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Are you a licensed psychiatrist looking to migrate to and build your career in Australia? Are you a student pursuing psychiatry and wondering whether you’ve chosen the right career path? Are you a medical professional considering a career change?
Whatever your reason for considering a psychiatrist’s career in Australia, one of your foremost concerns likely is what a psychiatrist’s salary is like.
Given the importance of their work, it’s commonly assumed that psychiatrists are well-compensated. But there’s more than meets the eye. Many factors can affect a psychiatrist’s income, such as their experience level, specialisation, place of work or location, and so on. If you’re curious about the psychiatrist salary in Australia, understanding these factors can help you make informed career decisions.
To help you get the answers you need, this article provides detailed insights into psychiatrists’ salaries in Australia. This way, you’ll know what to expect when you start searching for psychiatrist jobs in the country.
*All Psychiatrist salary figures on this page are indicative only. Most stats are drawn from trusted external sources.
* These salaries are generally based on public sector roles. Private sector salaries may be significantly higher.
Average Psychiatrist Salary in Australia
(in the public sector)
$350,000 to $500,000
How Much Do Psychiatrists Earn in Australia?
So, how much do psychiatrists make, exactly? What does the average income of a psychiatrist look like? How much does a psychiatrist earn per hour, per month, or per year?
In Australia, psychiatrist salaries vary based on factors like experience, location, and workplace setting. On average, psychiatrists in Australia earn between AUD $350,000 and AUD $500,000 annually (may be more in the private sector) The upper limit, though, tends to be much higher depending on certain factors; more on this later. This range reflects the demand for mental health services in the country and the specialised training required for the profession.
The earnings of Australian psychiatrists are globally competitive. While not exactly the same, the salaries of Australian psychiatrists are among the highest in the world.
In fact, Australian psychiatrists’ annual salaries are ranked closely with those in countries like the United Kingdom (GBP 93,000 or AUD $184,744), United States (USD $168,000 per year or AUD $264,398), Canada (CAD $320,000 gross or AUD $354,720), and New Zealand (NZD $204,000 or AUD $183,090).
Psychiatrist Salary by Experience Level
As with most jobs, a psychiatrist’s earnings in Australia typically increase the higher their level of experience and specialisation. To give you a fair idea of how these factors make a difference in psychiatrists’ compensation, here’s a breakdown of the different career stages along with the average annual earnings of each.
Trainee Psychiatrist (Registrar)
Psychiatric registrars are medical doctors who undergo specialised training in psychiatry. They work under supervision, assessing and managing patients with mental health conditions and developing treatment plans.
They also review patients’ histories, order and analyse tests, and provide treatment (e.g., medication, psychotherapy, etc.) while under supervision. They may also be called upon to assist courts and teach medical students.
A trainee psychiatrist must have a medical degree with general registrations and should be enrolled in a recognised training programme in psychiatry (i.e., specialist training).
Average Compensation: From AUD $85,000 to $200,000 p.a. (trainee psychiatrists’ starting pay will depend on their training stage and location)
Early-Career Psychiatrist (Fellow)
After completing training, a registrar becomes a full-fledged psychiatrist or fellow. An early-career psychiatrist focuses on a particular area of interest or specialisation, such as child and adolescent psychiatry or forensic psychiatry. A fellow can independently diagnose and treat patients, and work regular business hours.
Early-career psychiatrists have already undergone and completed psychiatry training. Their being a fellow of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) signifies this.
Average Compensation: From AUD $200,000 to $300,000 p.a.
Mid-Career Psychiatrist
After gaining considerable post-fellowship experience, particularly in diagnosing and treating a range of mental health disorders, a psychiatrist is already considered a mid-career professional. By then, they’re able to take on leadership roles, supervise trainees, and even engage in research or policy development.
Besides their years of practice experience, mid-career psychiatrists may also have additional certifications or specialisations and can work in a range of settings, including hospitals, clinics, private practices, or community health centres.
Average Compensation: From AUD $250,000 to $400,000 p.a. (may vary based on public or private sector employment)
Senior Psychiatrist
Consultants or senior psychiatrists have extensive experience (usually exceeding a decade), particularly in their chosen specialisation. They are often found in leadership roles, overseeing departments, contributing to academic research while teaching, and influencing mental health policies.
Senior psychiatrists provide expert advice and support to other medical professionals, and typically work in public health institutions or private practices.
Average Compensation: May exceed AUD $400,000 p.a. (those in private practice or high-demand specialties tend to earn more); locum consultant psychiatrists can earn between AUD $2,500 and $4,000 (or more) per day
Note: The above figures may vary depending on where a psychiatrist is based. Cities usually offer higher salaries to cover the higher cost of living while rural areas or remote locations provide incentives and other favourable offers and conditions to attract top talent.
