What is a Psychiatric Technician?
Psychiatric Technician Job Description 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.
What do Psychiatric Technicians do On a Daily Basis?
- Contact patients’ relatives to arrange family conferences.
- Aid patients in performing tasks, such as bathing or keeping beds, clothing, or living areas clean.
- Escort patients to medical appointments.
- Monitor patients’ physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.
- 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.
What a Psychiatric Technician Should Know
These are the skills Psychiatric Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Related Job Titles
- Support Team Member (STM)
- Psychiatric Technician (Psych Tech)
- Mental Health Assistant (MHA)
- Health Care Technician
- Psychiatric Technician (PT)
Job Outlook for Psychiatric Technicians
There were about 66,100 jobs for Psychiatric Technicians in 2016 (in the United States).
New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.9% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,900 new jobs for Psychiatric Technicians by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 5,600 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Psychiatric Technicians are Florida, Arizona, and Texas.
Watch out if you plan on working in Illinois, Pennsylvania, or Tennessee. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Psychiatric Technician Make?
The salary for Psychiatric Technicians ranges between about $22,800 and $64,430 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $32,870.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
California |
$64,500 |
|
Connecticut |
$54,130 |
|
District of Columbia |
$50,490 |
|
Oregon |
$47,710 |
|
New Jersey |
$45,870 |
|
Massachusetts |
$45,220 |
|
Illinois |
$44,400 |
|
New York |
$44,100 |
|
Washington |
$40,990 |
|
Michigan |
$40,250 |
|
Vermont |
$40,000 |
|
Rhode Island |
$39,380 |
|
Alaska |
$38,940 |
|
Minnesota |
$38,800 |
|
Hawaii |
$38,230 |
|
Colorado |
$37,980 |
|
Maryland |
$35,800 |
|
Ohio |
$34,990 |
|
South Carolina |
$34,980 |
|
Arizona |
$34,210 |
|
Wisconsin |
$33,990 |
|
North Carolina |
$33,460 |
|
Nevada |
$33,090 |
|
Delaware |
$32,970 |
|
Texas |
$32,500 |
|
Iowa |
$31,860 |
|
North Dakota |
$31,590 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$31,340 |
|
Missouri |
$31,050 |
|
Virginia |
$30,650 |
|
Indiana |
$30,610 |
|
Georgia |
$30,330 |
|
Nebraska |
$30,220 |
|
Idaho |
$29,880 |
|
Kentucky |
$29,680 |
|
Florida |
$29,680 |
|
Mississippi |
$29,290 |
|
Maine |
$28,830 |
|
New Mexico |
$28,790 |
|
Arkansas |
$28,570 |
|
Kansas |
$28,060 |
|
Utah |
$27,660 |
|
Alabama |
$27,390 |
|
Louisiana |
$27,330 |
|
Montana |
$27,280 |
|
Tennessee |
$26,730 |
|
Oklahoma |
$26,510 |
|
West Virginia |
$23,440 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Psychiatric Technicians
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Psychiatric Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
Becoming a Psychiatric Technician
What education or degrees do I need to become a Psychiatric Technician?
How Long Does it Take to Become Psychiatric Technician?
Who Employs Psychiatric Technicians?
Related Careers
Those interested in being a Psychiatric Technician may also be interested in:
- Registered Nurses
- Respiratory Therapy Technicians
Career changers with experience as a Psychiatric Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
- Medical Assistants
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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