Nursing & patient care
Psychiatric Technician
Psychiatric technicians care for people with mental illness or developmental disabilities, monitoring their condition and providing therapeutic care.
U.S. median pay
$21.70/hr
$45,130/yr
Projected growth
+22.3%
2025–35
Openings per year
17,000
average, 2025–35
Typical education
Postsecondary nondegree award
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025; BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
U.S. median hourly pay · BLS May 2025
$21.70
an hour · $45,130 a year
- 10th
- $16.87
- 25th
- $18.48
- Median
- $21.70
- 75th
- $24.12
- 90th
- $29.21
Hourly pay range: 10th percentile $16.87/hr, median $21.70/hr, 90th percentile $29.21/hr.
Education, licensing and how to get started
The Occupational Outlook Handbook explains the training, licensing and certification for this role. BLS: How to become one
Sources
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Psychiatric Technician, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (SOC 29-2053), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Checked against these sources on Oct 1, 2026.