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A report from utahsright.com says psychiatrists at the Utah State Hospital earn nine out of Utah’s 10 highest state salaries outside of academia. With psychiatrists dominating the top 10 salaries list this raises the question of whether they are getting paid too much for what they do.

With the release of the hospital’s 14 psychiatrists salaries, people are questioning why the state is paying them that much money instead of using the tax dollars elsewhere. But Hospital Superintendent Dallas Earnshaw says their doctors are actually underpaid compared to the national average.

Said Earnshaw, “The salaries that get reported in their transparency websites for the state actually reflect all of their pay, so their on call, overtime and benefits put together. So it isn’t a true reflection of what the base salary that a psychiatrist makes.”

Some employees say it’s not just the pay that matters. But more than that it’s the fulfillment that comes from helping those in need.

Hospital Police Officer Brian Powers said, “It’s very refreshing to work with them. Every single person that works here, and it’s easy to see it in the doctors, is working here because they have a compassion for their fellow human being.”

With only so much funding available balancing where the money goes and keeping the hospital fully staffed are on-going issues.

“We do have some problems at times recruiting psychiatrists because they are below the market salary base”, said Earnshaw. “But for the most part we try to be competative with other options for them.”

Utah’s growing population and the increase of disorders such as depression are raising the demand for mental health professionals. This high demand continues to fuel the funding debate at the state hospital.

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Kory Aldous

Latest posts by Kory Aldous (Posts)

• Psychiatrists Salaries at the Utah State Hospital. - April 10, 2012
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