Psychiatric Aides in New York
Thinking about a career as a Psychiatric Aides in New York? Here’s what the data says. 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 do Psychiatric Aides Make in New York?
For a psychiatric aides working in New York, the median annual wage is $53,270 per year (or about $25.61/hour).Pay can range from $41,690 at the 10th percentile to $67,720 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,690 | $20.05 |
| 25th percentile | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| Median (50th) | $53,270 | $25.61 |
| 75th percentile | $55,510 | $26.69 |
| 90th percentile | $67,720 | $32.56 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in New York relative to the national average — is 2.47, indicating that psychiatric aides are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, psychiatric aides earn a median of $51,090 per year ($24.56/hour), higher than the New York median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 816,098 psychiatric aides nationwide. In New York alone, around 5,330 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 460 psychiatric aides.
Top New York Metros for Psychiatric Aides
The metro areas below employ the most psychiatric aides in New York.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 4,760 | $49,180 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 260 | $54,280 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 240 | $68,180 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 220 | $67,720 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 170 | $44,860 |
| Syracuse, NY | 160 | $48,850 |
| Binghamton, NY | 80 | $52,250 |
Top States for Psychiatric Aides Employment
The table below shows the states where the most psychiatric aides work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| New York | 5,330 |
| California | 2,850 |
| Mississippi | 2,480 |
| Florida | 2,410 |
| New Jersey | 2,280 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,680 |
| Texas | 1,610 |
| Indiana | 1,480 |
| Georgia | 1,310 |
| Michigan | 1,300 |
| Oregon | 1,290 |
| Alabama | 950 |
| Virginia | 880 |
| Massachusetts | 750 |
| West Virginia | 670 |
| Arkansas | 640 |
| Ohio | 520 |
| South Carolina | 480 |
| Kansas | 480 |
| Kentucky | 460 |
Highest-Paying States for Psychiatric Aides
These states pay the most for psychiatric aides.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $55,690 |
| New York | $53,270 |
| Massachusetts | $51,250 |
| Washington | $51,080 |
| Colorado | $50,690 |
| Nevada | $50,250 |
| Minnesota | $49,720 |
| Rhode Island | $48,270 |
| Illinois | $47,650 |
| Alaska | $46,950 |
Skills
Top psychiatric aides skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for psychiatric aides, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, psychiatric aides typically:
- 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.
- Maintain patients' restrictions to assigned areas.
- 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.
- Aid patients in becoming accustomed to hospital routines.
- Serve meals or feed patients needing assistance or persuasion.
- Clean and disinfect rooms and furnishings to maintain a safe and orderly environment.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Training and Teaching Others
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Mental & Social Health Services
- Health Aids & Attendants
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Related occupations to psychiatric aides include:
- Mental Health Counselors
- Healthcare Social Workers
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Recreational Therapists
- Registered Nurses
- Acute Care Nurses
Also Known As
BHA (Behavioral Health Aide), BHA (Behavioral Health Associate), Behavior Aide, Behavior Assistant, Behavior Intervention Assistant, Behavior Support Assistant, Behavioral Aide, Behavioral Assistant, Behavioral Health Assistant, Charge Aide, Charge Attendant, Clinical Assistant, Developmental Aide, Direct Care Worker, Health Service Worker.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 31-1133.00