What You Need to Know About Psychiatric Technician
Psychiatric Technician Job Description 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.
A Day in the Life of a Psychiatric Technician
- Escort patients to medical appointments.
- Collaborate with or assist doctors, psychologists, or rehabilitation therapists in working with mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or developmentally disabled patients to treat, rehabilitate, and return patients to the community.
- Contact patients’ relatives to arrange family conferences.
- Monitor patients’ physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.
- Train or instruct new employees on procedures to follow with psychiatric patients.
- Develop or teach strategies to promote client wellness and independence.
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Things a Psychiatric Technician Should Know How to Do
When polled, Psychiatric Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles
- Milieu Therapist
- Residential Aide (RA)
- Psychiatric Technician (Psych Tech)
- Psychiatric Technician (PT)
- Behavioral Health Technician
Is There Going to be Demand for Psychiatric Technicians?
In the United States, there were 66,100 jobs for Psychiatric Technician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,900 new jobs for Psychiatric Technician by 2026. The BLS estimates 5,600 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Psychiatric Technician are Washington, Arizona, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Illinois, or Tennessee. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Psychiatric Technician
The average yearly salary of a Psychiatric Technician ranges between $22,800 and $64,430.
Psychiatric Technicians who work in California, Connecticut, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Psychiatric Technicians in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,390 |
| Alaska | $38,940 |
| Arizona | $34,210 |
| Arkansas | $28,570 |
| California | $64,500 |
| Colorado | $37,980 |
| Connecticut | $54,130 |
| Delaware | $32,970 |
| District of Columbia | $50,490 |
| Florida | $29,680 |
| Georgia | $30,330 |
| Hawaii | $38,230 |
| Idaho | $29,880 |
| Illinois | $44,400 |
| Indiana | $30,610 |
| Iowa | $31,860 |
| Kansas | $28,060 |
| Kentucky | $29,680 |
| Louisiana | $27,330 |
| Maine | $28,830 |
| Maryland | $35,800 |
| Massachusetts | $45,220 |
| Michigan | $40,250 |
| Minnesota | $38,800 |
| Mississippi | $29,290 |
| Missouri | $31,050 |
| Montana | $27,280 |
| Nebraska | $30,220 |
| Nevada | $33,090 |
| New Jersey | $45,870 |
| New Mexico | $28,790 |
| New York | $44,100 |
| North Carolina | $33,460 |
| North Dakota | $31,590 |
| Ohio | $34,990 |
| Oklahoma | $26,510 |
| Oregon | $47,710 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,340 |
| Rhode Island | $39,380 |
| South Carolina | $34,980 |
| Tennessee | $26,730 |
| Texas | $32,500 |
| Utah | $27,660 |
| Vermont | $40,000 |
| Virginia | $30,650 |
| Washington | $40,990 |
| West Virginia | $23,440 |
| Wisconsin | $33,990 |
What Tools & Technology do Psychiatric Technicians Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Psychiatric Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- Allscripts Sunrise Clinical Manager
- ICANotes
- Cerner ProFile
- Epic EpicCare Inpatient Clinical System
- ADL Data Systems OptimumClinicals Electronic Health Record
- MEDITECH Behavioral Health Clinicals
- Netsmart Technologies Avatar Clinical Workstation CWS
Becoming a Psychiatric Technician
What education is needed to be a Psychiatric Technician?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Psychiatric Technician?
Where Psychiatric Technicians Work
Below are examples of industries where Psychiatric Technicians work:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Psychiatric Technician might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as a Psychiatric Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Katie Spencer via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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