Psychiatric Aides Salary
The median pay for a psychiatric aides in Hattiesburg, MS is $31,380/year ($15.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $37K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.63), which stretches that salary to about $35,810 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,047/month, about 48.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $31K get you in Hattiesburg?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Hattiesburg’s Regional Price Parity (87.63). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About psychiatric aides
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Hattiesburg
Pay for psychiatric aides in Hattiesburg runs about 30% below the U.S. median of $45K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,047/month, which is 48.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.63 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for psychiatric aidess.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for psychiatric aides in metros near Hattiesburg, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $32K | $35K |
| Gulfport-Biloxi | $32K | $35K |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $28K | $31K |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $36K | $41K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hattiesburg, MS
Entry-level psychiatric aides (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $37K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Psychiatric Aides pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Psychiatric Aides salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $55K | +23% | 620 |
| Washington | $53K | +17% | 330 |
| Hawaii | $52K | +16% | 30 |
| Maryland | $51K | +15% | 250 |
| Nevada | $51K | +14% | 220 |
| Rhode Island | $51K | +14% | 130 |
| New York | $50K | +12% | 5,120 |
| Alaska | $49K | +10% | 190 |
| Illinois | $49K | +8% | 120 |
| Oregon | $48K | +8% | 1,550 |
| Vermont | $48K | +7% | 330 |
| California | $48K | +6% | 3,760 |
| Maine | $47K | +4% | 110 |
| Montana | $46K | +3% | 330 |
| Colorado | $46K | +3% | 300 |
| Michigan | $46K | +2% | 1,410 |
| New Jersey | $46K | +2% | 2,060 |
| Massachusetts | $45K | +1% | 950 |
| Oklahoma | $45K | +0% | N/A |
| Indiana | $45K | -0% | 1,930 |
| Pennsylvania | $45K | -0% | 1,620 |
| Connecticut | $45K | -1% | 520 |
| Texas | $43K | -5% | 1,760 |
| Utah | $41K | -9% | 130 |
| Missouri | $40K | -11% | 110 |
| Iowa | $39K | -13% | 400 |
| Kentucky | $39K | -14% | 250 |
| Ohio | $38K | -14% | 980 |
| North Carolina | $38K | -14% | N/A |
| Kansas | $38K | -15% | 580 |
| Florida | $38K | -16% | 2,210 |
| West Virginia | $38K | -16% | 220 |
| Virginia | $37K | -17% | N/A |
| Georgia | $37K | -18% | 1,090 |
| South Carolina | $36K | -19% | 200 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -19% | 490 |
| Mississippi | $31K | -32% | 2,490 |
| Louisiana | $30K | -33% | 280 |
| Alabama | $27K | -40% | 790 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track psychiatric aides salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hattiesburg numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
Can a psychiatric aide afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hattiesburg?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $31K, rent takes 48.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,047/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for psychiatric aides in Hattiesburg?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new psychiatric aides typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,460/month. At HUD’s $1,047/month FMR, rent would take 72% 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 Hattiesburg?
Local pay runs 30% below the national median — $31K here vs. $45K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Hattiesburg compare to the national average for psychiatric aides?
Hattiesburg pays $31K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s -30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.63), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — below the national median.
How much do psychiatric aides make in Hattiesburg, MS?
The median is $31,380 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,340, and experienced psychiatric aides can clear $36,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Hattiesburg?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,148/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,047/month, which eats 48.7% 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 Hattiesburg?
Hattiesburg has a Regional Price Parity of 87.63 (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 $35,810 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.