Life As a Psychiatric Technician
Job Description & Duties 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.
List of Psychiatric Technician Job Duties
- Aid patients in performing tasks, such as bathing or keeping beds, clothing, or living areas clean.
- Escort patients to medical appointments.
- Restrain violent, potentially violent, or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required.
- Contact patients’ relatives to arrange family conferences.
- Interview new patients to complete admission forms, to assess their mental health status, or to obtain their mental health and treatment history.
- Lead prescribed individual or group therapy sessions as part of specific therapeutic procedures.
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What Every Psychiatric Technician Should Know
These are the skills Psychiatric Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:
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
- Psychiatric Technician (PT)
- Mental Health Technician (MHT)
- Mental Health Associate
- Mental Health Worker
- Health Care Technician
Job 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 5,600 job openings in this field each year.
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.
How Much Does a Psychiatric Technician Make?
The typical yearly salary for Psychiatric Technicians is somewhere between $22,800 and $64,430.
Psychiatric Technicians who work in California, Connecticut, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Psychiatric Technicians make in each U.S. state?
| 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 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
How to Become a Psychiatric Technician
What kind of Psychiatric Technician requirements are there?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Psychiatric Technician?
Psychiatric Technicians Sector
The table below shows the approximate number of Psychiatric Technicians employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Psychiatric Technician may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Psychiatric Technician sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Katie Spencer via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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