Psychiatric aides
SOC Code: 31-1133
Psychiatric aides carries a 36% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $41,590 and -0.4% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 38,500 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Psychiatric aides (SOC 31-1133) carries an AI exposure score of 36%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 38,500 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -0.4% change through 2034 — a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $41,590, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Psychiatric aides. Public companies with meaningful exposure to this occupation, such as HCA Healthcare, Inc. and Natera, Inc., inherit a share of the same automation risk through their industry classification. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
- 2. Provide patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.
- 3. Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.
- 4. Restrain or aid patients as necessary to prevent injury.
- 5. Work as part of a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, or social workers.
- 6. Record and maintain patient information, such as vital signs, eating habits, behavior, progress notes, treatments, or discharge plans.
- 7. Maintain patients' restrictions to assigned areas.
- 8. Organize, supervise, or encourage patient participation in social, educational, or recreational activities.
- 9. Provide patients with assistance in bathing, dressing, or grooming, demonstrating these skills as necessary.
- 10. Aid patients in becoming accustomed to hospital routines.
Key Skills Required
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Coordination
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Knowledge Areas
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Administrative
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
- Philosophy and Theology
- Education and Training
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Psychiatric aides?
Psychiatric aides has an AI exposure score of 36%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Psychiatric aides?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Psychiatric aides is projected to decline by 0.4% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 38,500 workers.
What skills are needed for Psychiatric aides?
Key skills for Psychiatric aides include Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Psychiatric aides earn?
The median annual wage for Psychiatric aides is $41,590, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Psychiatric aides?
The typical entry-level education for Psychiatric aides is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Psychiatric aides?
Public companies with significant Psychiatric aides workforce shares include HCA Healthcare, Inc., Natera, Inc., LABCORP HOLDINGS INC., among others. These employers are mapped by industry classification (SIC/NAICS) to BLS occupation-industry employment distributions. See the full employer rankings for AI displacement risk grades.
Employers with High AI Exposure in This Occupation Group
Public companies whose industry occupation mix includes a significant share of Psychiatric aides roles.
| Company | AI Grade | Risk Score |
|---|---|---|
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. | B | 39.2% |
| Natera, Inc. | B | 39.2% |
| LABCORP HOLDINGS INC. | B | 39.2% |
| QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC | B | 39.2% |
| EXACT SCIENCES CORP | B | 39.2% |
| TENET HEALTHCARE CORP | B | 39.2% |
| Fresenius Medical Care AG | B | 39.2% |
| ENSIGN GROUP, INC | B | 39.2% |
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).