Choosing the right state to practice psychiatry can influence career satisfaction, earning potential, and work–life balance. Whether you’re an early-career psychiatry specialist building a patient base or an experienced provider looking to relocate, location matters.

The list below features the top 10 states that offer the most favorable conditions for psychiatrists—blending salary potential, growth opportunities (clinical, stewardship, and public-health roles), and supportive health care and public-health infrastructure.

1. Alaska – Ranked the best state for psychiatrists, offering a high listed average salary (about $239,000) and a strong location quotient for available positions.

2. North Dakota – Offers an average salary of about $225,000 and is identified as a high-paying state for psychiatrists when considering both annual mean wage and cost-of-living–adjusted hourly earnings.

3. Maine – Average psychiatrist pay in Maine is about $276,000, above the national mean, and rural counties continue to face notable workforce gaps.

4. Montana – Offers average psychiatrist salaries near $219,000, even though only about 10 positions were captured in the dataset—highlighting strong earning potential within a small workforce. The state is also noted for having many communities where residents live in mental health shortage areas, reflecting ongoing demand for psychiatric services.

5. Wyoming – Average psychiatrist salaries above $209,000 with only about 6 positions statewide, reflecting very low competition. Psychiatric coverage remains thin across much of the state, with many counties designated as mental health professional shortage areas, highlighting sustained demand.

6. Pennsylvania – Combines solid average salaries of about $206,000 with a large job market of more than 160 roles, offering broad opportunities across practice settings. Some counties remain designated mental health shortage areas, indicating ongoing demand for psychiatric services.

7. Vermont – Has average salaries of about $212,000 paired with a high location quotient, signaling strong demand relative to the state’s smaller population.

8. South Dakota – Average psychiatrist pay of about $217,000, coupled with very low competition—only around 6 roles identified in the dataset.

9. Nebraska – Average psychiatrist salaries around $212,000, supported by a small but steady job market.

10. Wisconsin – With more than 50 psychiatrist positions identified in the state, average salaries are just over $205,000,.

Sources: Backer’s Behavioral Health, Charlie Health, KFF, Zippia