2020 Psychiatric Technicians Salary Guide

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.

Psychiatric Technicians Salary

Search by Location

Salary

$33.8K

Growth

12%

Bright Outlook

Bright

Green

Psychiatric Technicians Job Description

Also known as:

Licensed Psychiatric Technician (LPT), Mental Health Assistant (MHA), Mental Health Associate, Mental Health Specialist, Mental Health Technician (MHT), Residential Aide (RA), Mental Health Worker, Health Care Technician, Psychiatric Technician (PT), Behavioral Health Technician

How Much Do Psychiatric Technicians Make ? 2020

Percentile	10%	25%	50% (Median)	75%	90%
Annual Wage	$23,440	$27,440	$33,780	$43,200	$62,120
Hourly Wage	$11.27	$13.19	$16.24	$20.77	$29.86

How Much Do Psychiatric Technicians Make ? 2020

Percentile

10%

25%

50% (Median)

75%

90%

Annual Wage

$23,440

$27,440

$33,780

$43,200

$62,120

Hourly Wage

$11.27

$13.19

$16.24

$20.77

$29.86

Psychiatric Technicians Tasks

Take and record measures of patients' physical condition, using devices such as thermometers or blood pressure gauges.
Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.
Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or mentally retarded patients.
Administer oral medications or hypodermic injections, following physician's prescriptions and hospital procedures.
Issue medications from dispensary and maintain records in accordance with specified procedures.
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 mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or developmentally disabled patients to treat, rehabilitate, and return patients to the community.
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.
Train or instruct new employees on procedures to follow with psychiatric patients.
Develop or teach strategies to promote client wellness and independence.
Interview new patients to complete admission forms, to assess their mental health status, or to obtain their mental health and treatment history.
Escort patients to medical appointments.
Contact patients' relatives to arrange family conferences.

What Activities Do Psychiatric Technicians Do?

Record patient medical histories.
Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
Examine patients to assess general physical condition.
Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
Treat patients using psychological therapies.
Care for patients with mental illnesses.
Administer non-intravenous medications.
Administer intravenous medications.
Interact with patients to build rapport or provide emotional support.
Maintain medical facility records.
Maintain inventory of medical supplies or equipment.
Assist patients with hygiene or daily living activities.
Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
Care for patients with mental illnesses.
Encourage patients or clients to develop life skills.
Position patients for treatment or examination.
Treat patients using psychological therapies.
Train medical providers.
Teach health management classes.
Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
Move patients to or from treatment areas.
Perform clerical work in medical settings.

Typical Psychiatric Technicians Knowledge?

Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

What Are Typical Psychiatric Technicians Abilities?

Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.

What Are Typical Psychiatric Technicians Skills? 2020

Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.

What Are Typical Psychiatric Technicians Interests?

Enterprising - Occupations with Enterprising interests frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. Many involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Social - Occupations with Social interests frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. Most involve helping or providing service to others.
Realistic - Occupations with Realistic interests frequently involve practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

What Is The Projected Employment For Psychiatric Technicians ? 2020

Location	2018 Employment	2028 Employment	Percent change	Annual projected job openings
United States	76,600	86,100	12%	7,500

What Is The Projected Employment For Psychiatric Technicians ? 2020

Location

2018 Employment

2028 Employment

Percent change

Annual projected job openings

United States

76,600

86,100

12%

7,500

What Is The Required Psychiatric Technicians Education & Experience? 2020

Postsecondary certificate
Less than 5 years work experience
Less than 1 month on-the-job training

Psychiatric Technicians Schools ?

School	Program Name	Location	Length / Graduates
Allegany College of Maryland	Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician	Cumberland, MD	2 years: 17
Alvin Community College	Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician	Alvin, TX	2 years: 8
Anne Arundel Community College	Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician	Arnold, MD	2 years: 9 At least one but less than two years: 15 Less than one year: 4
Arkansas State University-Newport	Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician	Newport, AR	Less than one year: 0
Asnuntuck Community College	Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician	Enfield, CT	2 years: 4 Less than one year: 4
Atlantic Technical College	Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician	Coconut Creek, FL	Less than one year: 13
Baltimore City Community College	Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician	Baltimore, MD	2 years: 0 Less than one year: 0
Barton County Community College	Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician	Great Bend, KS	At least one but less than two years: 2
Belmont College	Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician	St Clairsville, OH	2 years: 12
BridgeValley Community & Technical College	Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician	South Charleston, WV	2 years: 0 At least one but less than two years: 0

Psychiatric Technicians Schools ?

99 United States

School

Program Name

Location

Length / Graduates

Allegany College of Maryland