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The average salary for psychiatric nursing assistants across the United States is approximately $30,184 annually or $15 per hour. Salaries can vary based on location, experience, and type of healthcare facility. For instance, psychiatric nursing assistants working in metropolitan areas may earn significantly higher wages compared to their counterparts in rural settings.
States such as California, New York, and Massachusetts typically offer higher salary ranges for psychiatric nursing assistants, reflecting the cost of living and demand for mental health services. It's crucial for job seekers to consider these geographical factors when evaluating potential salaries.
The role of a psychiatric nursing assistant is vital in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, mental health clinics, and residential treatment centers. With the increasing focus on mental health awareness, the need for qualified professionals in this field is expected to rise.
By understanding salary trends and job opportunities, aspiring psychiatric nursing assistants can make informed decisions about their career paths and financial expectations.
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The highest-paying states for psychiatric nursing assistants are Washington, Alaska, and Connecticut. The lowest average psychiatric nursing assistant salary states are New Mexico, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $36,257 | $17.43 |
| 2 | Ohio | $35,607 | $17.12 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $36,716 | $17.65 |
| 4 | Indiana | $34,898 | $16.78 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $34,126 | $16.41 |
| 6 | Washington | $38,522 | $18.52 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $32,430 | $15.59 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $31,277 | $15.04 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $33,146 | $15.94 |
| 10 | Delaware | $32,134 | $15.45 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $31,052 | $14.93 |
| 12 | Alaska | $38,243 | $18.39 |
| 13 | Oregon | $34,238 | $16.46 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $29,968 | $14.41 |
| 15 | Idaho | $31,555 | $15.17 |
| 16 | Vermont | $29,989 | $14.42 |
| 17 | Michigan | $30,627 | $14.72 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $29,909 | $14.38 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $32,649 | $15.70 |
| 20 | Nevada | $32,729 | $15.74 |
| 21 | Iowa | $30,518 | $14.67 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $28,324 | $13.62 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $31,858 | $15.32 |
| 24 | Montana | $30,622 | $14.72 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $34,491 | $16.58 |
| 26 | Maryland | $30,801 | $14.81 |
| 27 | Missouri | $28,892 | $13.89 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $29,605 | $14.23 |
| 29 | Kansas | $29,021 | $13.95 |
| 30 | California | $31,107 | $14.96 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $29,021 | $13.95 |
| 32 | Colorado | $28,017 | $13.47 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $26,583 | $12.78 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $24,550 | $11.80 |
| 35 | Arizona | $27,885 | $13.41 |
| 36 | Massachusetts | $27,239 | $13.10 |
| 37 | New York | $27,328 | $13.14 |
| 38 | Virginia | $27,622 | $13.28 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $26,568 | $12.77 |
| 40 | District of Columbia | $30,276 | $14.56 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $22,287 | $10.71 |
| 42 | Illinois | $26,791 | $12.88 |
| 43 | Georgia | $24,695 | $11.87 |
| 44 | Utah | $26,319 | $12.65 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $21,169 | $10.18 |
| 46 | Texas | $24,064 | $11.57 |
| 47 | Florida | $21,162 | $10.17 |
| 48 | Alabama | $23,821 | $11.45 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $22,625 | $10.88 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $21,239 | $10.21 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $21,442 | $10.31 |
The highest-paying cities for psychiatric nursing assistants are Olympia, WA, Hillsboro, OR, and Cincinnati, OH.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olympia, WA | $38,669 | $18.59 |
| 2 | Hillsboro, OR | $34,275 | $16.48 |
| 3 | Cincinnati, OH | $33,994 | $16.34 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $32,359 | $15.56 |
| 5 | Hackensack, NJ | $32,026 | $15.40 |
| 6 | Fresno, CA | $31,947 | $15.36 |
