Forensic Psychiatrist Salaries

A forensic psychiatrist's job is very similar to that of a forensic psychologist -- both use their expertise to help courts understand a defendant's or victim's behavior. The difference between the two positions, however, is that a forensic psychiatrist is a medical doctor who is able to treat mental issues with drugs and other substances. They are experts in cases where such treatment may have or will influence behavior. Forensic psychiatrists can earn six-figure salaries.

Hourly Rates

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not break down the field of psychiatry into subcategories. Therefore, the wages of forensic psychiatrists are lumped in with all other psychiatrists.

  Hourly figures are better for determining what forensic psychiatrists earn because many forensic psychiatrists charge by the hour, in much the same way attorneys do. The average hourly figure provided by the BLS is $78.68, according to 2009 data. However, other sources suggest much higher rates. The Reid Psychiatry website, for example, states that most forensic psychiatrists earn $300 to $500 per hour, although the range is $150 to $750. Another source, the Courtpsychiatrist website, says the hourly rate is $250 to $500.

Salaried Professionals

• Some forensic psychiatrists do earn a regular salary, particularly if they work for the government. These psychiatrists earn as little as $16.80 an hour, based on the BLS assumption of 2,080 hours worked a year and the figure from Reid Psychiatry of $35,000 to $40,000 for entry-level professionals with a master's degree. However, Reid Psychiatry states that senior forensic psychiatrists earn $150,000 to $200,000, or at least $72.11 per hour. This is just a few dollars under the hourly rate indicated for all psychiatrists by the BLS.

Range

• The BLS does not differentiate between hourly and salaried workers but indicates that psychiatrists in the lowest 10th percentile earn $65,590, based on 2009 data. Those in the 90th percentile earn $166,400 or more. The Pagerankstudio website shows a range of $60,000 to $146,000, while SalaryExpert reports wages of $124,920 to $327,607 as of 2011.

Top-Paying States

• Certain states provide considerably higher wages for psychiatrists in general than others. Based on 2009 information from the BLS, Oregon, Wyoming, Minnesota, Alaska and South Dakota all pay wages at least 20 percent higher than the industry average.

Considerations

• Overall, the psychiatry field saw wages increase 1.6 percent from 2008 to 2009, says the BLS. As the public and court system continues to recognize the role of both psychology and psychiatry in criminology, forensic psychiatry likely will grow as a psychiatric specialty.

  Unlike regular psychiatrists, forensic psychiatrists often are paid in advance. This is because forensic psychiatrists want to avoid the appearance of unethical practices; paying in advance guarantees the psychiatrist won't modify his testimony for fear of lack of payment. Forensic psychiatrists never are paid on contingency, as this gives the appearance that the psychiatrist's is not entirely objective.