* These salaries are based on public sector roles. Private sector salaries are significantly higher.
Psychiatrist Salaries Across Specialist Areas
Because of the many aspects of mental health, the field of psychiatry branched out and now comprises a range of subspecialties. In this section, we talk about the different specialist areas in psychiatry and their earning potential.
Addiction Psychiatrist Salary
As specialists, addiction psychiatrists are experts in diagnosing, treating, and preventing substance use disorders and behavioural addictions. They work in rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, and private practice.
As their title indicates, addiction psychiatrists have comprehensive experience in addiction psychiatry. They have also obtained fellowship with The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and additional certification in addiction psychiatry.
Average Compensation: From AUD $250,000 to $400,000 p.a.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Salary
Child and adolescent psychiatrists focus on the mental health needs of children and teenagers. They are trained and highly experienced in diagnosing and treating a variety of psychiatric or mental health disorders in children and teenagers, including autism, ADHD, and mood disorders. They also work closely with schools, families, and social workers.
Specialists in child and adolescent psychiatry need to have an RANZCP fellowship.
Average Compensation: From AUD $250,000 to $450,000 p.a.
Forensic Psychiatrist Salary
Legal matters sometimes require the participation of forensic psychiatrists. These medical professionals apply their psychiatric expertise to legal issues, such as criminal responsibility, competency to stand trial and risk assessment. They may even be invited to provide expert testimony in court.
Forensic psychiatrists possess RANZCP fellowship with subspecialty training in their field of expertise.
Average Compensation: From AUD $280,000 to $500,000 p.a.
Neuropsychiatrist Salary
Specialising in mental health disorders related to neurological conditions like epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury, neuropsychiatrists are experts in both psychiatry and neurology. This is why a neuropsychiatrist’s salary reflects the level of expertise and specialisation required for the job.
Neuropsychiatrists need to be RANZCP fellows with additional training in neuropsychiatry.
Average Compensation: From AUD $270,000 to $450,000 p.a. (this may be influenced by their contributions to research and their clinical practice setting)
Perinatal Psychiatrist Salary
With the psychological effects of pregnancy and childbirth now more widely known, there arose a need for mental health experts specialised in addressing the needs of women in these life stages.
Perinatal psychiatrists focus on the mental health of women during pregnancy and the postpartum period, including perinatal depression and anxiety disorders. They are highly trained and experienced in perinatal psychiatry and have an RANZCP fellowship.
Average Compensation: From AUD $250,000 to $400,000 p.a. (earnings may be higher in private practice)
Research Psychiatrist Salary
Engaging in clinical research to advance the understanding and treatment of mental disorders, research psychiatrists often work in universities, hospitals, or pharmaceutical companies.
Besides being an RANZCP fellow, research psychiatrists possess a PhD or additional research training.
Average Compensation: From AUD $150,000 to $350,000 p.a. (a research psychiatrist’s salary varies depending on grants, university positions, and research funding)
Consultant Psychiatrist Salary
Consultants or senior psychiatrists diagnose complex cases, supervise psychiatric teams, and contribute to policy development. Their extensive post-fellowship experience usually means they have developed high-level leadership and teaching skills which allow them to take on bigger roles and responsibilities.
Average Compensation: From AUD $300,000 to $500,000+ p.a. (private sector earnings often exceed this range)
* These salaries are based on public sector roles. Private sector salaries may be significantly higher.
Average Psychiatrist Earnings by City
Compensation variations are a common theme whatever the job or profession when it comes to location. This means that a person’s salary can be higher or lower depending on where they are employed. The same observation applies to the psychiatric field, which is why psychiatrists’ salaries in Australia tend to fluctuate based on the city they work in.
Large cities like Sydney and Melbourne generally offer higher salaries to offset the higher cost of living. Moreover, psychiatrists’ salaries can vary greatly based on the region where they practice. For example, compensation for psychiatrists in New South Wales may differ from those in Queensland.
Meanwhile, rural and remote areas may offer attractive conditions (e.g., free accommodation, shorter work hours, etc.) and competitive salaries because of the high demand for mental health services and the shortage of psychiatrists in those regions.
Of course, a psychiatrist’s specialisation, qualifications, and level of experience also factor in these salary differences. That being said, here’s an overview of how earnings compare across major Australian cities:
Psychiatrist Salary in Melbourne
Because of rising mental health cases, psychiatrists are in high demand in Melbourne, especially in public hospitals and private clinics. In particular, growing youth mental health issues and legal cases require the expertise of child and adolescent psychiatrists, forensic psychiatrists, and addiction psychiatrists. Psychiatrists in Melbourne could earn about AUD $450,000+ annually, depending on their setting, specialisation and experience.
