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Psychiatric nurse salary
Average psychiatric nurse salary
$64,922
Average Psychiatric Nurse Salary
As of October 2025, the average annual salary for a psychiatric nurse stands at $64,922, which translates to about $31 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific healthcare setting.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level psychiatric nurses can expect to earn less, while those with advanced experience and specialized certifications may command higher salaries. For instance, nurses with over ten years of experience often see salaries exceeding $80,000 annually.
Highest Paying States
States such as California, Massachusetts, and New York offer some of the highest salaries for psychiatric nurses. In these regions, salaries can range from $70,000 to over $90,000 depending on experience and job demand.
Job Opportunities
With the increasing focus on mental health, job opportunities in this field are expanding. Psychiatric nurses are needed in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, and community health organizations, making it a promising career path for those interested in healthcare.
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Where can a Psychiatric Nurse earn more?
Psychiatric nurse salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level psychiatric nurse | $51,500 | $24.75 |
| Mid-level psychiatric nurse | $64,700 | $31.13 |
| Senior-level psychiatric nurse | $88,800 | $42.70 |
Psychiatric nurse salary estimates from across the web
Average psychiatric nurse salary by state
The average psychiatric nurse salary in Rhode Island, California, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average psychiatric nurse salary states are Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for psychiatric nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $81,950 | $39.40 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $84,165 | $40.46 |
| 3 | Alaska | $83,762 | $40.27 |
| 4 | Delaware | $82,915 | $39.86 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $82,267 | $39.55 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $78,725 | $37.85 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $103,809 | $49.91 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $70,701 | $33.99 |
| 9 | Texas | $76,498 | $36.78 |
| 10 | California | $98,534 | $47.37 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $96,449 | $46.37 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $85,058 | $40.89 |
| 13 | Louisiana | $67,421 | $32.41 |
| 14 | New York | $80,303 | $38.61 |
| 15 | Maryland | $78,455 | $37.72 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $89,867 | $43.21 |
| 17 | Oregon | $77,655 | $37.33 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $67,947 | $32.67 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $68,612 | $32.99 |
| 20 | Maine | $66,345 | $31.90 |
| 21 | Idaho | $71,639 | $34.44 |
| 22 | Arizona | $69,541 | $33.43 |
| 23 | Nevada | $71,400 | $34.33 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $66,021 | $31.74 |
| 25 | Iowa | $64,601 | $31.06 |
| 26 | Michigan | $63,630 | $30.59 |
| 27 | Washington | $66,674 | $32.05 |
| 28 | Ohio | $63,960 | $30.75 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $68,904 | $33.13 |
| 30 | Florida | $62,322 | $29.96 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $65,820 | $31.64 |
| 32 | Virginia | $69,181 | $33.26 |
| 33 | Montana | $61,015 | $29.33 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $58,884 | $28.31 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $61,939 | $29.78 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $59,912 | $28.80 |
| 37 | Kansas | $59,579 | $28.64 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $57,042 | $27.42 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $61,095 | $29.37 |
| 40 | Illinois | $63,502 | $30.53 |
| 41 | Indiana | $55,087 | $26.48 |
| 42 | Georgia | $59,523 | $28.62 |
| 43 | Utah | $62,965 | $30.27 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $59,312 | $28.52 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $51,822 | $24.91 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $56,545 | $27.19 |
| 47 | Colorado | $61,263 | $29.45 |
| 48 | Missouri | $56,058 | $26.95 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $56,417 | $27.12 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $50,108 | $24.09 |
| 51 | Alabama | $53,639 | $25.79 |
Highest paying cities for psychiatric nurses
The highest-paying cities for psychiatric nurses are Santa Rosa, CA, Newark, NJ, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $101,755 | $48.92 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $85,179 | $40.95 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $84,323 | $40.54 |
| 4 | Brentwood, NY | $80,732 | $38.81 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $77,257 | $37.14 |
| 6 | Irving, TX | $75,357 | $36.23 |
| 7 | Sparks, NV | $72,326 | $34.77 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $69,595 | $33.46 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $68,594 | $32.98 |
| 10 | Lakewood, WA | $67,334 | $32.37 |
| 11 | Danville, VA | $66,959 | $32.19 |
| 12 | Portland, ME | $66,954 | $32.19 |
| 13 | Warren, OH | $65,173 | $31.33 |
| 14 | Aurora, CO | $61,216 | $29.43 |
| 15 | Chattanooga, TN | $56,765 | $27.29 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $56,081 | $26.96 |
Psychiatric nurse salary details
A psychiatric nurse's salary ranges from $42,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $99,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a psychiatric nurse's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
| 75th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| Average | $64,922 | $5,410 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
Highest paying psychiatric nurse jobs
The highest paying types of psychiatric nurses are advanced registered nurse practitioner, registered nurse med/surg, and head nurse.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Coordinator | $79,040 | $6,587 | $38.00 | 428,775 |
| Nurse Clinician | $65,159 | $5,430 | $31.33 | 596,073 |
| Nurse Educator | $67,983 | $5,665 | $32.68 | 537,803 |
| Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner | $97,820 | $8,152 | $47.03 | 486,582 |
| Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | $71,342 | $5,945 | $34.30 | 645,134 |
| Registered Nurse Med/Surg | $84,812 | $7,068 | $40.78 | 515,200 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for psychiatric nurses, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Sophia Thomas
President, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
-Starting salaries for NPs are exceptional, and usually hover between $80,000-100,000, but that can vary significantly based on geographic location, work setting, and certification/specialty. Some salaries are higher.
