Post job

What is a child & adolescent psychiatrist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
introduction image

A child & adolescent psychiatrist specializes in treating mental disorders in young people. They diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. Child & adolescent psychiatrists work with children and adolescents from infancy through young adulthood. They use treatments including therapy, medication, and other interventions to help their patients manage symptoms and improve quality of life. They may also work with families to provide support and education.

ScoreChild & Adolescent PsychiatristUS Average
Salary
10.0

Avg. Salary $255,648

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
10.0

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 18.08%

Black or African American 5.23%

Hispanic or Latino 9.29%

Unknown 2.77%

White 64.52%

Gender

female 55.56%

male 44.44%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.5

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a child & adolescent psychiatrist?

Pros

  • High demand for services

  • Competitive salary

  • Collaboration with other healthcare professionals

  • Flexible work schedule

  • Ability to work in various settings (hospitals, clinics, private practice)

Cons

  • Long hours, including on-call responsibilities

  • Dealing with insurance companies and paperwork

  • Limited availability of resources for patients in some areas

  • Heavy reliance on medication as a treatment option

  • Potential for liability issues or lawsuits

Child & adolescent psychiatrist career paths

Key steps to become a child & adolescent psychiatrist

  1. Explore child & adolescent psychiatrist education requirements

    Most common child & adolescent psychiatrist degrees

    Bachelor's

    36.4 %

    Doctorate

    26.0 %

    Certificate

    16.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific child & adolescent psychiatrist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patient Care38.13%
    Outpatient Clinic21.75%
    Mental Illness14.16%
    Private Practice7.04%
    Treatment Services6.26%
  3. Complete relevant child & adolescent psychiatrist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New child & adolescent psychiatrists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a child & adolescent psychiatrist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real child & adolescent psychiatrist resumes.
  4. Research child & adolescent psychiatrist duties and responsibilities

    • Provide psychopharmacology and individual, family, and parental therapy to children and their families.
    • Research of medical management using motivational interviewing and psychotherapy with Hispanic patients treating depression and anxiety disorders.
    • Conduct full neurological evaluation, including lab, MRI & /or EEG.
  5. Prepare your child & adolescent psychiatrist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your child & adolescent psychiatrist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a child & adolescent psychiatrist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable child & adolescent psychiatrist resume templates

    Build a professional child & adolescent psychiatrist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your child & adolescent psychiatrist resume.
    Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Resume
    Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Resume
    Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Resume
    Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Resume
    Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Resume
    Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Resume
    Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Resume
    Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Resume
    Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Resume
  6. Apply for child & adolescent psychiatrist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a child & adolescent psychiatrist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first child & adolescent psychiatrist job

Zippi

Are you a child & adolescent psychiatrist?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average child & adolescent psychiatrist salary

The average child & adolescent psychiatrist salary in the United States is $255,648 per year or $123 per hour. Child & adolescent psychiatrist salaries range between $160,000 and $406,000 per year.

Average child & adolescent psychiatrist salary
$255,648 Yearly
$122.91 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do child & adolescent psychiatrists rate their job?

Working as a child & adolescent psychiatrist? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs