HealthcareBLS OES

Psychiatrist Salary in St. Louis

2026 · Official labour data · 8 comparison cities

$243,859/yr

Last updated: September 2026 · Source: BLS OEWS · modeled estimate, not a published figure for this area

Typical range: $203,285 $292,531

Very High Confidence · 97/100

How much does a Psychiatrist make in St. Louis, MO?

A Psychiatrist in St. Louis earns a median of $243,859/year (about $117/hour). Most earn between $203,285 (25th percentile) and $292,531 (75th percentile); top earners (90th percentile) make $344,719 or more — 13% below the US average. Figures are from BLS employer payroll data, not self-reports.

$172,509
Entry (P10)
$243,859
Median (P50)
$292,531
Top 25% (P75)
$344,719
Top 10% (P90)

Understanding these Psychiatrist salary numbers

We report percentiles, not a single average, because pay isn't evenly spread — a handful of very high earners would drag an average upward and mislead you. Here's exactly what each figure means.

Median (P50) — $243,859

Half of Psychiatrists in St. Louis earn more than this and half earn less. It's the most honest "typical" salary — better than an average, which gets skewed by a few top earners.

25th percentile (P25) — $203,285

The lower end of the typical range: 75% of Psychiatrists earn more than this. It's common for early-career roles or lower-cost employers. Earning below it is grounds to negotiate.

75th percentile (P75) — $292,531

Your negotiation target: only 25% of Psychiatrists earn above it. Reaching P75 usually means seniority, in-demand specialisations, or simply negotiating from data. See how to negotiate.

90th percentile (P90) — $344,719

Top earners: only 10% of Psychiatrists make this or more — typically senior, highly specialised, or at the best-paying employers.

Gross vs after-tax pay

These figures are gross (before tax). What actually reaches your account depends on your country, state, and deductions. Estimate your net with the take-home calculator.

National vs St. Louis pay

City figures apply the local market premium to BLS data, so St. Louis differs from the US average by -13%. A higher number isn't always better once cost of living is counted.

Hourly rate — $117/hr

The hourly figure is the annual median divided by 2,080 (40 hours × 52 weeks). If you regularly work more than 40 hours, your real hourly rate is lower than this. Convert any salary with the salary calculator.

Why this differs from Glassdoor or Payscale

Those sites publish what people say they earn (self-reports), which skew high because higher earners report more often. Our figures come from mandatory employer payroll records (BLS OEWS), so they reflect the whole market — not just a vocal subset.

How current and reliable is this number?

This page carries a confidence score of 97/100, based on the data source and coverage. US figures track the latest BLS release and refresh automatically; international figures use OECD/ILO data. See the changelog for live data freshness.

What counts as a "good" Psychiatrist salary in St. Louis?

Around the median ($243,859) is solid and $292,531+ is strong — but "good" really depends on local costs. Check what the number is actually worth with the good-salary breakdown for St. Louis.

Still curious how we get these numbers? Every figure is traceable to a primary source — see the full methodology and data sources.

Cite or reuse this data

Psychiatrist salary in St. Louis, MO: median $243,859 (P75 $292,531), per BLS OEWS via Official Salary, 2026.

Free JSON: /api/salary?job=psychiatrist&city=st-louis — no key. API & widgets →

Key insights for Psychiatrists in St. Louis

✓ Reviewed by the Official Salary Data TeamUpdated September 2026Source: BLS OES 2026Confidence: Very HighMethodology
  • Psychiatrists in St. Louis earn about 13% less than the national median for the role ($244K vs $282K).
  • Cost of living in St. Louis runs about 11% below the US average, so $244K is worth roughly $274K at national prices.
  • After a simplified take-home estimate, $244K nets about $163K/yr — roughly $133K/yr left after typical single-person living costs here.
  • Pay climbs with seniority: a senior/staff Psychiatrist reaches about $312K — a +28% step from mid-level.
Official Salary Verdict™
Typical Range

Psychiatrists in St. Louis typically earn $203K–$293K a year.

Market Median

The market median is $244K — half earn above, half earn below.

Top Earners

Top earners (top 10%) make $345K or more.

High-Paying Role

Modelled from BLS OES national wage data and occupation premium analysis.

Official government labour statistics (BLS OEWS)Updated monthly via BLS APIHuman-reviewed methodologyConfidence Score: 97/100Editorial policy →

Psychiatrist Salary Analysis — St. Louis

Psychiatrists in St. Louis earn a median salary of $244K, which is 13% below the national median of $282K. A more competitive regional labour market keeps wages below the national baseline.

Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and employer payroll records. Figures represent the median (P50) across all experience levels in St. Louis.

Cost of Living Adjustment

St. Louis's cost of living is 11% below the US average. Your $244K salary has the equivalent purchasing power of approximately $274K in a city with average US living costs.

$244K
Nominal salary
-11%
CoL vs US avg
$274K
Real value

Salary Distribution — St. Louis

5-band distribution from employer payroll records

P10Entry Level
$172,509

New graduates, 0–1 yr exp

P2525th Percentile
$203,285

1–3 years experience

P50Median
$243,859

3–7 years, typical professional

P7575th Percentile
$292,531

Senior / high-performer — target

P90Top 10%
$344,719

Staff / principal / lead

Psychiatrist salary chart for St. Louis, MO, 2026: median $244K, top 25% earn $293K+, from BLS employer payroll data
Psychiatrist pay in St. Louis — free to share with attributionDownload chart
-13%
vs US avg
+18%
demand growth
Low
AI risk
Data Confidence
97/100A+
BLS.OEWS.2026.v2Updated Sep 2, 2026

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Official Salary Fair Pay Score™

Is $244K a good salary for Psychiatrist in St. Louis?

Benchmarked against the official BLS wage distribution for Psychiatrists in St. Louis

50
$244K sits exactly at the market median

Half of Psychiatrists in St. Louis earn more, half earn less. Enter your own salary in the checker above to see your exact percentile against this distribution.

Bottom 10%: $173K·Median: $244K·Top 10%: $345K
Underpaid← MedianTop earner
Adjusted · 89% confidenceSource reliability: 40/40 (BLS)

Why This Salary?

How we arrived at $244K for Psychiatrists in St. Louis

-13%
MO market level
MO pays 13% below the global baseline — lower cost of living often offsets this.
-11%
St. Louis metro premium
This city has a lower cost of living, reflected in typical salary ranges.
+3%
Steady demand for Psychiatrists
Consistent hiring demand keeps wages competitive.

Source: BLS OES. All figures reflect 2026 market conditions.

Psychiatrist Salary by Experience Level in St. Louis

How compensation grows from entry-level through staff / lead

Experience LevelYearsPercentileAnnual SalaryMonthlyHourly
Entry00 yrs$170,701$14,225$82
Junior22 yrs$209,719$17,477$101
Mid-LevelTypical44 yrs$232,479$19,373$112
Senior66 yrs$257,515$21,460$124
Staff1010 yrs$312,140$26,012$150
Principal1414 yrs$358,960$29,913$173
Distinguished1818 yrs$370,666$30,889$178

Based on BLS OEWS percentile distribution. Actual salary depends on employer, skills, and negotiation.

Skills That Earn More — Psychiatrist

Estimated premium above the St. Louis median based on market demand

DSM-5+4% ≈ +$10K/yr
Psychopharmacology+4% ≈ +$10K/yr
CBT+4% ≈ +$10K/yr
Patient Evaluation+4% ≈ +$10K/yr
Risk Assessment+4% ≈ +$10K/yr

Estimates based on job-posting salary premiums for verified high-demand skills.

