Hello there, welcome to another excellent read examining the topic: How Much Does a Psychiatric Nurse Make?
Today, we’ll walk you through every aspect of an average Psychiatric Nurse Salary.
We’ll cover Behavioral Health Nurse salary by location, level of education, years of experience, and industry, just to mention a few, and why you may want to pursue this nursing career.
We’ll take you through:
- How does work experience impact the annual salary of a Psychiatric Nurse?
- How Psychiatric Nurses work and earn with additional certificates
- Psychiatric Nurse salary by the level of education
- The effect of the workplace on the salary of Psychiatric Registered Nurse
Let’s get started right away!
An Overview of Psychiatric Nurse Salary
Being a Mental Nurse needs a certain kind of compassion and advanced practice.
Psych Nurses help people with mental illnesses manage their complicated emotional and medical needs.
Psychiatric nursing is a rewarding vocation that provides daily variation and new challenges.
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner evaluates, carries out assessments on patients, and develops treatment plans and care plans as part of an interdisciplinary medical team.
They also provide professional nursing care to assigned patients, including psychiatric inpatients and outpatients, who have different levels of intellectual and developmental disabilities or mental health illnesses.
A Psychiatric Nurse may also be in charge of supervising lower-level Clinical Nurses.
This nursing career path requires the completion of a particular nursing program curriculum.
A manager or the head of a unit is usually the person they report to.
Although years of experience for Psychiatric Nurses may be unclear however the most important criterion is certification and licensure in the position’s specialization.
Salary for Psychiatric Nurses varies depending on your years of experience, level of education, location, and employer size.
The average annual salary for Registered Nurses is $83,100, or $39.95 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Regrettably, the BLS does not distinguish between various sorts of Nurses.
According to Payscale, the average annual salary for a Nurse working in substance abuse or mental health facility is $67,200 this was the report as of 2020.
In the United States, currently, the average salary for a Psychiatric Nurse is $105,200 per year, including $11,249.9 in overtime.
This may vary by region.
According to Indeed, the average Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner’s compensation is $143,300 per year, making it one of the highest-paying nursing jobs.
Psych RN Salary is boosted by pay differentials.
For charge duties, evening or night shifts, or mentoring new Nurses, they are added to the base salary hourly rate.
Having a Bachelor’s degree (BSN) or Master’s degree (MSN) can sometimes get you a greater salary.
Depending on the demand for Nurses, sign-on bonuses may be provided.
Nurses are also entitled to overtime pay in some situations.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Salary by Years of Experience
In general, Psychiatric Nurses are compensated based on their years of experience and work history.
As earlier discussed, a new Psych RN will earn anywhere from $14,900 to $35,100 less than their more experienced colleagues.
Naturally, an RN’s salary is expected to rise by 30 percent to 59.9 percent throughout the course of their nursing career.
However, it’s difficult to say how much of this rise is due to increasing experience because most RNs also pursue additional educational qualifications and certifications while working.
Senior RNs with healthcare leadership experience can also benefit from taking on new responsibilities.
Become a Nurse Manager or Charge Nurse, for instance.
The average salary for a Charge Nurse on an inpatient unit is $104,000.
Psychiatric Charge Nurse salaries range from $87,900 to $118,200 per year.
Psych Nurse Salary by Education
Nurses can supplement their base salary by investing in education.
Bachelor’s Degree vs Associate’s Degree
Those pursuing an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) as a road to becoming an RN should be aware that they will most certainly earn less than those with a bachelor’s degree.
At each professional stage, the ADN RN will earn about $4,999 less on average.
Psychiatric NPs and Psychiatry Advanced Practice Nurses
In most cases, a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is involved in diagnosing, assessing, and prescribing therapies for mentally ill patients.
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses are another name for them.
They spend part of their day reviewing patients and communicating with not only the patients but also their families.
Nurses who want to specialize in psychiatry will usually pursue post-graduate degree education.
The minimal criterion for seeking the job title certification is an MSN (Master’s degree), which opens the door to additional clinical responsibility and a higher salary.
The post-graduate Nurse Practitioner certificate is usually completed by the majority of Nurse Practitioners.
The average income for Psych APRNs is $108,700, with the majority of wages ranging between $97,300 and $118,900.
Variation exists, similar to that seen with psychiatry RNs.
Salaries in this position are mostly determined by the level of clinical responsibility performed.
