Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist: What’s the Difference?

Psychology and psychiatry differ in many ways. While one of the biggest differences is that psychiatrists prescribe medication and psychologists typically do not, there are also distinctions in the education and training required, the salaries paid, and how the two professions interact with clients.

According to the May 2024 US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Profiles: Psychiatrists and Psychologists, the following types of professionals can expect to earn the corresponding median annual wage:

How Do You Know Whom You Should See?

When struggling with a mental health issue, it can be hard to know whether you would benefit more from seeing a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or both. And it’s hard to know whether medication is right for you.

A good first step is to talk with your primary care doctor and get a recommendation as to which way to go. If you are dealing with a situational issue—depression after the loss of a loved one, for instance, or growing anxiety in general—talk therapy may be most appropriate, so you’d start with a psychologist.

On the other hand, for a depression that’s lasted for more than a few weeks, anxiety attacks that are crippling, or a suspicion that you may be dealing with a serious condition such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (possibly because you know other family members share the condition), a psychiatrist may be the best place to start, since medication may be indicated.

Don’t be surprised, regardless of which professional you choose, if you get a recommendation to also consult the other; research shows that combined treatment seems to be more effective than medication alone when dealing with a mental health issue such as a panic disorder.

Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist: Educational Differences

The essential difference between psychologist and psychiatrist education is this:

• Students in psychology primarily study human development and behavior.
• Students in psychiatry primarily study medicine and human biology.

To become a licensed psychologist: Students typically pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field and then move on to graduate school. You’ll need a master’s degree in psychology, and you will likely need a doctorate if you are planning to go into counseling.

Most states require a supervised internship or residency of one to two years (or an equivalent number of hours). To get your license, you’ll be required to pass the national Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) as well as an exam on your state’s laws and regulations. Requirements vary by state and specialty area, but they generally include supervised clinical training and may also include supervised postdoctoral experience. To get your license, you’ll be required to pass the national Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) as well as an exam on your state’s laws and regulations.

To become a psychiatrist: Students must complete a bachelor’s degree (often in biology or chemistry, as preparation for medical school), take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), complete four years of medical school, and then complete at least a four-year residency program, which includes both general hospital resident training and clinical work in psychiatry.

At this point, residents may spend another year as a fellow, focusing on a specialty. State medical licensure and specialty board certification are separate; psychiatry board certification is offered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, in addition to state exam requirements.

Differences in Training

After earning their bachelor’s degrees, psychiatrists attend medical school for four years, studying anatomy, biology, chemistry, neurology, pharmacology, and disease. Their education is, to a point, identical to that of every other medical student. Psychologists do not go to medical school; they may attend graduate school to earn master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology, conducting research and studying various aspects of human behavior, emotional health, and therapeutic processes.

After psychiatrists earn their MD or psychologists earn their PsyD or PhD, both careers require supervision and clinical practice before going out on their own.

• For psychologists, this is often a two-year internship or residency in a clinical healthcare setting.
• For psychiatrists, this is a four-year residency (usually in a hospital) that focuses in large part on the medical and biochemical aspects of mental illness, with rotations across various acute-care psychiatric settings and the prescribing of medication in a variety of situations.

Psychologists and psychiatrists must meet state licensure requirements, but their exam and certification pathways differ. Psychologist licensure commonly involves the EPPP and state-specific requirements, while psychiatrists complete medical licensing exams and may pursue optional ABPN board certification.

Why Choose Psychiatry vs. Psychology?

While both psychiatrists and psychologists work with patients to understand and improve their patients' brain processes, the two occupations have very different primary focuses.

• If you are more drawn to the role of counselor or therapist—listening to patients, helping them unravel their difficulties, and solving problems primarily through talk therapy —psychology may be the more appropriate path to take.
• If you are more interested in the medical aspects of the brain, body, and biochemistry—and in identifying medical or pharmacological treatments for mental illness or behavior disorders—then psychiatry may be a better fit.

Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist Salary

Just as training for psychologists and psychiatrists differs, so do salaries. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook: Psychologists, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in September 2024, psychologists earned a median annual wage of $94,310.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Profiles: Psychiatrists states that Psychiatrists' mean annual pay was $269,120 as of May 2024.

Pay levels within each career can vary by workplace type and region. The BLS qualifies both occupations as growing at a faster-than-average pace.

Conclusion

Psychologists and psychiatrists both treat patients by talking, listening, and diagnosing behavioral or mental health issues. At this point, their practices diverge; psychologists practice more through talk therapy and behavioral modification, while psychiatrists prescribe medicines and/or other medical tests or treatments.

If you’re choosing one of these two professions, you’re choosing between a path that revolves more around counseling (psychology) and one that revolves more around medicine (psychiatry).