Physical Therapist Aides vs Psychiatric Aides: $35K vs $45K Median Pay

Physical Therapist Aides vs Psychiatric Aides: what changes?

Consider Physical Therapist Aides if you want to under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. Consider Psychiatric Aides if you would rather assist mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients, working under direction of nursing and medical staff. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Physical Therapist Aides and Psychiatric Aides. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Physical Therapist Aides

National median pay (2025): $35,240
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 6,400

Know before you choose

The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

See the full Physical Therapist Aides brief

Psychiatric Aides

National median pay (2025): $44,910
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 4,900

Know before you choose

Exposure to illness or infection is a recurring part of the work context, even when safety procedures are followed.

See the full Psychiatric Aides brief

How the national numbers differ

Physical Therapist Aides has the edge on projected growth

Physical Therapist Aides is at 4% projected growth, compared with 1.9% projected growth for Psychiatric Aides.

Psychiatric Aides has the edge on median pay

Psychiatric Aides is at $44,910, compared with $35,240 for Physical Therapist Aides.

Physical Therapist Aides has the edge on annual openings

Physical Therapist Aides is at 6,400 annual openings, compared with 4,900 annual openings for Psychiatric Aides.

45.6/ 100

Physical Therapist Aides

42.9/ 100

Psychiatric Aides

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Physical Therapist Aides vs Psychiatric Aides

Dimension	Physical Therapist Aides	Psychiatric Aides
Median pay (2025)	$35,240	$44,910
Pay percentile	2.6 percentile	18 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	4%	1.9%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	6,400	4,900
2025 employment	49,000	36,900
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 2	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Physical Therapist Aides brief Read Psychiatric Aides brief

Physical Therapist Aides vs Psychiatric Aides: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Physical Therapist Aides

Psychiatric Aides

How the national numbers differ

Physical Therapist Aides has the edge on projected growth

Psychiatric Aides has the edge on median pay

Physical Therapist Aides has the edge on annual openings

Physical Therapist Aides vs Psychiatric Aides

Try another comparison

Physical Therapist Aides vs Occupational Therapy Aides

Psychiatric Aides vs Occupational Therapy Aides