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Psychiatric Technicians: Career Overview
Care for individuals with mental or emotional conditions or disabilities, following the instructions of physicians or other health practitioners. Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report to medical staff. May participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs, help with personal hygiene, and administer oral or injectable medications.
The Daily Work of Psychiatric Technicians Take On?
The core tasks performed by psychiatric technicians cover:
- Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.
- Encourage patients to develop work skills and to participate in social, recreational, or other therapeutic activities that enhance interpersonal skills or develop social relationships.
- Restrain violent, potentially violent, or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required.
- Lead prescribed individual or group therapy sessions as part of specific therapeutic procedures.
- Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.
- Take and record measures of patients' physical condition, using devices such as thermometers or blood pressure gauges.
- Observe and influence patients' behavior, communicating and interacting with them and teaching, counseling, or befriending them.
- Aid patients in performing tasks, such as bathing or keeping beds, clothing, or living areas clean.
Skills and Knowledge
Top psychiatric technicians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Psychiatric Technicians Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Autism Behavior Technician (Autism Behavior Tech)
- BHT (Behavioral Health Technician)
- Behavior Technician (Behavior Tech)
- Behavioral Health Associate
- Behavioral Technician (Behavioral Tech)
- Counselor
- Health Care Technician (Health Care Tech)
- LPT (Licensed Psychiatric Technician)
Job Outlook
There are roughly 450,959 psychiatric technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +12.5% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Psychiatric Technicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $52,472 |
| Hourly median | $25.23 |
| 10th percentile | $29,367 |
| 25th percentile | $40,919 |
| 75th percentile | $64,024 |
| 90th percentile | $75,577 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $65,060 |
| California | $61,620 |
| New Jersey | $58,000 |
| New York | $57,630 |
| Massachusetts | $52,290 |
| Hawaii | $52,180 |
| Oregon | $51,640 |
| Washington | $51,000 |
| Connecticut | $50,170 |
| Alaska | $49,340 |
| Nebraska | $48,740 |
| Minnesota | $48,600 |
| Illinois | $48,550 |
| Rhode Island | $48,520 |
| New Hampshire | $48,340 |
| Colorado | $48,320 |
| Nevada | $47,820 |
| Vermont | $46,660 |
| Virginia | $46,040 |
| Georgia | $43,490 |
| Missouri | $43,300 |
| Maine | $43,260 |
| Arizona | $43,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,850 |
| Florida | $39,930 |
| Idaho | $39,740 |
| Iowa | $39,670 |
| North Carolina | $39,360 |
| Utah | $39,340 |
| Michigan | $39,230 |
| Indiana | $39,140 |
| Maryland | $39,020 |
| North Dakota | $38,770 |
| Wisconsin | $38,760 |
| Kansas | $38,700 |
| South Carolina | $38,540 |
| Texas | $38,460 |
| Tennessee | $37,970 |
| Montana | $37,850 |
| Kentucky | $37,850 |
| Ohio | $37,500 |
| New Mexico | $37,300 |
| Delaware | $37,020 |
| Oklahoma | $36,200 |
| Alabama | $35,200 |
| Arkansas | $33,090 |
| West Virginia | $30,890 |
| Louisiana | $30,040 |
| Mississippi | $29,970 |
Where Psychiatric Technicians Earn the Most
Pay for psychiatric technicians vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $57,039 | 11.2% | 0.90 |
| New England | $50,288 | 5.0% | 1.14 |
| Middle Atlantic | $46,505 | 9.5% | 1.05 |
| Plains States | $43,627 | 7.5% | 1.38 |
| Rocky Mountains | $42,153 | 3.6% | 1.14 |
| Great Lakes | $41,432 | 18.7% | 1.55 |
| Southwest | $40,006 | 15.0% | 1.55 |
| Southeast | $39,208 | 29.6% | 1.30 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | CA | $91,910 | 370 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $82,440 | 60 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $82,170 | 210 |
| Visalia, CA | CA | $77,340 | 260 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $75,420 | 440 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $71,330 | 880 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $71,090 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $70,370 | 750 |
Which Industries Hire Psychiatric Technicians
Most psychiatric technicians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 122,430 | $41,870 |
| Educational Services | 4,140 | $45,180 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,280 | $39,520 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of psychiatric technicians is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
- Physical Proximity
- Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How to Become Psychiatric Technicians
Typical psychiatric technicians positions require a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (Supplemental)
- Mental Health Counselors (Supplemental)
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (Supplemental)
- Occupational Therapists (Supplemental)
- Physical Therapists (Supplemental)
- Recreational Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Registered Nurses (Primary-Long)
- Acute Care Nurses (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Future psychiatric technicians often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2053.00 (Psychiatric Technicians).
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