Psychiatric Aides

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Career Profile

Psychiatric Aides

What they do

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.

Also Called: Developmental Aide, Mental Health Aide (MHA), Mental Health Worker (MHW), Psychiatric Aide, Psychiatric Assistant, Psychiatric Nursing Aide, Qualified Medication Aide (QMA), Resident Care Technician (Resident Care Tech), Residential Care Tech (Residential Care Technician), Therapeutic Program Worker (TPW), Developmental Aide, Mental Health Aide (MHA), Mental Health Worker (MHW), Psychiatric Aide, Psychiatric Assistant, Psychiatric Nursing Aide, Qualified Medication Aide (QMA), Resident Care Technician (Resident Care Tech), Residential Care Tech (Residential Care Technician), Therapeutic Program Worker (TPW)

MO Employment Data

*State data provided by O*NET & BLS
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$33,290
Starting Salary (2025)
$39,840
Median Salary (2025)
-0.4%
Projected Job Growth
110
MO Employment (2025)

Typical Tasks

Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
Participate in recreational activities with patients, including card games, sports, or television viewing.
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.
Maintain patients' restrictions to assigned areas.

A day in the life

What kind of work is this?

Social
Working with people
Investigative
Studying, Research based work
Conventional
Organized, Procedural Work

What personality traits do you need to succeed?

Concern for Others
Stress Tolerance
Self-Control
Dependability
Cooperation
Social Orientation

What key skills are needed for this job?

Service Orientation
Social Perceptiveness
Speaking
Monitoring
Active Listening
Critical Thinking

Expected Knowledge

Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Common Activities

Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Assisting and Caring for Others
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Education & Preparation

Some occupations may require additional education, advanced degrees, and years of experience in the field.
Talk to your support team on campus about this career pathway and additional degree information.
Job Zone 2

Some Preparation Needed

Education

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed.

Training

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Typical Education Required

Education a new hire may need

  • Some college 46%
  • High school diploma 24%
  • Post-secondary certificate 16%
  • Associate's degree 10%
  • Bachelor's degree 4%
Source: O*NET Education, Training & Experience data

Related Careers

Psychiatric Technicians
Occupational Therapy Aides
Physical Therapist Aides
Nursing Assistants
Home Health Aides

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*Data on career profiles are based on information supplied by the O*NET Program, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration.