What Do Adult Psychiatrists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for adult psychiatrists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what adult psychiatrists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Adult Psychiatrists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about adult psychiatrists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Adult Psychiatrists diagnose, treat, and help prevent mental disorders.
Popular Job Titles For Adult Psychiatrists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Psychiatrists
- Psychiatry Physicians/Psychiatrists
- Locum Tenens Psychiatry Physicians/Psychiatrists
- Outpatient Psychiatrists
- Adult Psychiatrists
- Child/Adolescent Psychiatrists
- Adult Outpatient Psychiatrists
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists
- Inpatient Psychiatrists
- Locum Tenens Psychiatrists
- Child Psychiatrists
- Psychiatry Physicians
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for adult psychiatrists can be found.
Best Industries for Adult Psychiatrists
Adult Psychiatrists Jobs By Industry
- Offices of Physicians: 27.2%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 17.2%
- Outpatient Care Centers: 11%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 9.7%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 5.4%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 5%
- Other: 24.5%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of adult psychiatrists can be found working in the Offices of Physicians sector. In 2023, about 27.2% of all jobs for adult psychiatrists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (17.2%), Outpatient Care Centers (11%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (9.7%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (5.4%) and Offices of Other Health Practitioners (5%).
What Do Adult Psychiatrists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what adult psychiatrists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work adult psychiatrists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that adult psychiatrists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for adult psychiatrists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Adult Psychiatrists
Based on 51,013 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Adult Psychiatrists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatry | 30,019 | 59% |
| Medication Administration | 7,121 | 14% |
| Mental Health | 7,069 | 14% |
| Treatment Planning | 5,045 | 10% |
| Behavioral Health | 4,159 | 8% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Adult Psychiatrists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 3,563 | 7% |
| Teaching | 3,430 | 7% |
| Leadership | 3,164 | 6% |
| Communication | 3,075 | 6% |
| Research | 2,680 | 5% |
Based on 51,013 job postings related to adult psychiatrists, psychiatry was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 59% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for medication administration, mental health, treatment planning, behavioral health and administrative support were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for adult psychiatrists, followed by teaching, leadership, communication, research and scheduling.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatry | 30,019 | 59% |
| Medication Administration | 7,121 | 14% |
| Mental Health | 7,069 | 14% |
| Treatment Planning | 5,045 | 10% |
| Behavioral Health | 4,159 | 8% |
| Administrative Support | 4,100 | 8% |
| Psychology | 3,538 | 7% |
| Child And Adolescent Psychiatry | 3,437 | 7% |
| Digital Technology | 3,290 | 6% |
| Telehealth | 3,159 | 6% |
| Geriatrics | 3,096 | 6% |
| Mental Status Examination | 3,057 | 6% |
| Psychotherapy | 2,633 | 5% |
| Mental Diseases | 2,540 | 5% |
| Patient Treatment | 2,178 | 4% |
| Medical Records | 2,060 | 4% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 2,036 | 4% |
| Nursing | 1,944 | 4% |
| Primary Care | 1,913 | 4% |
| Psychiatric Care | 1,856 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 3,563 | 7% |
| Teaching | 3,430 | 7% |
| Leadership | 3,164 | 6% |
| Communication | 3,075 | 6% |
| Research | 2,680 | 5% |
| Scheduling | 1,220 | 2% |
| Coordinating | 1,166 | 2% |
| English Language | 1,028 | 2% |
| Planning | 948 | 2% |
| Operations | 890 | 2% |
| Clerical Works | 859 | 2% |
| Written English | 797 | 2% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 787 | 2% |
| Spanish Language | 764 | 1% |
| Customer Service | 741 | 1% |
| Administrative Functions | 685 | 1% |
| Quality Assurance | 677 | 1% |
| Innovation | 673 | 1% |
| Writing | 664 | 1% |
| Sales | 661 | 1% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Adult Psychiatrists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatrists | 36,026 | 26.3% |
| Psychiatry Physicians/Psychiatrists | 30,563 | 22.3% |
| Locum Tenens Psychiatry Physicians/Psychiatrists | 7,600 | 5.6% |
| Outpatient Psychiatrists | 8,996 | 6.6% |
| Adult Psychiatrists | 7,378 | 5.4% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was psychiatrists, with 10,419 unique job postings. Psychiatry physicians/psychiatrists were second, with 2,987 postings, followed by locum tenens psychiatry physicians/psychiatrists, outpatient psychiatrists and adult psychiatrists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to adult psychiatrists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatrists | 36,026 | 26.3% |
| Psychiatry Physicians/Psychiatrists | 30,563 | 22.3% |
| Locum Tenens Psychiatry Physicians/Psychiatrists | 7,600 | 5.6% |
| Outpatient Psychiatrists | 8,996 | 6.6% |
| Adult Psychiatrists | 7,378 | 5.4% |
| Child/Adolescent Psychiatrists | 8,030 | 5.9% |
| Adult Outpatient Psychiatrists | 5,852 | 4.3% |
| Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists | 4,733 | 3.5% |
| Inpatient Psychiatrists | 3,621 | 2.6% |
| Locum Tenens Psychiatrists | 3,339 | 2.4% |
| Child Psychiatrists | 3,014 | 2.2% |
| Psychiatry Physicians | 2,662 | 1.9% |
| General Psychiatrists | 3,206 | 2.3% |
| Adult Inpatient Psychiatrists | 2,327 | 1.7% |
| General Adult Psychiatrists | 1,515 | 1.1% |
| Geriatric Psychiatrists | 1,517 | 1.1% |
| Addiction Psychiatrists | 1,249 | 0.9% |
| Locum Tenens Psychiatry Physicians | 1,731 | 1.3% |
| Locum Tenens Adult Psychiatrists | 1,552 | 1.1% |
| Chief Psychiatrists | 1,929 | 1.4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for adult psychiatrists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for adult psychiatrists.
How much do adult psychiatrists make?
Adult Psychiatrists: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.