How to become a psychiatric aide

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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What psychiatric aides do

• Participate in recreational activities with patients, including card games, sports, or television viewing.
• 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.
• Organize, supervise, or encourage patient participation in social, educational, or recreational activities.
• Provide patients with assistance in bathing, dressing, or grooming, demonstrating these skills as necessary.

Skills that matter most

• Speaking
• Active Listening
• Monitoring
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Learning Strategies

Is psychiatric aide a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 12% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Minnesota $55,040
• Washington $52,570
• Hawaii $52,310
• Maryland $51,440
• Nevada $51,400

Psychiatric Aides salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.