| 7 | Fond du Lac, WI | $31,436 | $15.11 |
| 8 | Harrisburg, PA | $31,042 | $14.92 |
| 9 | Lansing, MI | $30,683 | $14.75 |
| 10 | Iowa City, IA | $30,443 | $14.64 |
| 11 | Grand Junction, CO | $27,948 | $13.44 |
| 12 | Tucson, AZ | $27,304 | $13.13 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $27,162 | $13.06 |
| 14 | Buffalo Grove, IL | $27,083 | $13.02 |
| 15 | El Paso, TX | $25,134 | $12.08 |
| 16 | Hollywood, FL | $21,025 | $10.11 |
A psychiatric nursing assistant's salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $40,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $30,184 | $2,515 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
The highest paying types of psychiatric nursing assistants are registered nursing assistant, licensed nursing assistant, and mental health worker.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRN | $39,642 | $3,304 | $19.06 | 72,309 |
| Mental Health Worker | $41,081 | $3,423 | $19.75 | 144,879 |
| Behavioral Health Technician | $34,611 | $2,884 | $16.64 | 99,503 |
| Mental Health Technician | $32,118 | $2,677 | $15.44 | 103,710 |
| Hospital Corpsman | $34,357 | $2,863 | $16.52 | 2,714 |
| Patients Transporter | $29,476 | $2,456 | $14.17 | 126,533 |
Top companies hiring psychiatric nursing assistants now:
Psychiatric nursing assistant salaries at Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners and Hackensack Meridian Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average psychiatric nursing assistant salary at companies like Mayo Clinic and Saratoga Hospital are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners | $38,413 | $18.47 |
| 2 | Hackensack Meridian Health | $34,822 | $16.74 |
| 3 | Mayo Clinic | $34,179 | $16.43 |
| 4 | Saratoga Hospital | $33,880 | $16.29 |
| 5 | Washington State University | $33,689 | $16.20 |
| 6 | Wellpath | $33,176 | $15.95 |
| 7 | Senior PsychCare | $32,336 | $15.55 |
| 8 | FSR | $32,190 | $15.48 |
| 9 | NaphCare | $32,153 | $15.46 |
| 10 | ICONMA | $31,746 | $15.26 |
| 11 | Texas | $31,672 | $15.23 |
| 12 | Memorial Healthcare System | $31,612 | $15.20 |
| 13 | Provider Solutions & Development | $31,362 | $15.08 |
| 14 | UnitedHealth Group | $31,147 | $14.97 |
| 15 | All Medical Personnel | $30,882 | $14.85 |
| 16 | Seattle Children's Healthcare System | $30,356 | $14.59 |
| 17 | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | $29,055 | $13.97 |
| 18 | Christian Healthcare Ministries | $28,218 | $13.57 |
| 19 | State of West Virginia | $26,297 | $12.64 |
The average psychiatric nursing assistant salary has risen by $4,958 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average psychiatric nursing assistant earned $25,226 annually, but today, they earn $30,184 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for psychiatric nursing assistants over the last decade.
Compare psychiatric nursing assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare psychiatric nursing assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,200 | $14.51 | +5.0% |
| 2024 | $28,700 | $13.79 | -4.5% |
| 2023 | $30,000 | $14.41 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $28,900 | $13.89 | +3.4% |
| 2021 | $27,900 | $13.42 | +3.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Nursing Assistant-Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit | Omaha, NE | 06/28/2025 | $38,062 |
| Texas Health & Human Services Commission | Psychiatric Nursing Asst LLL | El Paso, TX | 06/28/2025 | $43,798 |
| Christian Health Care Center | Psychiatric Nursing Assistant (PNA)-Ramapo Ridge Behavioral Health Hospital | Wyckoff, NJ | 06/12/2025 | $36,523 |
| Hopewell Home Healthcare LLC | Psychiatric Nursing Assistant | Houston, TX | 06/09/2025 | $37,566 |
| Texas Health & Human Services Commission | Psychiatric Nursing Assistant LL | El Paso, TX | 05/30/2025 | $36,571 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Nursing Assistant-Psychiatric-Open Continuous Announcement | Fayetteville, NC | 05/20/2025 | $36,627 |
| Tri County Services | Psychiatric Nursing Assistant | Conroe, TX | 05/17/2025 | $37,566 |
| Hopewell Home Healthcare LLC | Psychiatric Nursing Assistant | Houston, TX | 04/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs | Psychiatric Nursing Assistant | Hampton, VA | 04/13/2025 | $40,564 |
| Texas Health & Human Services Commission | Psychiatric Nursing Asst IV | Austin, TX | 04/11/2025 | $49,134 |
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