Psychiatrists pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $156,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $439,510 or more. The middle half of psychiatrists in San Diego earn between $185,280 and $426,950.
- $157K10th
- $185K25th
- $336KMedian
- $427K75th
- $440K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $309,660 | $25,805 | $148.88 |
| Median | $335,620 | $27,968 | $161.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $185,280 | $15,440 | $89.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $426,950 | $35,579 | $205.26 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Psychiatrists pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Psychiatrists in San Diego earn about the same as the California average ($315,380) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($269,940). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $281,870.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $309,660 | $335,620 | $156,960 | $439,510 | 310 |
| California | $315,380 | $353,500 | $113,990 | $496,230 | 5,420 |
| United States | $269,940 | $281,870 | $84,060 | $446,520 | 27,980 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Psychiatrists salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $309,660, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $196,522 a year, or $16,377 a month and $7,559 every two weeks. Taxes take 37% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for psychiatrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $309,660 buys what about $276,761 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 5.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Psychiatrists salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 4th of 14 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($364,570).
- San Jose$364,570
- Los Angeles$358,510
- Santa Rosa$319,680
- San Diego$309,660
- Santa Maria$308,520
- Riverside$294,420
- San Francisco$290,240
- San Luis Obispo$287,650
- Stockton$281,270
- Fresno$281,170
Highest-paying cities for psychiatrists
Miami, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($378,670).
- Miami, FL$378,670
- San Jose, CA$364,570
- Minneapolis, MN$358,870
- Los Angeles, CA$358,510
- St. Louis, MO$357,180
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Psychiatrists salary in San Diego: questions
How much do psychiatrists make an hour in San Diego?
$148.88 an hour on average, and $161.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level psychiatrists salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $156,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $185,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the psychiatrists take-home pay in San Diego?
About $196,522 a year ($16,377 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $309,660. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do psychiatrists earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% more than the U.S. average for this job ($269,940).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1223; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.13, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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