Psychiatric Aide Salary: What the Federal Data Shows
Psychiatric aides in the US earn a median of $44,910 a year, per the most recent federal wage data (BLS, May 2025 estimates, released May 2026). Most earn between $32,090 and $60,440, and the state spread is stark: Minnesota's median ($55,040) is more than double Alabama's ($27,150).
This is a smaller occupation than most people assume, with 35,520 employed nationwide, about a quarter the size of the psychiatric technician workforce. This page covers the state numbers, what separates aide pay from technician pay, and where the role leads. Everything is sourced to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and refreshed each spring.
National snapshot
Highest-paying states
| Rank | State | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $55,040 |
| 2 | Washington | $52,570 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $52,310 |
| 4 | Maryland | $51,440 |
| 5 | Nevada | $51,400 |
New York deserves a mention beyond the top five: its 10th percentile ($47,500) is higher than the median in most states, meaning an entry-level aide in New York out-earns the typical mid-career aide in Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana. Large state psychiatric hospital systems with union representation are the through-line for most of the high payers.
Psychiatric aide salary by state
| State | Employment | 10th pctile | Median | 90th pctile | Mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 790 | $25,180 | $27,150 | $40,260 | $30,340 |
| Alaska | 190 | $42,550 | $49,300 | $61,470 | $50,630 |
| Arkansas | 490 | $27,030 | $36,270 | $39,950 | $34,490 |
| California | 3,760 | $39,030 | $47,500 | $77,220 | $53,670 |
| Colorado | 300 | $41,310 | $46,130 | $56,140 | $47,510 |
| Connecticut | 520 | $38,290 | $44,660 | $68,540 | $47,230 |
| Florida | 2,210 | $35,670 | $37,930 | $44,370 | $38,680 |
| Georgia | 1,090 | $27,840 | $36,790 | $41,790 | $35,510 |
| Hawaii | 30 | $30,500 | $52,310 | $53,890 | $47,860 |
| Illinois | 120 | $40,960 | $48,670 | $48,700 | $47,130 |
| Indiana | 1,930 | $37,050 | $44,860 | $72,800 | $47,100 |
| Iowa | 400 | $35,060 | $39,260 | $65,190 | $44,320 |
| Kansas | 580 | $34,110 | $38,390 | $45,620 | $37,940 |
| Kentucky | 250 | $35,870 | $38,610 | $48,310 | $40,040 |
| Louisiana | 280 | $26,640 | $30,030 | $44,560 | $32,940 |
| Maine | 110 | $40,650 | $46,720 | $47,050 | $45,560 |
| Maryland | 250 | $37,530 | $51,440 | $63,220 | $49,940 |
| Massachusetts | 950 | $37,020 | $45,300 | $80,130 | $50,830 |
| Michigan | 1,410 | $34,860 | $45,800 | $57,410 | $45,410 |
| Minnesota | 620 | $37,830 | $55,040 | $68,560 | $52,710 |
| Mississippi | 2,490 | $24,420 | $30,510 | $38,130 | $31,310 |
| Missouri | 110 | $33,290 | $39,840 | $51,030 | $42,500 |
| Montana | 330 | $39,680 | $46,340 | $58,280 | $47,460 |
| Nevada | 220 | $35,200 | $51,400 | $68,990 | $51,030 |
| New Jersey | 2,060 | $39,180 | $45,780 | $60,110 | $47,630 |
| New York | 5,120 | $47,500 | $50,220 | $66,620 | $54,450 |
| North Carolina | n/a | $35,340 | $38,400 | $44,010 | $39,770 |
| Ohio | 980 | $33,740 | $38,480 | $53,960 | $42,160 |
| Oklahoma | n/a | $31,520 | $44,960 | $48,610 | $41,650 |
| Oregon | 1,550 | $40,420 | $48,300 | $60,900 | $49,920 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,620 | $37,930 | $44,790 | $61,260 | $47,260 |
| Rhode Island | 130 | $43,040 | $51,100 | $62,530 | $50,520 |
| South Carolina | 200 | $32,320 | $36,320 | $39,660 | $35,600 |
| Texas | 1,760 | $30,430 | $42,560 | $55,120 | $42,890 |
| Utah | 130 | $36,740 | $40,810 | $55,220 | $43,740 |
| Vermont | 330 | $46,300 | $47,860 | $56,150 | $48,260 |
| Virginia | n/a | $33,380 | $37,280 | $45,850 | $38,540 |
| Washington | 330 | $52,570 | $52,570 | $62,310 | $56,060 |
| West Virginia | 220 | $25,020 | $37,910 | $46,710 | $37,510 |
A note on coverage: BLS reports psychiatric aide data for 39 states in this release; the rest are suppressed because the occupation is small. A few small-sample quirks show in the table (Washington's 10th percentile equals its median; Hawaii samples only 30 aides), so treat single-state precision loosely in the low-employment states. The Deep South cluster at the bottom (Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, all with medians near or below $30,510) is not a quirk; it's the region's reimbursement rates and non-union facility mix showing through.
What raises psychiatric aide pay
The levers mirror the technician side, with one addition. Setting matters most: state psychiatric hospitals on government scales pay above private facilities. Shifts pay: aide work is 24/7, and overnight and weekend differentials are standard. Geography can outweigh both; the same job pays $20,000+ more across a state line in several corridors on the table.
Setting
Setting matters most: state psychiatric hospitals on government scales pay above private facilities.
Shift differentials
Shifts pay: aide work is 24/7, and overnight and weekend differentials are standard.
Geography
Geography can outweigh both; the same job pays $20,000+ more across a state line in several corridors on the table.
The addition: for aides specifically, the strongest pay move is usually the title change to technician, which often requires little more than a certification or a facility willing to train up. From there the ladder continues: technicians who add a degree move into counseling roles at a $59,350 median. Our entry-level behavioral health jobs guide maps the first rungs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a psychiatric aide make?
The national median is $44,910 a year (BLS, May 2025 estimates), with most aides earning between $32,090 and $60,440. State medians range from $27,150 to $55,040.
Which states pay psychiatric aides the most?
By median wage: Minnesota ($55,040), Washington ($52,570), Hawaii ($52,310), Maryland ($51,440), and Nevada ($51,400).
Do psychiatric aides or psychiatric technicians earn more?
Nationally they're close: $44,910 median for aides versus $45,130 for technicians. Technicians carry more clinical duties, a higher ceiling, and in some states licensure, which makes the aide-to-technician move the natural first raise.
What do you need to become a psychiatric aide?
Typically a high school diploma with on-the-job training; some employers ask for CNA certification or prior direct-care experience. It's one of the most accessible entry points into behavioral health work.
Where these numbers come from
Wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates (occupation code 31-1133, Psychiatric Aides), released May 2026 and the most recent federal data available. OEWS reports wages for employees; independent contractor rates are not included. States not shown are suppressed in the source data. All figures are estimates and marked as such. We refresh this page when BLS publishes new estimates each spring.
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