Psychiatric Aides Salary
The median pay for a psychiatric aides in Florida is $37,930/year ($18.24/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $38,476 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 60.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $38K actually covers in Florida, month by month
About psychiatric aides
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What this looks like in Florida
Pay for psychiatric aides in Florida runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $45K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,658/month, which is 61.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for psychiatric aidess.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level psychiatric aides (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $9K spread from bottom to top.
Psychiatric Aides salary by metro in Florida
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $39K | +4% | 170 |
| Jacksonville | $38K | -0% | 410 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a psychiatric aide afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 61.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for psychiatric aides in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new psychiatric aides typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,558/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 65% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is psychiatric aide a high-paying job in Florida?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $38K here vs. $45K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for psychiatric aides?
Florida pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — below the national median.
How much do psychiatric aides make in Florida?
The median is $37,930 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,670, and experienced psychiatric aides can clear $44,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,710/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 61.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a psychiatric aides salary go in Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median psychiatric aides salary is worth about $38,476 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do psychiatric aides get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.