Psychiatric Nurse Pay with Additional Certifications
Three certifications have been demonstrated to have the most impact on an RN’s income in the mental health field.
CPR/BLS (Basic Life Support Core knowledge) Certification
Psychiatric Nurses who have earned certification in basic life-saving and cardiac resuscitation procedures earn $1,499 to $2,100 more per year than those who have not.
PMHNP-BC (ANCC Psychiatric–mental Health Nursing Board Certification)
The PMHNP-BC is a competency-based exam that evaluates a Registered Nurse’s understanding of psychiatry.
The certification is valid for just thirty-six months and must be renewed every thirty-six months.
Obtaining this qualification can boost a Nurse’s annual salary by up to $1,999 per year.
PMHNP (Psychiatry Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) Certification
Since 2018, the number of jobs requiring a Nurse Practitioner certification has increased by over 200 percent, with those with this credential earning on average 27.5 percent more than their colleagues.
The typical income varies based on the data source, but it is estimated to be around $119,700 on average, with top achievers making up to $185,100.
The pay a Nurse Practitioner can earn is determined by their location and work environment.
Nurse Practitioners in private practice have a lot of chances, with a lot of Nurse Practitioners reporting salaries of above $150,100.
Psychiatric Nurse Salary by State
The typical income range for Psychiatric Nurses in the United States is $57,600 to $159,000 as of April 2022.
The national average annual salary is $108,300.
Psychiatric Nurses in the United States can expect to earn between $38.5 and $48.5 per hour on an hourly basis.
The hourly pay averages $43.5 per hour.
The average wage for entry-level Psych Nurses or new graduates is $64,200, with the majority earning between $57,600 and $73,400.
Salaries for Psychiatric Nurses vary by state, as they do for other vocations.
When comparing wage statistics from different states, there are several variables to consider.
The average annual salary of a Psychiatric Nurse in different states is presented below.
One significant impact of working as a Psychiatric Nurse is the location of your work environment and also the region’s cost of living.
Due to the rising cost of living, a paycheck may have a larger absolute worth than its monetary value suggests.
This is something to consider when looking for a job.
Another factor to consider is state tax rules; Alaskans, for instance, are exempt from state sales and income taxes.
This makes it an appealing alternative, particularly if you enjoy the cold.
- California average Psychiatric Nurse Salary (Psychiatric Nurse Salary California): $103,350
- Washington average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $97,600
- District of Columbia average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $101,700
- Hawaii’s average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $95,900
- Massachusetts average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $99,400
- Oregon average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $91,000
- Alaska’s non-metropolitan areas (rural areas outside of Alaska’s most populated cities, which include Fairbanks, Anchorage, Ketchikan, and Juneau) average income for a Psychiatric Nurse is $102,400
- Nevada average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $93,700
- New Jersey average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $101,000
- Connecticut average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $98,900
- Kansas average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $86,700
- Mississippi average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $79,500
- Pennsylvania average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $91,000
- Rhode Island average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $96,300
- South Carolina average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $85,500
- Wisconsin average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $90,000
- Wyoming average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $81,300
- Indiana average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $89,300
- Michigan average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $93,500
- New York average Psychiatric Nurse Salary (Psychiatric Nurse salary NYC): $98,100
- Texas average Psychiatric Nurse Salary (Psychiatric Nurse salary Texas): $89,700
- Florida average Psychiatric Nurse Salary (Psychiatric Nurse salary Florida): $86,800
- Alabama average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $85,900
- South Dakota average Psychiatric Nurse Salary: $78,200
Alaska, with an average income of $102,400 for Psychiatric Nurses, is the highest-paying state.
California, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia are very close to Alaska.
The cost of living in all three places is significantly higher than the national average.
South Dakota, with an average compensation of $78,200, is the state with the lowest pay for Psychiatric Nurses, followed by Mississippi and Wyoming.
The cost of living is either negative or low in all three.
Psychiatric Nurse Jobs and Salary Outlook
The mental health system is at an intense breaking point, with so many nursing specialty services at capacity, several treatment alternatives, insufficient bed numbers, and widespread scarcity of clinical and home care health professionals.
This has resulted in many people with mental health issues in desperate need of assistance not receiving it.
Generally, in the mental health field, there are substantial staffing shortages.
Nurses who work in psychiatric facilities are no exception.
Sadly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not break down the RN category into individual specialties like psychiatric nursing, but the numbers provided did offer some information.
