Occupation salary profile

Psychiatric Technicians

SOC 29-2053 BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

National median · BLS
$45,130
▲ +5.96% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$46,610
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
156,960
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Psychiatric Technicians

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$35,090
25th$38,430
Median (50th)$45,130
75th$50,160
90th — top pay$60,750

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Psychiatric Technicians

BLS projects employment of psychiatric technicians to grow 22.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 17,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
161,500 → 197,500
+36,000 jobs
Projected change
+22.3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
17,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Plus less than 5 years experience
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a postsecondary certificate (nondegree award) →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Psychiatric Technicians

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Social Perceptiveness4.1
  • Active Listening4.0
  • Monitoring4.0
  • Coordination3.9
  • Speaking3.9
  • Reading Comprehension3.8
  • Critical Thinking3.6
  • Service Orientation3.6
  • Instructing3.3
  • Writing3.3
Top knowledge areas
  • Psychology4.2
  • Therapy and Counseling4.1
  • English Language4.1
  • Customer and Personal Service4.0
  • Medicine and Dentistry3.7
  • Education and Training3.5
  • Public Safety and Security3.5
  • Law and Government3.2
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordADL Data Systems OptimumClinicals Electronic Health RecordAllscripts SunriseCerner ProFileEpic EpicCare Inpatient Clinical SystemGE Healthcare Centricity EMRICANotesInfoLogix HealthTrax EngineMEDITECH Behavioral Health ClinicalsNetsmart Technologies Avatar Clinical Workstation CWS

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What psychiatric technicians do

  • 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.
Also called
Mental Health AssociateMental Health Technician (MHT)MHW (Mental Health Worker)Psychiatric Technician (PT)BHT (Behavioral Health Technician)Health Care Technician (Health Care Tech)LPT (Licensed Psychiatric Technician)Mental Health SpecialistMHA (Mental Health Assistant)Residential Aide (RA)
More job titles for this occupation (14)
Autism Behavior Technician (Autism Behavior Tech)Behavior Technician (Behavior Tech)Behavioral Health AssociateBehavioral Technician (Behavioral Tech)CounselorMilieu TherapistPatient Care SpecialistPsychiatric AssistantPsychiatric Safety Tech (Psychiatric Safety Technician)Psychology AssociatePsychology Technician (Psychology Tech)RBT (Registered Behavior Technician)Rehabilitation Technician (Rehab Tech)Support Team Member (STM)

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.