-The bureau of labor statistics (BLS) offers an excellent breakdown of salaries by region and state as well: link
-(Note: some stats on the BLS website are reflective of the Mean or Average salary and others represent the Median or midpoint. AANP data are all reported in Median)
-As NPs advance in their careers, there is a clear and positive relationship between number of years' experience and salary growth.
Top companies hiring psychiatric nurses now:
Which companies pay psychiatric nurses the most?
Psychiatric nurse salaries at Highland General Hospital and Alameda Health System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average psychiatric nurse salary at companies like HealthTrust and Softpath System are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Highland General Hospital | $128,278 | $61.67 |
| 2 | Alameda Health System | $122,021 | $58.66 |
| 3 | HealthTrust | $82,596 | $39.71 |
| 4 | Softpath System | $82,581 | $39.70 |
| 5 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $77,833 | $37.42 |
| 6 | KPG | $77,537 | $37.28 |
| 7 | American Mobile Healthcare | $73,497 | $35.34 |
| 8 | All Medical Personnel | $72,487 | $34.85 |
| 9 | West Hawaii Community Health Center | $70,125 | $33.71 |
| 10 | Wexford Health Sources | $69,825 | $33.57 |
| 11 | Clinical Management Consultants | $68,928 | $33.14 |
| 12 | CFG Health Systems | $68,669 | $33.01 |
| 13 | New York State Restaurant Association | $67,547 | $32.47 |
| 14 | Mount Nittany Medical Center | $64,942 | $31.22 |
| 15 | Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers | $64,876 | $31.19 |
| 16 | Recovery Innovations | $64,527 | $31.02 |
| 17 | Medstar Health | $64,002 | $30.77 |
| 18 | HealthRIGHT 360 | $63,790 | $30.67 |
| 19 | Ansible by Red Hat | $63,728 | $30.64 |
| 20 | Horizon House | $62,864 | $30.22 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Psychiatric nurse salary trends
The average psychiatric nurse salary has risen by $9,088 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average psychiatric nurse earned $55,834 annually, but today, they earn $64,922 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for psychiatric nurses over the last decade.
Compare psychiatric nurse salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average psychiatric nurse salary over time
Compare psychiatric nurse salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Psychiatric nurse salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $64,900 | $31.21 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $63,200 | $30.37 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $61,800 | $29.72 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $60,300 | $29.00 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $59,000 | $28.36 | +1.4% |
Recently added psychiatric nurse salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County of Santa Barbara | Senior Psychiatric Nurse | Santa Barbara, CA | 06/28/2025 | $115,885 |
| Maine Health | Charge Nurse (RN)-Adolescent Boys Inpatient Psychiatric Unit | Westbrook, ME | 06/26/2025 | $20,000 |
| Fora Health | Nurse (Rn/Lpn) Complex Medical/Psychiatric Residential | Portland, OR | 06/25/2025 | $106,040 |
| County of Sonoma (Ca | Psychiatric Nurse | Santa Rosa, CA | 06/24/2025 | $152,338 |
| Global Connections To Employment | Injection Nurse-Psychiatric Support Services | Pensacola, FL | 06/19/2025 | $49,211 |
| Southlight | Psychiatric Nurse (RN) | Fayetteville, NC | 06/18/2025 | $75,132 |
| Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare | Psychiatric/Dd Nurse--Incentive-Pn20041492 | Athens, OH | 06/12/2025 | $69,810 |
| Pinnacle Health Systems | Psychiatric Staff Nurse-Upmc Western Psychiatric Hospital | Pittsburgh, PA | 06/12/2025 | $90,000 |
| Cenexel | Psychiatric Nurse, PRN (Night Shift) | Gaithersburg, MD | 06/11/2025 | $79,306 |
| State of Ohio | Psychiatric/Dd Nurse | Columbus, OH | 06/09/2025 | $69,810 |
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