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Psychiatrist salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a psychiatrist is $148,200 per annum, before tax, up $30,900 since 2018.
Public hospital and community psychiatry is paid under state health awards and enterprise agreements, so rates differ between states and include loadings for on-call and after-hours crisis work. In private practice, income depends on the fees you set, how many sessions you run and whether patients claim a Medicare rebate, which makes billing and gaps the main variables. Part-time work is common, so total earnings often reflect the days you choose to work rather than a lower hourly rate.
How to negotiate a higher psychiatrist salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time psychiatrist salary is $148,200; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Psychiatrists are on the national skills shortage list, so employers are more likely to move on price to keep or attract someone in a role they're struggling to fill.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Clinical assessment and treatment and Medication management tend to command a premium over general psychiatrist experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Psychiatrist salary questions
How much do psychiatrists earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a psychiatrist is $148,200 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is psychiatrist pay rising or falling?
The median psychiatrist salary is up $30,900 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.