Healthcare practitioners
Psychiatric technician
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.
Median pay
$45,130
Growth to 2035
+22%
much faster than average
Openings a year
17,000
Time to qualify*
3.1 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Psychiatric technician
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- Less than 5 years
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Psychiatric technician: 77% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: 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)
Outlook and AI
Psychiatric technicians held 161,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 197,500 by 2035 (+22%, much faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Psychiatric technician vs. Psychiatric aide
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- Psychiatric technician vs. Occupational therapy aide
- Psychiatric technician vs. Physical therapist aide
- Psychiatric technician vs. Occupational therapy assistant
- Psychiatric technician vs. Recreational therapist
- Psychiatric technician vs. Paramedic
- Psychiatric technician vs. Home health and personal care aides
- Psychiatric technician vs. Registered nurse