Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, South Carolina
$37,000 / year
≈ $3,100 per month · $17.79 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for South Carolina · median $37,500
25th percentile
$33,500Average
$37,00075th percentile
$38,500
$33,500Average
$37,00075th percentile
$38,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Psychiatric Aide salary by state
Alabama$31,500
Alaska$52,500
Arkansas$35,500
California$55,500
Colorado$49,000
Connecticut$49,000
Florida$40,000
Georgia$37,000
Hawaii$49,500
Illinois$49,000
Indiana$48,500
Iowa$46,000
Kansas$39,500
Kentucky$41,500
Louisiana$34,000
Maine$47,000
Maryland$51,500
Massachusetts$52,500
Michigan$47,000
Minnesota$54,500
Mississippi$32,500
Missouri$44,000
Montana$49,000
Nevada$53,000
New Jersey$49,500
New York$56,500
North Carolina$41,000
Ohio$43,500
Oklahoma$43,000
Oregon$51,500
Pennsylvania$49,000
Rhode Island$52,500
South Carolina$37,000
Texas$44,500
Utah$45,500
Vermont$50,000
Virginia$40,000
Washington$58,000
West Virginia$39,000
About this role
Psychiatric Aide is a professional role within the function in the Healthcare Support job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Psychiatric Aides do
Typical education: Some College Courses
- 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.
Top skills: Speaking Social Perceptiveness Service Orientation Monitoring Active Listening Critical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Psychiatric Aide pay by experience level
Entry level$33,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$39,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$46,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$51,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$62,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-0.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
5,300
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Psychiatric Aide salary by industry
Hospitals
18,550 workers
$47,500Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals
14,190 workers
$47,500Hospitals, State Government Owned
9,600 workers
$50,000Hospitals, Privately Owned
8,410 workers
$44,500Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
7,300 workers
$48,000State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
6,260 workers
$45,500Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
5,020 workers
$43,000General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
4,050 workers
$47,000Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities
3,780 workers
$43,500Ambulatory Health Care Services
2,730 workers
$47,500National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Psychiatric Aide pays 5% below the average across 19 roles in the Healthcare Support job family (family average $50,000).
Similar-paying roles in Healthcare Support
Phlebotomist$47,000
Medical Assistant$47,500
Occupational Therapy Aide$45,500
Nursing Assistant$44,000
Medical Transcriptionist$43,000
Dental Assistant$52,000
Medical Equipment Preparer$52,500
Orderly$42,000
Physical Therapist Aide$37,500
Careers related to Psychiatric Aide
Psychiatric Technician$48,000
Occupational Therapy Aide$45,500
Physical Therapist Aide$37,500
Nursing Assistant$44,000
Physical Therapist Assistant$71,000
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Psychiatric Aide make?
The average base salary for a Psychiatric Aide in the United States is $47,500 per year, or about $22.84 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $39,000 and $52,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Healthcare Support roles?
The Healthcare Support job family averages $50,000 across 19 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Put this data to work
Need Psychiatric Aide pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
Request an analysisWant to see what this salary looks like after taxes? Estimate your take-home pay →
