Jobs Similar to Psychiatric Aides
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to psychiatric aides, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Psychiatric Technicians, Occupational Therapy Assistants and Occupational Therapy Aides.
Psychiatric Aides: $44,910 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Psychiatric Aides) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychiatric Technicians | 83% | $45,1300% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | 83% | $72,300+61% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Occupational Therapy Aides | 80% | $39,160−13% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Recreational Therapists | 80% | $61,960+38% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 80% | $64,400+43% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Registered Nurses | 79% | $97,550+117% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Midwives | 79% | $65,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists | 79% | $100,330Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Healthcare Social Workers | 79% | $67,880+51% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Nursing AssistantsSame group | 79% | $42,260−6% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 78% | $60,280+34% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Nurse Midwives | 78% | $134,040+198% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 78% | $59,550+33% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Social and Human Service Assistants | 78% | $45,930+2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Occupational Therapists | 78% | $100,330+123% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | 78% | $48,430Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 17 | Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 78% | $64,830+44% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Adapted Physical Education Specialists | 77% | $76,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Patient Representatives | 77% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 20 | Acute Care Nurses | 77% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Psychiatric Technicians
83% similar · $45,130 (0%) · Training or associate
- 2Occupational Therapy Assistants
83% similar · $72,300 (+61%) · Training or associate
- 3Occupational Therapy Aides
80% similar · $39,160 (−13%) · Training or associate
- 4Recreational Therapists
80% similar · $61,960 (+38%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
80% similar · $64,400 (+43%) · Training or associate
- 6Registered Nurses
79% similar · $97,550 (+117%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Midwives
79% similar · $65,790 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 8Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
79% similar · $100,330 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 9Healthcare Social Workers
79% similar · $67,880 (+51%) · Graduate degree
- 10Nursing Assistants
79% similar · $42,260 (−6%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 11Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
78% similar · $60,280 (+34%) · Graduate degree
- 12Nurse Midwives
78% similar · $134,040 (+198%) · Graduate degree
- 13Child, Family, and School Social Workers
78% similar · $59,550 (+33%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Social and Human Service Assistants
78% similar · $45,930 (+2%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Occupational Therapists
78% similar · $100,330 (+123%) · Graduate degree
- 16Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
78% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 17Special Education Teachers, Preschool
78% similar · $64,830 (+44%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Adapted Physical Education Specialists
77% similar · $76,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Patient Representatives
77% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 20Acute Care Nurses
77% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for psychiatric aides also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where psychiatric aides is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Psychiatric Technicians (90)
- Physical Therapist Aides (87)
- Occupational Therapy Aides (84)
- Nannies (79)
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (79)
- Childcare Workers (74)
- Patient Representatives (74)
- Social and Human Service Assistants (74)
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (73)
- School Bus Monitors (72)
Questions about jobs like psychiatric aides
What jobs are most similar to psychiatric aides?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Psychiatric Technicians (83% similar), Occupational Therapy Assistants (83% similar), Occupational Therapy Aides (80% similar), Recreational Therapists (80% similar) and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (80% similar).
Which jobs like psychiatric aides pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Nurse Midwives ($134,040, +198%; usually a graduate degree), Occupational Therapists ($100,330, +123%; usually a graduate degree) and Registered Nurses ($97,550, +117%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with psychiatric aides ($44,910).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.