Psychiatric aides salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,090 | $15.43 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| Mean (average) | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| 90th percentile | $60,440 | $29.06 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Psychiatric aides pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 39 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,150 | $25,180 | $40,260 | 790 | 1.63 |
| Alaska | $49,300 | $42,550 | $61,470 | 190 | 2.5 |
| Arkansas | $36,270 | $27,030 | $39,950 | 490 | 1.64 |
| California | $47,500 | $39,030 | $77,220 | 3,760 | 0.9 |
| Colorado | $46,130 | $41,310 | $56,140 | 300 | 0.46 |
| Connecticut | $44,660 | $38,290 | $68,540 | 520 | 1.34 |
| Florida | $37,930 | $35,670 | $44,370 | 2,210 | 0.98 |
| Georgia | $36,790 | $27,840 | $41,790 | 1,090 | 0.98 |
| Hawaii | $52,310 | $30,500 | $53,890 | 30 | 0.22 |
| Illinois | $48,670 | $40,960 | $48,700 | 120 | 0.09 |
| Indiana | $44,860 | $37,050 | $72,800 | 1,930 | 2.64 |
| Iowa | $39,260 | $35,060 | $65,190 | 400 | 1.13 |
| Kansas | $38,390 | $34,110 | $45,620 | 580 | 1.77 |
| Kentucky | $38,610 | $35,870 | $48,310 | 250 | 0.55 |
| Louisiana | $30,030 | $26,640 | $44,560 | 280 | 0.64 |
| Maine | $46,720 | $40,650 | $47,050 | 110 | 0.74 |
| Maryland | $51,440 | $37,530 | $63,220 | 250 | 0.4 |
| Massachusetts | $45,300 | $37,020 | $80,130 | 950 | 1.15 |
| Michigan | $45,800 | $34,860 | $57,410 | 1,410 | 1.41 |
| Minnesota | $55,040 | $37,830 | $68,560 | 620 | 0.92 |
| Mississippi | $30,510 | $24,420 | $38,130 | 2,490 | 9.37 |
| Missouri | $39,840 | $33,290 | $51,030 | 110 | 0.16 |
| Montana | $46,340 | $39,680 | $58,280 | 330 | 2.8 |
| Nevada | $51,400 | $35,200 | $68,990 | 220 | 0.62 |
| New Jersey | $45,780 | $39,180 | $60,110 | 2,060 | 2.11 |
| New York | $50,220 | $47,500 | $66,620 | 5,120 | 2.31 |
| North Carolina | $38,400 | $35,340 | $44,010 | ||
| Ohio | $38,480 | $33,740 | $53,960 | 980 | 0.77 |
| Oklahoma | $44,960 | $31,520 | $48,610 | ||
| Oregon | $48,300 | $40,420 | $60,900 | 1,550 | 3.45 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,790 | $37,930 | $61,260 | 1,620 | 1.17 |
| Rhode Island | $51,100 | $43,040 | $62,530 | 130 | 1.16 |
| South Carolina | $36,320 | $32,320 | $39,660 | 200 | 0.38 |
| Texas | $42,560 | $30,430 | $55,120 | 1,760 | 0.55 |
| Utah | $40,810 | $36,740 | $55,220 | 130 | 0.34 |
| Vermont | $47,860 | $46,300 | $56,150 | 330 | 4.71 |
| Virginia | $37,280 | $33,380 | $45,850 | ||
| Washington | $52,570 | $52,570 | $62,310 | 330 | 0.4 |
| West Virginia | $37,910 | $25,020 | $46,710 | 220 | 1.34 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for psychiatric aides
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.3%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for psychiatric aides
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician CIP 51.1502
- Health Aide CIP 51.2601
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
- Provide patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.
- Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.
- Restrain or aid patients as necessary to prevent injury.
- Work as part of a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, or social workers.
- Record and maintain patient information, such as vital signs, eating habits, behavior, progress notes, treatments, or discharge plans.
- Maintain patients' restrictions to assigned areas.
- Organize, supervise, or encourage patient participation in social, educational, or recreational activities.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Email software
- Patient management software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Coordination, Instructing, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Developmental Aide, Mental Health Aide (MHA), Mental Health Worker (MHW), Psychiatric Aide, Psychiatric Assistant, Psychiatric Nursing Aide, Qualified Medication Aide (QMA), Resident Care Technician (Resident Care Tech), Residential Care Tech (Residential Care Technician), Therapeutic Program Worker (TPW).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do psychiatric aides make?
The national median annual wage for psychiatric aides was $44,910 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $32,090 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $60,440. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do psychiatric aides need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is psychiatric aides a growing career?
BLS projects employment of psychiatric aides to change +1.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay psychiatric aides the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Minnesota ($55,040), Washington ($52,570), Hawaii ($52,310). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.