Psychiatric Technicians Salary
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · 157K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$45,130
Median hourly
$22
Average annual
$46,610
Typical range
$35,090–$60,750
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Psychiatric Technicians is $45,130 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $22 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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.
Most earn between $35,090 and $60,750 a year. There are roughly 157K people employed as psychiatric technicians in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Psychiatric Technicians.
- Hourly
- $21.70
- Daily
- $174
- Weekly
- $868
- Bi-weekly
- $1,736
- Monthly
- $3,761
- Annual
- $45,130
$45,130 a year is around the 50th percentile for Psychiatric Technicianss. The median is $45,130.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1District of Columbia$67,430
- 2Oregon$59,820
- 3New York$58,080
- 4Nebraska$57,370
- 5Connecticut$55,500
- 6Hawaii$55,150
- 7New Jersey$54,040
- 8Washington$52,470
- 9Massachusetts$52,000
- 10Alaska$51,650
- 11California$49,140
- 12Rhode Island$48,520
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Stockton-Lodi, CA$95,580
- 2Napa, CA$83,960
- 3Visalia, CA$76,700
- 4Vallejo, CA$76,120
- 5Ann Arbor, MI$72,550
- 6Salem, OR$66,840
- 7Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY$65,500
- 8Madison, WI$64,380
- 9Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$63,510
- 10Kahului-Wailuku, HI$62,590
- 11Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA$62,400
- 12New Haven, CT$59,930
Related job titles
Employers advertise Psychiatric Technicians roles under these titles.
- Autism Behavior Technician (Autism Behavior Tech)
- Behavior Technician (Behavior Tech)
- Behavioral Health Associate
- Behavioral Technician (Behavioral Tech)
- BHT (Behavioral Health Technician)
- Health Care Technician (Health Care Tech)
- LPT (Licensed Psychiatric Technician)
- Mental Health Associate
- Mental Health Specialist
- Mental Health Technician (MHT)
- MHA (Mental Health Assistant)
- MHW (Mental Health Worker)
- Milieu Therapist
- Patient Care Specialist
- Psychiatric Assistant
- Psychiatric Safety Tech (Psychiatric Safety Technician)
Related occupations
What a Psychiatric Technicians does
- 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.
- Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.
- 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.
- Collaborate with or assist doctors, psychologists, or rehabilitation therapists in working with patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities to treat, rehabilitate, and return patients to the community.
- Develop or teach strategies to promote client wellness and independence.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Psychiatric Technicians make?
- The median annual wage for Psychiatric Technicians is $45,130 ($22 per hour). Pay ranges from about $35,090 at the 10th percentile to $60,750 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Psychiatric Technicians?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $46,610, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Psychiatric Technicianss the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $67,430.
- Is Psychiatric Technicians a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 157K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a 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..