Psychiatric Technicians Career, Salary and Skills
Psychiatric Technicians have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $45,130 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 156,960. Wage data is published for 276 locations.
Occupation 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.
O*NET code
29-2053.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Some College Courses
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$45,130
Hourly median
$21.70
Employment
156,960
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.12 | 4.25 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Coordination | 3.88 | 3.25 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Service Orientation | 3.62 | 3.50 |
| Writing | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Instructing | 3.25 | 3.38 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology
- ADL Data Systems OptimumClinicals Electronic Health Record
- Allscripts Sunrise
- Cerner ProFile
- Epic EpicCare Inpatient Clinical System
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- ICANotes
- InfoLogix HealthTrax Engine
- MEDITECH Behavioral Health Clinicals
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Netsmart Technologies Avatar Clinical Workstation CWS
Psychiatric Technicians salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Psychiatric Technicians Salary in CAMedian $49,140 · Employment 14,100
- Psychiatric Technicians Salary in FLMedian $43,570 · Employment 12,710
- Psychiatric Technicians Salary in TXMedian $39,970 · Employment 11,350
- Psychiatric Technicians Salary in PAMedian $43,930 · Employment 10,340
- Psychiatric Technicians Salary in ILMedian $46,200 · Employment 9,410
- Psychiatric Technicians Salary in AZMedian $45,640 · Employment 8,160
- Psychiatric Technicians Salary in INMedian $40,910 · Employment 6,790
- Psychiatric Technicians Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $46,060 · Employment 6,730
- Psychiatric Technicians Salary in Phoenix, AZMedian $46,550 · Employment 6,630
- Psychiatric Technicians Salary in NCMedian $40,630 · Employment 5,950
- Psychiatric Technicians Salary in GAMedian $46,250 · Employment 5,560
- Psychiatric Technicians Salary in MAMedian $52,000 · Employment 5,340
Related careers
- Nurse PractitionersNational median $132,300
- Physical TherapistsNational median $102,760
- Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsNational median $100,580
- Occupational TherapistsNational median $100,330
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation PhysiciansNational median $265,930
- PsychiatristsNational median $281,870
- Clinical Nurse SpecialistsNational median $97,550
- Mental Health CounselorsNational median not published
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.