Psychiatric Aide salary in the U.S.
Psychiatric Aides in the U.S. earn a median of $44,910 a year ($21.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 35,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,440 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $45,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for psychiatric aides in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,090 | $15.43 |
| 25th percentile | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Median | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| 75th percentile | $49,950 | $24.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,440 | $29.06 |
| Average (mean) | $45,690 | $21.97 |
Half of psychiatric aides earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,742.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,871.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,727.31 |
| Weekly | $863.65 |
| Hourly | $21.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Psychiatric Aide salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $55,040 | 620 |
| Washington | $52,570 | 330 |
| Hawaii | $52,310 | 30 |
| Maryland | $51,440 | 250 |
| Nevada | $51,400 | 220 |
| Rhode Island | $51,100 | 130 |
| New York | $50,220 | 5,120 |
| Alaska | $49,300 | 190 |
| Illinois | $48,670 | 120 |
| Oregon | $48,300 | 1,550 |
| Vermont | $47,860 | 330 |
| California | $47,500 | 3,760 |
| Maine | $46,720 | 110 |
| Montana | $46,340 | 330 |
| Colorado | $46,130 | 300 |
| Michigan | $45,800 | 1,410 |
| New Jersey | $45,780 | 2,060 |
| Massachusetts | $45,300 | 950 |
| Oklahoma | $44,960 | n/a |
| Indiana | $44,860 | 1,930 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,790 | 1,620 |
| Connecticut | $44,660 | 520 |
| Texas | $42,560 | 1,760 |
| Utah | $40,810 | 130 |
| Missouri | $39,840 | 110 |
| Iowa | $39,260 | 400 |
| Kentucky | $38,610 | 250 |
| Ohio | $38,480 | 980 |
| North Carolina | $38,400 | n/a |
| Kansas | $38,390 | 580 |
| Florida | $37,930 | 2,210 |
| West Virginia | $37,910 | 220 |
| Virginia | $37,280 | n/a |
| Georgia | $36,790 | 1,090 |
| South Carolina | $36,320 | 200 |
| Arkansas | $36,270 | 490 |
| Mississippi | $30,510 | 2,490 |
| Louisiana | $30,030 | 280 |
| Alabama | $27,150 | 790 |
Best-paying metro areas for psychiatric aides
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $75,670 | 210 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $60,110 | 370 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $58,600 | 220 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $58,550 | 100 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $57,360 | 40 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $55,100 | 180 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $53,520 | 210 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $52,570 | 320 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $51,670 | 40 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $51,610 | 220 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $51,440 | 160 |
| Salem, OR | $50,580 | 910 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $50,140 | 260 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $49,840 | 4,310 |
| Syracuse, NY | $49,820 | 140 |
Metro areas with the most psychiatric aides
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 4,310 | $49,840 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,450 | $47,050 |
| Jackson, MS | 1,040 | $31,560 |
| Salem, OR | 910 | $50,580 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 870 | $48,560 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 780 | $45,080 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 580 | $45,410 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 570 | $48,100 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 490 | $39,080 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 490 | $44,920 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 410 | $37,750 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 370 | $60,110 |
| Columbus, OH | 360 | $47,160 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 330 | $36,360 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 320 | $52,570 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Orderly | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Massage Therapist | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $40,410 | $19.43 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-1133. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a psychiatric aide make in the U.S.?
The median salary for psychiatric aides in the U.S. is $44,910 a year, or $21.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid psychiatric aides make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of psychiatric aides in the U.S. earn at least $60,440 a year. The top 25% earn $49,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for psychiatric aides in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,090 a year, and a quarter of psychiatric aides earn $37,750 or less.
How many psychiatric aides work in the U.S.?
About 35,520 psychiatric aides are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.