To fulfill demand, it was estimated in 2020 that nursing numbers would need to expand by 7-9 percent over the next ten years.
Those who work in the mental health field feel this to be a massive understatement.
Because of the existing shortages, Nurse Practitioners working in mental health are taking on greater responsibilities.
To cope with the influx of patients, it is estimated that the number of practicing Nurse Practitioners will need to expand by 40-44.9 percent over the next ten years.
Another Factor that Affects Psychiatric Job Salary
The mental health system was already on weak ground before the COVD-19 pandemic.
Right now the pandemic has transformed that mushy ground into quicksand.
The number of young people experiencing loneliness and isolation increased to an alarming 65 percent, along with the mental health concerns that came with it.
As a result of the impacts of loneliness and isolation, it was projected that 39.9 percent of U.S. adults were suffering from substance abuse or mental illness in June 2020, up from the pre-pandemic era.
Anxiety affected more than 10 percent of adults in the United States back in December 2019.
This had increased by 32 percent by December 2020. In just three months, depression increased from 9.99 percent to 18.99 percent.
The chance for Nurses who want to transition into this specialization is massive.
Conclusion
The psychiatric nursing profession is vibrant and challenging, and it is one that anyone interested in working in the medical field should give some serious consideration to be a part of.
Since Psychiatric Nurses are in such high demand, there is lots of room for progression in the field.
In order to concentrate on a specific subject, there are numerous sub-specialties to select from, each specialization has its own set of financial benefits.
FAQs
What is a Certified Psychiatric Nurse Salary?
In the United States, the average compensation for a Psychiatric Nurse is $146,700 per year, with an additional $11,249.9 in overtime pay per year. This is according to 26,401 salaries reported as of April 1, 2022.
Do Psych Nurses Get Paid More?
Late-career mental health nurses, for instance, earn more than $16,100 per year on average than entry-level positions. The average salary for Mental Health Nurses is higher than that of Practice Nurse Assistants and Licensed Vocational Nurses.
How Much Do Psych Nurses Make in San Francisco?
In San Francisco, CA, the average salary for a Psychiatric Nurse is $153,500 per year, with an additional $11,436.9 per year for overtime.
Do Psychiatric Nurses Make Good Money?
It depends on the mental capacity of the clinic, hospital, or institution to pay a salary, but because of the demanding nature of their duties, their salaries are usually a little higher and very good.
How Much Do Psych Nurses Make in Texas?
In Texas, the average salary for a Psychiatric Nurse is $74,000 per year, with an additional $5,106.9 in overtime compensation every year.
How Much Do Psych Ward Nurses Make?
In the U.S., an entry-level Psychiatric Nurse can earn an average of $62,300 per year, or $30.1 per hour while experienced Psychiatric Nurses can earn as high as $159,100 a year. The richest ten percent earn more than $86,100 a year, while the bottom ten percent earn less than $44,100.
How Much Does Psychiatric Nurse Make in California?
According to approximately 340 wages reported as of March 31, 2022, the 90th percentile of Psychiatric Nurses in California made over $159,100 per year, with $11,249.9 in overtime per year.
What is Mental Health RN Salary?
In the United States, the average salary for a Registered Mental Health Nurse is $88,600 per year, with an additional $10,749.9 in overtime pay every year.
What is Psychiatric Nurse Hourly Pay?
As of February 25, 2022, the average hourly wage for a Staff Nurse – RN – Psychiatric Unit in the United States is $38.1, but the range usually ranges between $35.1 and $43.1.
What is a Psychiatric Nurse Salary?
In the U.S., an entry-level Psychiatric Nurse can earn an average of $62,300 per year, or $30.1 per hour while experienced Psychiatric Nurses can earn as high as $159,100 a year. The richest ten percent earn more than $86,100 a year, while the bottom ten percent earn less than $44,100.
What kind of Nurses Get Paid the Most?
The highest paying nursing career is that of a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist). This is due to the fact that Nurse Anesthetists are advanced and highly-skilled Registered Nurses who collaborate closely with medical staff during medical operations requiring anesthesia.
Are Psychiatric Nurses in Demand?
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, there are over 5,750 Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in the mental health field, with more than 6,499 Practitioners needed to fill them. So, yes! Psychiatric Nurses are in demand.
Where Do Psych Nurses Get Paid the Most?
Alaska, with an average income of $102,400 for Psychiatric Nurses, is the highest-paying state. California, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia are very close to Alaska.
