Salary of Forensic Psychiatrists
Forensic psychiatrists are doctors with an interest in upholding the law. Forensic psychiatrists examine the psyche of people who have been arrested or who are serving sentences. They try to explain how a criminal's physical status has influenced his criminal behavior. Forensic psychiatrists give courts information so that the courts prosecute and sentence properly. They may give medications to criminals if necessary. This line of work can yield more than $100,000 a year.
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Salary Summary
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SalaryExpert, which is associated with the Economic Research Institute, shows earnings of $124,920 to $297,295 as of March 2011. Dr. Neil S. Kaye of the Court Psychiatrist website asserts most forensic psychiatrists charge $250 to $500 an hour. Reid Psychiatry expands the range to $150 to $750 an hour. The number of hours worked depends on the number of cases.
Comparison to Other Psychiatrists
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not give forensic psychiatrists their own category, instead keeping them in the general psychiatrist category. The BLS asserts that psychiatrists earn $65,590 to $166,400 or more. These earnings are fairly consistent with most annual estimates of forensic psychiatrist earnings, although looking at all estimates suggests that the range for earnings is somewhat larger than that provided by the BLS.
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Comparison to Forensic Psychologist Salaries
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Forensic psychiatrists and forensic psychologists do very similar work to the point where people often confuse the two fields. Unlike forensic psychologists, forensic psychiatrists have a medical degree and are doctors who can write prescriptions. Subsequently, forensic psychiatrists tend to make more. Reid Psychiatry reports that an entry-level forensic psychiatrist with a master's degree earns $35,000 to $40,000, while a senior forensic psychiatrist earns $150,000 to $200,000. A senior forensic psychologist, by comparison, makes $100,000 annually.
Timing of Payment
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Forensic psychiatrists always have to avoid the appearance of bias in any case on which they work. For this reason, unless they are in a salaried position -- this is more common if the psychiatrist works for the government -- forensic psychiatrists receive their salaries in advance. They never work on contingency, says Reid Psychiatry.
Considerations
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Scientists and doctors are discovering more about the human brain and behavior every day -- the Ohio Mental Health Commission already noted as far back as 2001 that scientific advancement has "revolutionized the ability to treat those with mental disorders." As they expand their knowledge, psychiatry is gaining respect as a recognized profession -- Dr. Larry R. Faulkner of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law postulated that forensic psychiatry will thrive in the 21st century as a legitimate medical specialty. This may lead to the judicial system turning to psychiatrists more often in the future, both for initial court proceedings and for rehabilitation of criminals. As psychiatrists gain demand, they may take on more cases and earn higher annual salaries.
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References
- Reid Psychiatry: Frequently Asked Questions About Forensic Psychiatry; 2010
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Psychiatrists; 2009
- Court Psychiatrist: FAQs; Neil S. Kaye; 2010
- SalaryExpert: Forensic Psychiatrist Salaries; March 2011
- Ohio Mental Health Commission: Changing Lives; 2001
- American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law; Dr. Larry R. Faulkner; 2000
- Photo Credit Andrea Morini/Digital Vision/Getty Images
