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Assist mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients, working under direction of nursing and medical staff. May assist with daily living activities, lead patients in educational and recreational activities, or accompany patients to and from examinations and treatments. May restrain violent patients. Includes psychiatric orderlies.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65,770 | 2.0 % | $14.10 | $29,330 | 0.9 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $9.39 | $11.14 | $13.04 | $16.61 | $20.80 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $19,520 | $23,160 | $27,110 | $34,550 | $43,270 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | 23,500 | 9.82 | $15.57 | $32,380 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 19,240 | 0.88 | $13.37 | $27,810 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | 9,140 | 1.46 | $12.35 | $25,690 |
| Individual and Family Services | 2,960 | 0.13 | $10.47 | $21,780 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 1,580 | 0.03 | $13.41 | $27,890 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | 23,500 | 9.82 | $15.57 | $32,380 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | 9,140 | 1.46 | $12.35 | $25,690 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 19,240 | 0.88 | $13.37 | $27,810 |
| Other Residential Care Facilities | 530 | 0.33 | $12.90 | $26,840 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | 750 | 0.23 | $12.01 | $24,980 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | (8) | (8) | $16.24 | $33,780 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | 23,500 | 9.82 | $15.57 | $32,380 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | (8) | (8) | $14.73 | $30,640 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 1,080 | 0.12 | $14.69 | $30,550 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 70 | (7) | $14.39 | $29,940 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 13,840 | 1.16 | 2.52 | $12.74 | $26,510 |
| New York | 5,600 | 0.61 | 1.32 | $20.13 | $41,860 |
| Florida | 4,050 | 0.48 | 1.04 | $11.83 | $24,610 |
| Mississippi | 3,440 | 3.07 | 6.66 | $9.22 | $19,170 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,650 | 0.46 | 0.99 | $16.08 | $33,450 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 3,440 | 3.07 | 6.66 | $9.22 | $19,170 |
| Montana | 960 | 2.09 | 4.53 | $13.83 | $28,760 |
| West Virginia | 1,050 | 1.52 | 3.31 | $10.19 | $21,190 |
| Vermont | 380 | 1.25 | 2.71 | $13.79 | $28,690 |
| Texas | 13,840 | 1.16 | 2.52 | $12.74 | $26,510 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 510 | 0.18 | 0.39 | $20.74 | $43,140 |
| New York | 5,600 | 0.61 | 1.32 | $20.13 | $41,860 |
| Hawaii | 420 | 0.67 | 1.45 | $19.15 | $39,840 |
| Oregon | 1,920 | 1.05 | 2.27 | $18.61 | $38,710 |
| Connecticut | 1,420 | 0.86 | 1.86 | $17.80 | $37,030 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 3,080 | 0.46 | 1.00 | $20.34 | $42,320 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 1,720 | 0.69 | 1.50 | $12.34 | $25,660 |
| Jackson, MS | 1,690 | 6.42 | 13.92 | $9.23 | $19,200 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 1,440 | 0.49 | 1.07 | $12.78 | $26,580 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 1,160 | 1.16 | 2.52 | $14.06 | $29,240 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 1,150 | 0.31 | 0.68 | $13.13 | $27,320 |
| Salem, OR | 1,130 | 6.85 | 14.85 | $18.97 | $39,470 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1,080 | 1.08 | 2.34 | $13.41 | $27,880 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 950 | 9.51 | 20.61 | $12.72 | $26,460 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 950 | 1.42 | 3.08 | $11.80 | $24,540 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita Falls, TX | 780 | 13.83 | 29.97 | $12.48 | $25,960 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 950 | 9.51 | 20.61 | $12.72 | $26,460 |
| Salem, OR | 1,130 | 6.85 | 14.85 | $18.97 | $39,470 |
| Jackson, MS | 1,690 | 6.42 | 13.92 | $9.23 | $19,200 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 420 | 3.37 | 7.31 | $23.61 | $49,110 |
| Albany, OR | 100 | 2.38 | 5.16 | $18.44 | $38,360 |
| El Paso, TX | 580 | 1.93 | 4.18 | $11.95 | $24,860 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 230 | 1.67 | 3.63 | $19.02 | $39,560 |
| Eugene, OR | 230 | 1.52 | 3.30 | $18.45 | $38,370 |
| Tulsa, OK | 640 | 1.50 | 3.26 | $9.80 | $20,380 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utica-Rome, NY | 420 | 3.37 | 7.31 | $23.61 | $49,110 |
| Dutchess County-Putnam County, NY Metropolitan Division | 40 | 0.28 | 0.61 | $22.49 | $46,780 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 3,080 | 0.46 | 1.00 | $20.34 | $42,320 |
| Rochester, NY | 140 | 0.27 | 0.59 | $20.10 | $41,800 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 200 | 0.48 | 1.04 | $19.29 | $40,130 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 390 | 0.86 | 1.85 | $19.18 | $39,900 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 230 | 1.67 | 3.63 | $19.02 | $39,560 |
| Salem, OR | 1,130 | 6.85 | 14.85 | $18.97 | $39,470 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 340 | 0.30 | 0.64 | $18.95 | $39,410 |
| Syracuse, NY | 160 | 0.53 | 1.14 | $18.93 | $39,370 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 1,620 | 8.37 | 18.15 | $12.74 | $26,500 |
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 1,040 | 5.46 | 11.83 | $12.88 | $26,790 |
| Southeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 970 | 6.48 | 14.04 | $9.17 | $19,080 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | 850 | 6.28 | 13.61 | $13.77 | $28,630 |
| North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 780 | 2.91 | 6.31 | $12.26 | $25,500 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 1,620 | 8.37 | 18.15 | $12.74 | $26,500 |
| Southeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 970 | 6.48 | 14.04 | $9.17 | $19,080 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | 850 | 6.28 | 13.61 | $13.77 | $28,630 |
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 1,040 | 5.46 | 11.83 | $12.88 | $26,790 |
| Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | 540 | 3.73 | 8.08 | $19.82 | $41,220 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $19.86 | $41,310 |
| Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | 540 | 3.73 | 8.08 | $19.82 | $41,220 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 250 | 0.89 | 1.93 | $18.94 | $39,390 |
| Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.25 | 0.53 | $18.08 | $37,610 |
| Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 0.58 | 1.25 | $17.73 | $36,870 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018