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Psychiatric Aides in Pennsylvania

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Psychiatric Aides in Pennsylvania

Want to work as a Psychiatric Aides in Pennsylvania? 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 Pennsylvania?

The psychiatric aides working in Pennsylvania, wages run about $43,620 per year (or roughly $20.97/hour).Earnings range from $36,240 at the 10th percentile to $59,010 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $36,240 $17.42
25th percentile $38,090 $18.31
Median (50th) $43,620 $20.97
75th percentile $46,780 $22.49
90th percentile $59,010 $28.37
Salary ranges for Psychiatric Aides in Pennsylvania

The job concentration index in Pennsylvania nationwide is 1.24, suggesting 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), lower than the Pennsylvania median.

Psychiatric Aides earnings in Pennsylvania vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

National employment for 816,098 psychiatric aides nationwide. In Pennsylvania alone, around 1,680 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 460 psychiatric aides.

Psychiatric Aides in Pennsylvania vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Psychiatric Aides

Top Pennsylvania Metros for Psychiatric Aides

The largest metro-area employers of psychiatric aides in Pennsylvania.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 790 $46,780
Pittsburgh, PA 510 $41,120
Reading, PA 170 $43,620

Top States for Psychiatric Aides Employment

These states have the highest employment of 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

The most important psychiatric aides skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Service Orientation  3.9 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Social Perceptiveness  3.9 / 5
0
5
Monitoring  3.8 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  3.8 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.4 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Psychology  4.0 / 5
0
5
Customer and Personal Service  3.6 / 5
0
5
Therapy and Counseling  3.1 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.1 / 5
0
5
Administrative  3.0 / 5
0
5
Sociology and Anthropology  3.0 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Key abilities for psychiatric aides, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Oral Expression  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  3.9 / 5
0
5
Problem Sensitivity  3.9 / 5
0
5
Written Comprehension  3.8 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  3.6 / 5
0
5
Speech Clarity  3.5 / 5
0
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

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

  • Mental & Social Health Services
  • Health Aids & Attendants

Other careers like psychiatric aides include:

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

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