Psychiatric Aides pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,470 or more. The middle half of psychiatric aides in San Diego earn between $40,050 and $54,310.
- $36K10th
- $40K25th
- $46KMedian
- $54K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,770 | $4,231 | $24.41 |
| Median | $46,280 | $3,857 | $22.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,050 | $3,338 | $19.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $54,310 | $4,526 | $26.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Psychiatric Aides pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Psychiatric aides in San Diego earn 5% less than the California average ($53,670) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($45,690). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $44,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $50,770 | $46,280 | $36,020 | $77,470 | 130 |
| California | $53,670 | $47,500 | $39,030 | $77,220 | 3,760 |
| United States | $45,690 | $44,910 | $32,090 | $60,440 | 35,520 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Psychiatric Aides salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $50,770, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $41,735 a year, or $3,478 a month and $1,605 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for psychiatric aides? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $50,770 buys what about $45,376 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 18.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Psychiatric Aides salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 5th of 8 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($64,600).
- San Jose$64,600
- Fresno$55,970
- Riverside$55,900
- Merced$55,330
- San Diego$50,770
- Sacramento$49,470
- Los Angeles$49,030
- Redding$44,400
Highest-paying cities for psychiatric aides
Kiryas Joel, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($70,000).
- Kiryas Joel, NY$70,000
- San Jose, CA$64,600
- Utica, NY$61,510
- Waterbury, CT$57,770
- Trenton, NJ$57,750
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Psychiatric Aides salary in San Diego: questions
How much do psychiatric aides make an hour in San Diego?
$24.41 an hour on average, and $22.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level psychiatric aides salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the psychiatric aides take-home pay in San Diego?
About $41,735 a year ($3,478 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,770. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do psychiatric aides earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. average for this job ($45,690).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-1133; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.38, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.38).
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