 | $169.12 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $149,680 | $71.96 |
| Physician Assistant | $223,640 | $107.52 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $132,720 | $63.81 |
| Occupational Therapist | $136,870 | $65.80 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $122,910 | $59.09 |
| Optometrist | $135,330 | $65.06 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1223. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a psychiatrist make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for psychiatrists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $353,500 a year, or $169.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $127,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $505,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid psychiatrists make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of psychiatrists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $505,280 a year. The top 25% earn $473,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for psychiatrists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $127,000 a year, and a quarter of psychiatrists earn $328,970 or less.
How many psychiatrists work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 250 psychiatrists are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.