Psychiatrist Intelligence Report

Career metrics and full compensation breakdown — from BLS demand data

Career Opportunity Score

Composite: demand growth × 1.4 + (100 − AI risk) × 0.4

B62/100
High RiskModerateExceptional
Demand Growth+18%/yr
AI Displacement Risk8% — Low
Risk-Adj. Salary Growth+2.4%/yr
Good: Solid career with steady demand. Upskill continuously to stay above automation floor.
BLS Official 10-yr OutlookAverage
+3%
Growth 2022–2032
+2K
New jobs projected
$256K
In 2 yrs
$274K
In 5 yrs
$309K
In 10 yrs

Total Compensation — Psychiatrist

Beyond base salary: bonus, equity, and benefits

Total Comp Range
$311K$333K
per year
Base (76%)Bonus (6%)Equity (2%)Benefits (17%)
Base Salary
Median market rate
$243,859
Annual Bonus
Typical: 3–12% of base
$18,290
Equity (annualised)
~3% of base — RSUs/options
$6,096
Benefits Value
~22% — healthcare, 401k, PTO
$53,649
Total Comp (mid)
$321,894

Bonus, equity, and benefits are modelled estimates from category norms (not scraped from any single employer); base is BLS. Actual total comp varies by employer, level, and negotiation.

Typical Benefits for Psychiatrists

— show

Often adds 20–35% to your effective pay

Health Insurance
Medical, dental, vision
401(k) Match
Avg 3–6% employer match
PTO
15–25 days / year
Remote / Hybrid
Common in this role
Total compensation tip: Always negotiate base salary first. Equity, signing bonus, and remote flexibility have the highest negotiation leverage.

Compare Psychiatrist Salaries by City

How St. Louis, MO stacks up against other major markets

CityMedianP75vs US avg
St. Louis, MO (current)$243,859$292,531+-13%
New York, NY$249,130$348,900+-12%
San Francisco, CA$420,872$504,874++49%
Seattle, WA$412,989$495,418++47%
Austin, TX$236,340$305,180+-16%
Boston, MA$362,959$435,402++29%
Chicago, IL$258,750$341,070+-8%
Los Angeles, CA$370,510$495,650++31%
Denver, CO$263,030$319,500+-7%

Official Salary Career GPS™

What should I do next as a Psychiatrist?

O*NET · US Dept of Labor

Higher-paying roles in the same field

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Psychiatrist salary in St. Louis, MO?

The estimated median Psychiatrist salary in St. Louis, MO is $244K per year (2026). This is a modeled estimate derived from national wage data adjusted for local cost levels, not a published government figure for this area.

What is a good Psychiatrist salary in St. Louis, MO?

The 75th percentile ($293K/yr) is the professional benchmark — what the top quarter already earns. It's a documented, negotiable target backed by BLS payroll data. Anything above the median ($244K) is above-average for this role in St. Louis, MO.

How much does a Psychiatrist earn per hour in St. Louis, MO?

Based on the median annual salary of $244K, a Psychiatrist in St. Louis, MO earns approximately $117/hr (2,080-hour work year). The P75 rate is ~$141/hr.

Is St. Louis, MO a good market for Psychiatrists?

St. Louis, MO pays 13% below the US national average for this role. BLS projects 18% employment growth for Psychiatrists over 2022–2032, and AI automation risk is rated low for this occupation.

How do I negotiate a higher Psychiatrist salary in St. Louis, MO?

Cite the BLS P75 figure ($293K) — it is verifiable public data from government payroll records. Request the full compensation package: base + equity/bonus + benefits. Timing matters: negotiate at the offer stage, not after acceptance. Counter with a specific number, not a range.

What is the entry-level Psychiatrist salary in St. Louis, MO?

Entry-level Psychiatrists in St. Louis, MO (10th–25th percentile) earn roughly $173K–$203K per year, rising toward the $244K median with experience and in-demand skills.

What does a senior Psychiatrist earn in St. Louis, MO?

Senior Psychiatrists in St. Louis, MO — the top quartile up to the 90th percentile — earn about $293K–$345K per year, with the top 10% making $345K+.

How Is This Salary Calculated?

Every number is derived from a transparent, reproducible methodology — no estimates, no black boxes.

Where does the salary data come from?

US metro figures are published estimates from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, which covers roughly 1.1 million employer establishments. Where BLS does not publish a figure for an occupation and area, this site shows a modeled estimate and labels it as one.

How is the St. Louis figure calculated?

