Psychiatric Technician
Psychiatric Technicians & Aides
SOC 29-2053
How Much Does a Psychiatric Technician Make?
The national median salary for a Psychiatric Technician is $42,590 per year ($20.48/hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 data).
That's 35% below the national median salary of $65,470 for all occupations.
How to Become a Psychiatric Technician
State cert varies; CPR; de-escalation training
This career has relatively low barriers to entry compared to similar roles.
Psychiatric Technician Job Outlook
Much faster than avg — the BLS projects 20% growth from 2024 to 2034.
That's significantly faster than the average across all occupations (4%).
About 17,100 positions are expected to open annually, from both new roles and replacement needs.
Mental health demand; institutional staffing needs
What It's Like to Work as a Psychiatric Technician
This role involves significant physical labor.
This role typically requires in-person work at a specific location.
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Career data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024-34 projections (released August 2025). Salary data: BLS OEWS May 2024.
View on BLS.gov