Psychiatric Aides
Machines can already do 18% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 44%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Psychiatric Aides in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 18% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2037, and 44% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 35,520 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $44,910 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 82% for contact with people.
- Also called: Developmental Aide, Mental Health Aide (MHA), Mental Health Worker (MHW), Psychiatric Aide.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff | 16% | 3% to 30% | |
| Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients | 13% | 10% to 27% | |
| Record and maintain patient information, such as vital signs, eating habits, behavior, progress notes, treatments, or discharge plans | 9% | 70% to 95% | |
| Work as part of a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, or social workers | 7% | 30% to 54% | |
| Organize, supervise, or encourage patient participation in social, educational, or recreational activities | 7% | 10% to 27% | |
| Provide patients with assistance in bathing, dressing, or grooming, demonstrating these skills as necessary | 7% | 3% to 30% | |
| Serve meals or feed patients needing assistance or persuasion | 7% | 20% to 60% | |
| Provide patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff | 5% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills psychiatric aides use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Nannies42% of tasks by 2035 · US median $34,980
- Manicurists and Pedicurists41% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,760
- Teaching Assistants, Special Education41% of tasks by 2035
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses33% of tasks by 2035 · US median $64,400
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Psychiatric Aides?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2037. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of psychiatric aides?
Machines can do 18% of the tasks of psychiatric aides today and 44% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 31-1133.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Psychiatric Aides: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/psychiatric-aides/