Psychiatric Technicians: 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.
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What Tasks Do 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.
What Psychiatric Technicians Need to Know
Top psychiatric technicians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- 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)
How Many Psychiatric Technicians Are There?
There are about 450,959 psychiatric technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +12.5% over the projection horizon.
Psychiatric Technicians Pay
| 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for psychiatric technicians differ across the country. 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 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Psychiatric Technicians
| 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 work in these industries:
| 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 |
Below are examples of industries where psychiatric technicians work:
Software Psychiatric Technicians Use
- 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)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of psychiatric technicians reflects 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
Entry-level psychiatric technicians positions require a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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
Students preparing for psychiatric technicians commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
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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