Occupation · SOC 29-1223
Psychiatrists
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent mental disorders.
Median wage
$239,200
$77,360–$239,200
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
24,800
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
56 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningSocial PerceptivenessCritical ThinkingSpeakingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingWritingActive Learning
Knowledge areas
Therapy and CounselingPsychologyMedicine and DentistryEnglish LanguageBiology
Technology & tools
Medical softwareTime accounting softwareBilling and invoicing softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite software
Representative tasks
Prescribe, direct, or administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.Gather and maintain patient information and records, including social or medical history obtained from patients, relatives, or other professionals.Design individualized care plans, using a variety of treatments.Collaborate with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals to discuss treatment plans and progress.Analyze and evaluate patient data or test findings to diagnose nature or extent of mental disorder.Examine or conduct laboratory or diagnostic tests on patients to provide information on general physical condition or mental disorder.Counsel outpatients or other patients during office visits.Advise or inform guardians, relatives, or significant others of patients' conditions or treatment.Teach, take continuing education classes, attend conferences or seminars, or conduct research and publish findings to increase understanding of mental, emotional, or behavioral states or disorders.Review and evaluate treatment procedures and outcomes of other psychiatrists or medical professionals.Prepare and submit case reports or summaries to government or mental health agencies.Serve on committees to promote or maintain community mental health services or delivery systems.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Patient social and medical histories — collect and document under attending supervision in an inpatient psychiatric unit.Diagnostic interview findings — record accurately using standardized intake forms within an institutional clinical setting.DSM diagnostic criteria — apply to straightforward presentations under direct attending guidance in a residency training program.Laboratory and screening test results — interpret basic findings with supervisor review to inform initial differential diagnoses.Psychopharmacological treatment options — identify and present to supervising psychiatrists during case rounds in a hospital setting.Patient information — maintain in electronic medical record systems under established confidentiality protocols at a teaching hospital.Mental status examination components — perform systematically on assigned patients under direct clinical supervision.Active listening and empathic communication — demonstrate during supervised outpatient counseling sessions with adult patients.Interdisciplinary team discussions — participate in by reporting patient observations to physicians and psychiatric nurses during care conferences.Professional ethics and patient rights — recognize and apply foundational principles under mentorship in a clinical training environment.
developing
Individualized psychiatric care plans — design using a range of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic modalities for routine outpatient cases.Patient histories and evolving clinical records — gather, update, and maintain with reduced oversight across an outpatient psychiatric practice.Mental disorder diagnoses — analyze patient data, test findings, and collateral information to formulate independently for common presentations.Psychotherapeutic treatments and medications — prescribe and administer according to evidence-based guidelines for established patient panels.Outpatient counseling sessions — conduct routinely, adjusting therapeutic approach based on patient progress and session feedback.Treatment plan progress — communicate to multidisciplinary teams including psychologists, social workers, and psychiatric nurses in scheduled case reviews.Guardians and family members — advise on patient diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment expectations using clear, accessible language in clinical office settings.Electronic medical record and billing software — use proficiently to document encounters, manage scheduling, and ensure accurate coding in a community mental health center.Standardized diagnostic and psychological test batteries — administer and interpret to distinguish between co-occurring or complex mental health conditions.Critical thinking and clinical judgment — apply when adapting treatment protocols for patients presenting with comorbid medical or substance use conditions.
proficient
Complex, treatment-resistant psychiatric cases — evaluate autonomously and develop multi-modal care plans integrating pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and community support resources.Comprehensive patient data sets including longitudinal records and specialist reports — synthesize to diagnose rare or atypical mental disorders across inpatient and outpatient settings.Non-routine psychopharmacological regimens — prescribe and titrate independently, managing polypharmacy risks for patients with comorbid medical and psychiatric conditions.Individualized care plans for diverse populations — design and revise dynamically, incorporating cultural, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors in a full-scope psychiatric practice.Challenging outpatient and crisis counseling encounters — conduct with clinical autonomy, applying evidence-based therapeutic modalities including CBT, DBT, and psychodynamic approaches.Diagnostic laboratory and neuroimaging data — examine and integrate with clinical findings to rule out organic etiologies across the full spectrum of psychiatric presentations.Families, guardians, and significant others — counsel with depth and nuance about complex diagnoses, risk factors, and long-term prognosis in high-stakes clinical situations.Interdisciplinary collaboration — lead across physician, nursing, psychology, and social work teams to coordinate integrated treatment plans for high-acuity patients.Clinical documentation and outcome data — analyze using database and spreadsheet software to monitor population-level patient progress and identify practice improvement opportunities.Emerging psychiatric research and pharmacological developments — evaluate critically and integrate into autonomous clinical decision-making within an evidence-based practice environment.
advanced
Departmental psychiatric care standards and clinical protocols — establish and refine at organizational scale to elevate quality and consistency of patient outcomes across a health system.Residency and fellowship training programs — design and lead, mentoring early-career psychiatrists in diagnostic reasoning, therapeutic skills, and professional ethics.Institutional treatment philosophy and evidence-based practice frameworks — shape through strategic collaboration with hospital leadership, policymakers, and professional associations.Multidisciplinary psychiatric teams — direct and develop, fostering coordinated care models that integrate physicians, psychologists, social workers, and community health workers.Complex system-level mental health challenges — solve by applying advanced clinical expertise and organizational leadership to address gaps in care delivery across diverse patient populations.Organizational policies on medication prescribing, documentation, and patient safety — author and champion to ensure regulatory compliance and optimal clinical outcomes across departments.Academic and professional communities — contribute to through publication, peer review, and conference presentations that advance knowledge in psychiatry and behavioral health.Quality improvement and clinical outcome measurement initiatives — lead using data analytics and health information technology to drive evidence-based reform at the enterprise level.Stakeholder communication including boards, regulators, and payers — deliver with authority and persuasion to secure resources and shape policy affecting psychiatric service delivery.Ethical dilemmas at the intersection of psychiatry, law, and patient autonomy — adjudicate and provide expert guidance on at the institutional and policy levels, protecting patient rights and societal well-being.
Also known as
104 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Clinical Psychologist, Operational Psychologist (Air Force 42P4E)DoctorClinical Psychologist (Air Force 42PX)Clinical Psychologist (Air Force 42P4)Behavioral Health Specialist (Army 68X)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y3A)Clinical Psychologist, Operational Psychologist (Air Force 42P1E)Outpatient PsychiatristGeneral PsychiatristClinical Psychology (Army 73B)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Aeromedical Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y4F)Adult Inpatient PsychiatristSocial Work (Army 73A)Psychiatry PhysicianAdvanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y1P)Clinical Psychologist (Air Force 42P1)Mental Health Service Superintendent (Air Force 4C091)Mental Health Service Apprentice (Air Force 4C031)Staff PsychiatristClinical Psychologist, Child and Adolescent Psychologist (Air Force 42P3C)Behavioral AnalystAdvanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y3P)Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Neuropsychologist (Air Force 42P4A)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Family Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y1H)Clinical Psychologist, Investigative Psychologist (Air Force 42P4F)PsychiatristNurse Corps Officer (Army 66)Child PsychiatristPediatric PsychiatristMental Health Nurse (Air Force 46P4)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y1A)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Air Force 46Y3M)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Air Force 46Y4M)General Adult PsychiatristMental Health Service Journeyman (Air Force 4C051)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y4A)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y4B)Psychiatric RN (Psychiatric Registered Nurse)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Air Force 46Y1M)Mental Health Service Manager (Air Force 4C000)