If you want a career as a psychiatrist, here is how competitive the medical specialty is to match into a psychiatry residency. Psychiatry is the branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, study, and treatment of mental disorders.
Statistics on the Psychiatry Match
In 2022, psychiatry had a total of 2,560 applicants and 2,047 spots. This equates to 1.25 applicants per position. Of the 1,225 U.S. MD seniors who applied, 104 did not match.
| Total Positions | Total Number of Applicants | Number of Applicants per Position |
| 2,047 | 2,560 | 1.25 |
Osteopathic (DO) Students Matching into Psychiatry
In 2022, the total number of DO Senior Applicants was 435. Of those, 378 matched, for a 86.90% match percentage. This makes psychiatry a Friendly field for osteopathic students.
| Total DO Applicants | Matched DO Applicants | DO Match Percentage | |
| 435 | 378 | 86.90% |
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) Matching into Psychiatry
Because there are only 0.65 U.S. MD applicants per 1 program spot, psychiatry is considered to be Very Friendly for IMGs students.
Honors, Research and Awards for Psychiatry Residency Candidates
The average matched U.S. applicant had 8.1 volunteer experiences and 3.6 work experiences. They had 3.1 research experiences and 6.2 abstracts, presentations and publications. That makes this specialty on where the number of publications needed is Low.
| Research Experiences | Abstracts, Presentations and Publications | Work Experiences | Volunteer Experiences |
| 3.1 | 6.2 | 3.6 | 8.1 |
Average Step 1 and Step 2 Scores for Psychiatry
The mean U.S. Step 1 score for matched medical students in psychiatry was 227. The mean USMLE Step 2 CK score was 241.
Overall Competitiveness of Psychiatry Residency and Chances of Matching
The overall competitiveness level of psychiatry is Low for a U.S. senior. With a Step 1 score of 200, the probability of matching is 80%. With a Step 1 score of >240, the probability is 90%.
How long is a residency in psychiatry? What is the lifestyle like for a psychiatry resident?
Compared to other residencies, psychiatry has a Short training length. As far as lifestyle, psychiatrists generally have a Low stress lifestyle. Of course, lifestyle is very subjective and if you love what you do, it does not matter! And if you hate what you do, it can still be rough no matter what. In medicine, you should find the specialty that makes you enjoy your everyday interactions with patients, staff and colleagues.
What is the average salary for a psychiatrist?
The average salary post-graduation from a psychiatry residency is $268,000, provided one does not go on to sub-specialty training which can change the salary substantially. Academic versus private practice as well as location also play a large role in physician compensation.
What are fellowships one can do from a psychiatry residency?
Following the successful completion of general psychiatry residency, some physicians may choose to continue their graduate medical education with subspecialty training. Board-certified subspecialists complete additional training and qualifying examinations beyond those required for board certification in psychiatry. Currently, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certifies the following fellowships:
What are the best psychiatry residencies in the country?
The best residency for psychiatry, or any specialty, is very driven by personal preference and situation. How close you are to family, loved ones, the type of training environment, the opportunities available are all things to take into consideration above and beyond name recognition of a program. However, there are some highly regarded names in the world of psychiatry including:
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- UCSF
- MGH
- Yale
- NewYork-Presbyterian (Columbia)
- UCLA
Much of the data above is available from the AAMC Charting the Outcomes report.
Explore Other Specialties:
| Specialty | Average Step 1 Score (Matched) | Average Step 2 Score (Matched) |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | 234 | 246 |
| Child Neurology | 233 | 246 |
| Dermatology | 248 | 256 |
| Diagnostic Radiology | 241 | 249 |
| Emergency Medicine | 233 | 247 |
| Family Medicine | 221 | 238 |
| General Surgery | 237 | 249 |
| Internal Medicine | 235 | 248 |
| Internal Medicine/Pediatrics | 236 | 250 |
| Interventional Radiology | 247 | 255 |
| Neurological Surgery | 248 | 252 |
| Neurology | 232 | 245 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | 232 | 248 |
| Orthopaedic Surgery | 248 | 255 |
| Otolaryngology | 248 | 256 |
| Pathology | 233 | 242 |
| Pediatrics | 228 | 245 |
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | 228 | 241 |
| Plastic Surgery | 249 | 256 |
| Psychiatry | 227 | 241 |
| Radiation Oncology | 243 | 250 |
| Vascular Surgery | 239 | 247 |
