Psychiatric Aides Career, Salary and Skills
Psychiatric Aides have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $44,910 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 35,520. Wage data is published for 108 locations.
Occupation description
Assist mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients, working under direction of nursing and medical staff. May assist with daily living activities, lead patients in educational and recreational activities, or accompany patients to and from examinations and treatments. May restrain violent patients. Includes psychiatric orderlies.
O*NET code
31-1133.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
Some College Courses
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
National salary and employment
Median annual
$44,910
Hourly median
$21.59
Employment
35,520
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 3.00 |
| Service Orientation | 3.88 | 3.25 |
| Monitoring | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Active Listening | 3.75 | 3.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.38 | 3.38 |
| Active Learning | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.25 | 3.62 |
| Writing | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.12 | 3.25 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
Technology
- Email software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Patient management software
Psychiatric Aides salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Psychiatric Aides Salary in NYMedian $50,220 · Employment 5,120
- Psychiatric Aides Salary in New York, NYMedian $49,840 · Employment 4,310
- Psychiatric Aides Salary in CAMedian $47,500 · Employment 3,760
- Psychiatric Aides Salary in MSMedian $30,510 · Employment 2,490
- Psychiatric Aides Salary in FLMedian $37,930 · Employment 2,210
- Psychiatric Aides Salary in NJMedian $45,780 · Employment 2,060
- Psychiatric Aides Salary in INMedian $44,860 · Employment 1,930
- Psychiatric Aides Salary in TXMedian $42,560 · Employment 1,760
- Psychiatric Aides Salary in PAMedian $44,790 · Employment 1,620
- Psychiatric Aides Salary in ORMedian $48,300 · Employment 1,550
- Psychiatric Aides Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $47,050 · Employment 1,450
- Psychiatric Aides Salary in MIMedian $45,800 · Employment 1,410
Related careers
- Acute Care NursesNational median $97,550
- Emergency Medicine PhysiciansNational median $335,550
- Nurse PractitionersNational median $132,300
- PsychiatristsNational median $281,870
- Healthcare Social WorkersNational median $67,880
- Recreational TherapistsNational median $61,960
- Clinical Nurse SpecialistsNational median $97,550
- Mental Health CounselorsNational median not published
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.