Psychiatric Tech Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
To take up the profession of a psychiatric technician, one needs to have a minimum of an associates or a bachelors degree. A number of certificates and diploma programs are also offered in various colleges and technical schools. Besides, one can opt for training courses in vocational schools. These training programs prepare individuals to provide direct care services, administer medications, implement treatment plans, and perform administrative functions. The specialized Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician program instructs students on mental health treatment procedures, mental health theory, applied psychopathology, psychotropic medication, crisis intervention, and patient communication and management.
Training and Education
Expect to get a postsecondary vocational award for this occupation. The share of employees with a bachelor's degree or higher is 16%. About 57% of psychiatric techs got additional education after high school, but did not have to get a college degree. There was no need to go beyond high school for 27% of workers.
Job Overview
Psychiatric technicians provide healthcare to the mentally impaired individuals. They cater to the physical and emotional needs of the patients, monitor their conditions, and report to the doctors. Administering oral medications and injections, and helping with personal hygiene are a part of their job duties. Psychiatric techs also participate in treatment and rehabilitation programs.
Job Requirements
Psychiatric techs are mostly employed in psychiatric as well as general medicine hospitals and outpatient care centers. Employers look for candidates with at least a year of formal or informal training in any vocational school, or under the supervision of a mental healthcare professional. On-the-job experience is of great help in securing employment at a hospital or healthcare facility.
Those interested in adopting the profession of a psychiatric technician should have knowledge about human behavior, psychological research methods, and the treatment of mental and emotional disorders. One should also be familiar with the principles, methods, and procedures of diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from psychiatric disorders.
Psychiatric technicians should possess excellent communication skills as they need to constantly deal with patients, their family members, and the medical practitioners. This also applies to those wishing to pursue a career in therapy and counseling. The ability to think critically so as to identify signs of distress and think of alternative solutions is extremely crucial. One should also be a good listener, possess an acute social perceptiveness, and be service oriented.
Nature of Work
The job of psychiatric techs involves maintaining records of the patients general physical conditions, and providing daily reports to the medical staff. They need to provide healthcare in keeping with the procedures and instructions of the physician and the hospital. Observing the patients and making a record of their behavioral pattern is also a part of their jobs. In addition, psychiatric techs may at times need to verbally or physically intervene and restrain violent or suicidal patients.
Psychiatric techs generally work in clean, well lit, and comfortable surroundings. Weekly work hours are generally regular, though they may have to be on-call occasionally. While the job of providing care and relief to the mentally distressed can be rewarding, it might also lead to a significant amount of stress.
Area Job Conditions
Alexandria (Louisiana), Hattiesburg (Mississippi), and Gainesville (Florida) boast the most employees for their size population. Dallas (Texas), Baltimore (Maryland), and Boston (Massachusetts) have the fewest.
The highest salaries for psychiatric techs are in and around San Francisco (California), San Jose (California), and Oakland (California). The lowest-paying areas are Alexandria (Louisiana), Dothan (Alabama), and Hattiesburg (Mississippi).
Part-Time and Self Employment
It is estimated that 21% of psychiatric techs work less than full time.
Psychiatric Techs by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $27,000 | 290 | +79% |
| Dothan | $20,000 | 160 | +833% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $30,000 | 210 | +295% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $33,000 | 710 | +21% |
| Tucson | $25,000 | 440 | +294% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $23,000 | 460 | +307% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $50,000 | 1,620 | +20% |
| Napa | $52,000 | 710 | +3726% |
| Oakland | $45,000 | 150 | -55% |
| Oxnard | $45,000 | 140 | +45% |
| Riverside | $56,000 | 1,340 | +235% |
| Sacramento | $51,000 | 220 | -23% |
| San Diego | $50,000 | 250 | -43% |
| San Francisco | $58,000 | 160 | -51% |
| San Jose | $51,000 | 60 | -80% |
| Santa Ana | $51,000 | 790 | +63% |
| Santa Rosa | $52,000 | 750 | +1255% |
| Vallejo | $61,000 | 50 | +34% |
| Visalia | $51,000 | 740 | +1651% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $32,000 | 190 | -54% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $46,000 | 270 | +93% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $35,000 | 980 | +21% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $27,000 | 960 | +316% |
| Gainesville | $25,000 | 530 | +1298% |
| Jacksonville | $23,000 | 440 | +122% |
| Miami | $26,000 | 530 | +63% |
| Naples | $28,000 | 80 | +130% |
| Orlando | $25,000 | 580 | +72% |
| Palm Bay | $23,000 | 320 | +406% |
| Pensacola | $20,000 | 80 | +70% |
| Port St Lucie | $28,000 | 270 | +628% |
| Sarasota | $25,000 | 110 | +38% |
| Tallahassee | $25,000 | 950 | +1757% |
| Tampa | $23,000 | 850 | +124% |
| West Palm Beach | $23,000 | 320 | +87% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $31,000 | 560 | -27% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $30,000 | 130 | +53% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $35,000 | 1,850 | +48% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $26,000 | 220 | +304% |
| Fort Wayne | $28,000 | 200 | +205% |
| Indianapolis | $28,000 | 380 | +28% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $28,000 | 70 | -35% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $28,000 | 60 | -36% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $24,000 | 230 | +15% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe | $26,000 | 80 | +247% |
| New Orleans | $26,000 | 200 | +15% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $39,000 | 30 | -93% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren | $30,000 | 170 | -53% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $26,000 | 140 | +320% |
| Jackson | $23,000 | 260 | +216% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City | $28,000 | 1,220 | +5374% |
| Kansas City | $25,000 | 640 | +90% |
| Springfield | $24,000 | 130 | +113% |
| St Louis | $27,000 | 1,450 | +226% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $26,000 | 250 | +391% |
| Omaha | $26,000 | 360 | +132% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edison | $44,000 | 40 | -88% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $29,000 | 410 | +224% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau | $35,000 | 60 | -86% |
| New York | $42,000 | 830 | -52% |
| Poughkeepsie | $42,000 | 90 | +13% |
| Rochester | $29,000 | 90 | -46% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $30,000 | 80 | -72% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $31,000 | 320 | -6% |
| Columbus | 110 | -64% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $28,000 | 580 | +204% |
| Tulsa | $24,000 | 200 | +41% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | $27,000 | 50 | +24% |
| Harrisburg | $44,000 | 60 | -43% |
| Philadelphia | $37,000 | 230 | -64% |
| Pittsburgh | $29,000 | 290 | -24% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $24,000 | 160 | +117% |
| Memphis | $24,000 | 260 | +27% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | $18,000 | 690 | +3579% |
| College Station | $18,000 | 80 | +183% |
| Corpus Christi | $19,000 | 570 | +900% |
| Dallas | $19,000 | 1,020 | +46% |
| Fort Worth | $24,000 | 400 | +39% |
| Houston | $21,000 | 1,220 | +39% |
| Lubbock | $18,000 | 430 | +989% |
| San Antonio | $20,000 | 690 | +138% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | 180 | -11% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danville | $24,000 | 80 | +733% |
| Richmond | $25,000 | 1,250 | +514% |
| Virginia Beach | $26,000 | 880 | +250% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington | $26,000 | 150 | +323% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $30,000 | 180 | -35% |