Psychiatrist Salary in Sydney
Just like Melbourne, the city of Sydney has a growing demand for psychiatrists, including experts in perinatal and addiction psychiatry, and consultant psychiatrists. Sydney-based psychiatrists can earn AUD $470,000+ per year.
Psychiatrist Salary in Brisbane
There’s a steady demand for psychiatrists in Brisbane, particularly in rural outreach programs and telepsychiatry. Salaries here may range from AUD $420,000+ annually.
Psychiatrist Salary in Perth
Perth faces a shortage of psychiatrists, specifically in public mental health services and regional areas. In particular, general psychiatrists, neuropsychiatrists, and addiction psychiatrists are in high demand. Psychiatrists in Perth can earn about AUD $460,000+ per year.
* These salaries are based on public sector roles. Private sector salaries can be significantly higher.
Psychiatrist Salaries: Hourly, Monthly, and Annual Breakdown
There are different payment structures for psychiatrists in Australia. They may be paid by the hour or have monthly salaries or annual contracts.
- Average Psychiatrist Salary Per Hour: Some psychiatrists work as consultants or in private practice, so they charge fees per session or hour. The average psychiatrist hourly rate in Australia ranges from AUD $800 to $1000.
- Average Psychiatrist Salary Per Month: Psychiatrists working in hospitals or government health services typically earn between AUD $20,000 and $38,000 per month before taxes. Those employed in private practice usually earn more; however, this depends on patient volume and the consultation fees they charge.
- Average Psychiatrist Salary Per Year: Psychiatrists working in the public sector or government health establishments typically earn between AUD $250,000 and $350,000 per year, while private psychiatrists’ income can exceed AUD $500,000 with a successful practice. Of course, the seniority or level of experience and qualifications of a psychiatrist can impact their income.
Factors Affecting Psychiatrist Earnings
As mentioned in this article time and again, many factors can affect the salary of a psychiatrist practising in Australia.
If you’ve chosen psychiatry as your career, you need to familiarise yourself with these variables. Doing so can help you make better career decisions, whether you’re a fresh graduate, an overseas-trained psychiatrist, or an experienced practitioner looking to improve your earnings.
Location
Salaries differ between cities and regional, remote or rural areas. Rural psychiatrists may earn more because of the high demand for their expertise and low availability.
Specialisation
There are psychiatric subspecialties (such as forensic and neuropsychiatry) that command higher salaries because of the complexity of the cases they usually encounter and the high demand for their expertise.
Experience and Qualifications
As expected, more experienced psychiatrists with advanced training and qualifications earn much more than junior doctors
Employment Setting
Public hospital psychiatrists have fixed salaries. Private practice psychiatrists can set their rates so they often earn more.
Workload and Hours
Psychiatrists who want to increase their income take on extra shifts, private consultations, or locum work.
Demand and Market Conditions
The need for psychiatrists in specific areas, such as rural and remote settings, can drive salaries up as there’s more demand for mental health services than the number of practitioners that can deliver them.
Strategies to Increase Psychiatrist Earnings
If you’re looking to improve your earnings as a psychiatrist in Australia, there are a number of ways to achieve this, including:
- Locuming (Locum Doctors Earn Higher Rates): Short-term contracts in understaffed areas often come with higher hourly rates.
- Transitioning to Private Practice: Since private psychiatrists can set their rates, they can earn more than those working in the government or public sector.
- Pursuing Academic or Leadership Roles: You can teach in universities or take on managerial roles in hospitals to increase your salary and enjoy more benefits and perks.
- Offering Telepsychiatry Services: You can expand your services to include online consultations as doping so can attract more clients. With telepsychiatry, you get the additional benefit of working from home (or anywhere you want) on a pre-set schedule.
- Working in Rural or Regional Areas: The government usually offers more incentives and higher salaries to attract medical practitioners.
- Becoming a Consultant Psychiatrist: You could work toward becoming a senior consultant as doing this can increase your earnings significantly and improve your career opportunities.
Psychiatrist Pay in Australia vs Pay in the United Kingdom
Early in this article, we talked about the average salary of psychiatrists in Australia and compared them with those in other countries. As observed, the average psychiatrist’s salary in Australia is higher than its UK counterpart. This may indicate how the differences in the cost of living, demand, and healthcare funding structures between countries can lead to income disparities.
To illustrate further, consultant psychiatrists in Australia earn about AUD 300,000 to 500,000 per annum (those in private practice can earn more). In the UK, NHS consultant psychiatrists earn about GBP 88,000 to 119,000 per year or approximately AUD 174,000 to 235,000.
Besides receiving higher salaries, psychiatrists in Australia experience a better work-life balance overall. They can also get more financial incentives if they engage in rural work.
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