All About Psychiatric Aides
Psychiatric Aide Job 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.
List of Psychiatric Aide Job Duties
- Provide mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.
- Accompany patients to and from wards for medical or dental treatments, shopping trips, or religious or recreational events.
- Organize, supervise, or encourage patient participation in social, educational, or recreational activities.
- Complete administrative tasks, such as entering orders into computer, answering telephone calls, or maintaining medical or facility information.
- Clean and disinfect rooms and furnishings to maintain a safe and orderly environment.
- Interview patients upon admission and record information.
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Skills Needed to be a Psychiatric Aide
These are the skills Psychiatric Aides say are the most useful in their careers:
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Related Job Titles
- Mental Health Program Assistant
- Mental Health Associate
- Neuropsychiatric Aide
- Psychiatric Technician
- Mental Health Assistant
Psychiatric Aide Job Outlook
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 73,600 jobs in the United States for Psychiatric Aide. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,100 new jobs for Psychiatric Aide by 2026. The BLS estimates 8,800 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Psychiatric Aide are Tennessee, Arkansas, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Georgia, New Jersey, or New Hampshire. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Psychiatric Aides Make A Lot Of Money?
The salary for Psychiatric Aides ranges between about $19,830 and $46,490 a year.

Psychiatric Aides who work in Minnesota, New York, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
How much do Psychiatric Aides make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $26,680 |
Alaska | $42,550 |
Arkansas | $24,950 |
California | $32,660 |
Colorado | $33,460 |
Connecticut | $37,040 |
Florida | $25,890 |
Hawaii | $41,940 |
Idaho | $34,860 |
Illinois | $26,480 |
Indiana | $28,030 |
Iowa | $36,670 |
Kansas | $25,130 |
Kentucky | $29,970 |
Louisiana | $23,580 |
Maine | $30,430 |
Maryland | $31,270 |
Massachusetts | $33,690 |
Michigan | $34,090 |
Minnesota | $44,910 |
Mississippi | $19,970 |
Missouri | $28,170 |
Montana | $29,350 |
Nebraska | $36,580 |
Nevada | $37,920 |
New Hampshire | $37,950 |
New Jersey | $38,910 |
New Mexico | $33,180 |
New York | $43,520 |
North Carolina | $28,730 |
Ohio | $34,300 |
Oklahoma | $21,520 |
Oregon | $39,570 |
Pennsylvania | $35,450 |
Rhode Island | $39,260 |
Tennessee | $23,500 |
Texas | $27,840 |
Utah | $29,360 |
Vermont | $34,780 |
Virginia | $27,480 |
Washington | $37,640 |
West Virginia | $22,430 |
What Tools do Psychiatric Aides Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Psychiatric Aides:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Microsoft Windows
How to Become a Psychiatric Aide
What kind of Psychiatric Aide requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Psychiatric Aides Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Psychiatric Aides employed by various industries.

Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Psychiatric Aide may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Katie Spencer via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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