How much does a psychiatric aide make?

The median pay is $21.59 per hour — roughly $45,000 a year, with the real range running from about $15.43/hr (10th percentile) to $29.06/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a psychiatric aide?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a psychiatric aide actually do all day?

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.

Healthcare Support

Psychiatric Aides

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.

What it pays
Psychiatric Aides earn a median of $21.59/hr — about $45,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $15.43/hr; the top 10% earn $29.06/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors; you're around people constantly. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 1.8% of psychiatric aides are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are people-focused, analytical and organized and detail-focused.

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Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a psychiatric aide make?: The median pay is $21.59 per hour — roughly $45,000 a year, with the real range running from about $15.43/hr (10th percentile) to $29.06/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a psychiatric aide?: The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
What does a psychiatric aide actually do all day?: 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.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.