# Psychiatric Technicians

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/psychiatric-technicians
- SOC code: 29-2053.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $45,130 (10th percentile $35,090, 90th percentile $60,750)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +22.3%
- Openings a year: 17,000
- Typical entry education: Postsecondary certificate
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code SIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 38 |
| Investigative (I) | 60 |
| Artistic (A) | 19 |
| Social (S) | 99 |
| Enterprising (E) | 8 |
| Conventional (C) | 41 |

## What you'd do

- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 98/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 89/100)
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (importance 88/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 86/100)
- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 80/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 76/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 71/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 71/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 70/100)

## Skills

Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Monitoring, Coordination, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Service Orientation, Instructing, Writing

## Knowledge

Psychology, Therapy and Counseling, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Medicine and Dentistry, Education and Training, Public Safety and Security, Law and Government, Computers and Electronics, Sociology and Anthropology

## Also called

Autism Behavior Technician (Autism Behavior Tech), Behavior Technician (Behavior Tech), Behavioral Health Associate, Behavioral Technician (Behavioral Tech), BHT (Behavioral Health Technician), Counselor, Health Care Technician (Health Care Tech), LPT (Licensed Psychiatric Technician), Mental Health Associate, Mental Health Specialist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5115) (CIP 5115, 969 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $70,054 | $76,395 | $13,021 |
| [James Madison University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/james-madison-university-1324) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $38,321 | $67,033 | $19,500 |
| [Texas A & M University-College Station](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-college-station-2694) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $39,804 | $66,865 | $16,500 |
| [Worcester State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/worcester-state-university-3304) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $42,384 | $63,505 | $20,500 |
| [Western Connecticut State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/western-connecticut-state-university-3226) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $42,085 | $63,218 | $27,000 |
| [Metropolitan State University-Minnesota](https://www.collegesref.com/college/metropolitan-state-university-minnesota-1666) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $59,286 | $60,780 | $22,609 |
| [Davenport University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/davenport-university-770) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $50,641 | $58,907 | $27,001 |
| [Ohio University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ohio-university-main-campus-2008) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $39,804 | $57,998 | $26,286 |

## Related careers

- [Psychiatric Aides](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/psychiatric-aides): $44,910 median pay
- [Physical Therapist Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physical-therapist-assistants): $68,380 median pay
- [Occupational Therapy Aides](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/occupational-therapy-aides): $39,160 median pay
- [Physical Therapist Aides](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physical-therapist-aides): $35,240 median pay
- [Occupational Therapy Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/occupational-therapy-assistants): $72,300 median pay
- [Recreational Therapists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/recreational-therapists): $61,960 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.