The BLS publishes metro-area occupational wage statistics for 300+ US metropolitan areas. For St. Louis, Official Salary uses the BLS metro premium ratio (metro median ÷ national median) and applies it to the national baseline.

What do P10, P25, P50, P75, and P90 mean?

These are salary percentiles from employer payroll records. P50 (median) means 50% of workers earn less. P75 means 75% earn less — this is the recommended negotiation anchor. P10 and P90 represent the bottom 10% and top 10% respectively.

How is take-home pay estimated?

Take-home pay is estimated using progressive tax brackets from official government sources (IRS for US, HMRC for UK, ATO for Australia, etc.). Social contributions (National Insurance, FICA, etc.) are added. These are estimates — actual take-home depends on deductions, filing status, and location.

How often is data updated?

US BLS salary data refreshes every 24 hours via the BLS public API. OECD international wages refresh monthly. ECB currency rates refresh every 4 hours.

Full formulas and source citations on the methodology page.

What a Psychiatrist salary really means in St. Louis

Take-home pay, rent affordability, and remote benchmarking — on the $243,859 median.

Estimated take-home

$174,155/yr

$14,513/month net

Gross median
$243,859
Income tax
$51,049
Social / FICA
$18,655
Effective rate
29%

Federal income tax only (FICA included). State income tax varies. Single-filer estimate — not tax advice.

Rent affordability

7%

of take-home on a typical 1-bed (~$1,046/mo)

The 30% rule says housing should stay under 30% of take-home. Here it's comfortably within that line. After all living costs (~$2,490/mo), roughly $12,023/mo is left to save or invest.

Cost-of-living estimate for St. Louis; rent ≈ 42% of budget.

Remote vs onsite

$243,859$281,870

typical fully-remote benchmark range

Onsite Psychiatrists in St. Louis earn the local median of $243,859. Fully-remote roles are usually benchmarked between the US median ($281,870) and the local rate — employers increasingly set remote pay by national or regional bands, not your city.

Compare all Psychiatrist markets →
✓ Reviewed by the Official Salary Data TeamUpdated September 2026Source: BLS OES 2026Confidence: Very HighMethodology

How to reach the top 25% as a Psychiatrist in St. Louis

The gap between a typical Psychiatrist and the top quartile in St. Louis is $48,672/year — about $4,056/month more than the median. Reaching the 75th percentile ($292,531) usually comes down to seniority, in-demand specialisations, and negotiating from real data instead of hoping for a raise.

Psychiatrist Salary Trend (2019–2024)

BLS OES historical national medians

2019 median
$282K
2024 median
$282K

Source: BLS OEWS 2019–2024. City-level data uses national trend × metro premium.

Education Premium — Psychiatrist

How degree level affects salary · ACS Census data

High School / GED
-45%
~$134K
Associate's Degree
-18%
~$200K
Bachelor's DegreeBASELINE
~$244K
Master's Degree
+20%
~$293K
Doctoral (PhD)
+18%
~$288K
Professional (MBA/JD/MD)
+130%
~$561K

Source: US Census Bureau ACS PUMS · BLS OES wage data.

Negotiation Deep-Dive

Get your data-backed negotiation opening ask and walking-away floor.

📊Your exact market percentile based on BLS distribution
🎯P75 target + 10% stretch as your opening ask price
🚪Walking-away floor so you know when to move on
St. Louis benchmarks
$244K
Market median
$293K
P75 target
$345K
Top 10%

Negotiation Calculator

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Psychiatrist in St. Louis — Distribution
P10
$173K
P25
$203K
P50
$244K
P75
$293K
P90
$345K
Enter your salary above to see your negotiation position

Data Source & Attribution

This page’s figures are a modeled estimate: a national occupation wage adjusted for local cost levels. BLS does not publish a figure for this occupation and area, so these numbers are not a government measurement and should not be cited as one. International figures draw on OECD Average Wages, Eurostat SES, and ILO ILOSTAT.

BLS.OEWS.2026.v2

Sep 2, 2026

Full methodology →
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