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The differences between adult psychiatrists and child psychiatrists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an adult psychiatrist and a child psychiatrist. Additionally, an adult psychiatrist has an average salary of $252,704, which is higher than the $249,711 average annual salary of a child psychiatrist.
The top three skills for an adult psychiatrist include mental health, EMR and mental illness. The most important skills for a child psychiatrist are adolescent psychiatry, psychopharmacology, and mental health.
| Adult Psychiatrist | Child Psychiatrist | |
| Yearly salary | $252,704 | $249,711 |
| Hourly rate | $121.49 | $120.05 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 28,220 | 38,047 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An adult psychiatrist is responsible for diagnosing adults with mental health illnesses and determine accurate treatment plans to provide quality care services for the patients according to their needs. Adult psychiatrists conduct regular counseling for the patients, administer medications, and record progress. They also handle laboratory tests, design therapy sessions, and coordinate with other medical professionals for other medical procedures. An adult psychiatrist must have excellent communication and knowledge of the medical industry to accurately determine the patients' conditions and verify their response to treatments.
A child psychiatrist specializes in diagnosing and treating behavioral and psychological issues of children. They develop treatment plans through various assessments and examinations, prescribing medication as needed. Their responsibilities include conducting therapies in an individual or group setting, coordinating with parents and guardians to keep them updated on all procedures and progress, providing consultations for social services and court proceedings, and helping families cope and understand the patient's situation. Furthermore, as a child therapist, it is essential to build rapport with patients, making them feel comfortable every step of the way.
Adult psychiatrists and child psychiatrists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Adult Psychiatrist | Child Psychiatrist | |
| Average salary | $252,704 | $249,711 |
| Salary range | Between $156,000 And $408,000 | Between $152,000 And $408,000 |
| Highest paying City | Vancouver, WA | Naperville, IL |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Allina Health | OSF HealthCare |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an adult psychiatrist and a child psychiatrist in terms of educational background:
| Adult Psychiatrist | Child Psychiatrist | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Medicine | Medicine |
| Most common college | University of California - Los Angeles | Columbia University in the City of New York |
Here are the differences between adult psychiatrists' and child psychiatrists' demographics:
| Adult Psychiatrist | Child Psychiatrist | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% | Male, 48.8% Female, 51.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 2.4% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 19.4% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 2.4% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 19.4% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |