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Job outlook for mental health technicians in the United States
Mental health technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected mental health technician job growth rate is 9% from 2018-2028.
About 12,500 new jobs for mental health technicians are projected over the next decade.
Mental health technician salaries have increased 13% for mental health technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 52,470 mental health technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 103,710 active mental health technician job openings in the US.
The average mental health technician salary is $32,118.
Are mental health technician jobs in demand?
Mental health technician job and salary trends over time
Mental health technician jobs over time
Mental health technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52,470 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 49,352 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 46,534 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 43,387 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 40,975 | 0.01% |
Average mental health technician salary over time
Mental health technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $32,118 | $15.44 | +3.7% |
| 2025 | $30,972 | $14.89 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $30,138 | $14.49 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | $29,038 | $13.96 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $28,396 | $13.65 | --0.5% |
Mental health technician jobs by state
Most common states for mental health technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,115 | 31% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 207 | 30% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,624 | 29% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 182 | 29% |
| 5 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,888 | 28% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 197 | 27% |
| 7 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 822 | 26% |
| 8 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,634 | 24% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 231 | 24% |
| 10 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,405 | 23% |
| 11 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 199 | 23% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,212 | 22% |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,299 | 22% |
| 14 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 653 | 22% |
| 15 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 219 | 21% |
| 16 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 2,305 | 20% |
| 17 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,977 | 20% |
| 18 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,239 | 20% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 262 | 20% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 154 | 20% |
Most common cities for mental health technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeffersonville | 9 | 19% | $26,627 |
| 2 | Richardson | 7 | 6% | $28,485 |
| 3 | Georgetown | 4 | 6% | $28,456 |
| 4 | Jonesboro | 4 | 5% | $32,310 |
| 5 | Fort Wayne | 7 | 3% | $27,047 |
| 6 | Mobile | 5 | 3% | $28,952 |
| 7 | Kansas City | 9 | 2% | $28,334 |
| 8 | Albuquerque | 5 | 1% | $26,644 |
| 9 | Omaha | 5 | 1% | $32,487 |
Mental Health Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of mental health technician experts
University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Baltimore
University of Lynchburg
University of Lynchburg
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Georgia State University
Thresholds
Carlow University
California State University - Fresno
Idaho State University
Eastern Kentucky University
American Massage Therapy Association
Montclair State University
West Texas A&M University
FSMTB - Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards
University of Charleston
The University of Texas
Pennsylvania State University - Beaver
Agnes Scott College
Dr. Nathan Tenhundfeld Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Human FactorsUniversity of Alabama in Huntsville
Psychology Department
What skills stand out on Mental Health Technician resumes?
Dr. Nathan Tenhundfeld Ph.D.: Strong analytical skills are a must. This includes both logic and reasoning skills, but also data analysis skills. For many jobs, the ability to collect and scientifically evaluate data will be vital, if not an absolute necessity. Similarly, a strong understanding of experimental methods can put a candidate in a great position to be able to help a company evaluate existing programs and chart a path forward for new ones. Finally, I would say that a strong ability to write is critical. Those graduates who are able to effectively and persuasively communicate in writing are setting themselves up for success at any company and allowing the company to leverage them for increasingly important tasks.
Sepideh Soheilian Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Baltimore
Division of Applied Behavioral Sciences
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Mental Health Technician job market given the pandemic?
Sepideh Soheilian Ph.D.: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of mental health counselors is projected to grow 25% from 2019 to 2029, which is much greater than the average for all occupations. The pandemic has greatly affected the mental health of Americans due to the necessity to quarantine and/or keep a safe distance from others. Human beings are social by nature. Thus, social isolation can significantly impact stress levels and mental health. Additional ways that the pandemic has negatively affected mental health is via job loss as well as creating increased responsibilities for people while working virtually such as caring for children engaged in distance learning, or caring for the elderly. The aforementioned situations can be challenging and create stress for individuals, especially if they are unable to engage in appropriate self-care, or positive ways of coping in response to the new stresses in their lives. As such, my prediction is that there will be an even greater demand for mental health services due to the pandemic, consequently resulting in a greater need for mental health professionals.
What Mental Health Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sepideh Soheilian Ph.D.: If a recent college graduate decides to take a gap year between their undergraduate studies and starting a master's program in Counseling Psychology, my advice would be to try their best to be exposed to or engage in either 1) experiences in the field of mental health, or 2) experiences that will strengthen their social science research skills. Engaging in these types of experiences such as working as an administrative assistant in a private practice, or volunteering on a psychiatric unit at a hospital will provide greater exposure to the field of mental health and hopefully, help the graduate determine if entering the mental health field would be the right fit for their career expectations, goals, and values.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Technician?
Sepideh Soheilian Ph.D.: General advice I would give to a graduate in the field of counseling psychology beginning their career is to be flexible and open minded, especially during these unprecedented times due to the pandemic. Being open to providing mental health services in a variety of formats such as virtual or hybrid (combining virtual, and in-person services) will allow for greater flexibility in providing services to clients. Career development and career satisfaction is an ongoing process. Therefore, I would also encourage graduates to continually evaluate and assess their careers to determine if their current position is still the best fit for their career values, needs, and goals.
Daniel Hall Ph.D.
Program Director, Assistant Professor of Counselor EducationUniversity of Lynchburg
College of Education, Leadership Studies, & Counseling
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Mental Health Technicians?
Daniel Hall Ph.D.: I do believe there will be an enduring impact from the coronavirus - not just on graduates, but on the mental health profession. Graduates will have personal experience with many of the stressors that might bring clients in for counseling services. So, it is my hope that all practitioners moving forward will have increased empathy and understanding that will contribute to their efficacy with clients across a spectrum of concerns.
As a profession, mental health counselors will need to be sure that they have engaged in appropriate self-care to mitigate any of the psychological effects of the pandemic they may be experiencing themselves. And, finally, there has been a huge expansion in the teletronic delivery of mental health services during Covid times. Even as face-to-face counseling becomes more widely available and returns as a viable and available option, electronic services have earned an acceptance that did not exist prior to the pandemic, and that delivery model will continue to be far more prevalent than it was before.
What experience really stands out on Mental Health Technician resumes?
Daniel Hall Ph.D.: Specificity is an essential highlight that stands out on a resume - particularly as it relates to experience in the field. That means enough detail to clearly articulate professional skills. So, for example, not just a mention of facilitating small groups, but rather the topic of the group, the theoretical approach, etc. And, perhaps more importantly, outcomes. Applicants will really stand out if they can reference engagement in evidence-based best practices and then have data that demonstrates the success they have had in application and facilitation of those practices.
Jeanne Booth Ph.D.
Professor of Counselor Education and the Director of the Center for Family StudiesUniversity of Lynchburg
College of Education, Leadership Studies, and Counseling
What type of skills will young Mental Health Technicians need?
Jeanne Booth Ph.D.: As I just mentioned, counselors will now be expected to have skills specific to online delivery of services. The ethical challenge will be that this skill set should be founded upon solid, professional training in teletherapy, not just offering services without related pedagogy, experience, and supervision. Also, because counseling practice will have undergone this "sea change" everyone in the profession will need increased measures of two qualities that were always inherent in the professional practice: flexibility and the ability to cooperate and collaborate both within an agency and across a service community.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Mental Health Technicians?
Jeanne Booth Ph.D.: I do believe there will be an enduring impact from the coronavirus - not just on graduates, but on the mental health profession. Graduates will have personal experience with many of the stressors that might bring clients in for counseling services. So, it is my hope that all practitioners moving forward will have increased empathy and understanding that will contribute to their efficacy with clients across a spectrum of concerns.
As a profession, mental health counselors will need to be sure that they have engaged in appropriate self-care to mitigate any of the psychological effects of the pandemic they may be experiencing themselves. And, finally, there has been a huge expansion in the teletronic delivery of mental health services during Covid times. Even as face-to-face counseling becomes more widely available and returns as a viable and available option, electronic services have earned an acceptance that did not exist prior to the pandemic, and that delivery model will continue to be far more prevalent than it was before.
Kim Jones Ph.D.
Professor, Chair of Clinical ConcentrationUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock
School of Social Work
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Mental Health Technician job market given the pandemic?
Kim Jones Ph.D.: As a result of the pandemic, the need for mental health services will increase due to the devastating impact the pandemic has had. The pandemic, with its resulting stress, social isolation, loss of loved ones, and income, has resulted in increased levels of reported depression, anxiety, and alcohol and drug use. It has also negatively impacted children's emotional, educational, and psychological well-being.
It is reported that one in five U.S. citizens (47 million) have a mental health condition. These individuals are particularly vulnerable to relapse and a worsening of their conditions due to the stressful impact of the ongoing pandemic. The pandemic, in many instances, has also interrupted their usual regimen of mental health care.
Social workers will see a 13 percent growth rate in jobs between 2019 and 2029.
What skills stand out on Mental Health Technician resumes?
Kim Jones Ph.D.: The necessary skills for today's market include the ability to implement evidence-informed mental health approaches, the ability to display empathy, knowledge of crisis intervention models, organizational skills, good work ethic, both verbal and written communication skills, cultural competence, and the ability to adapt to changing technology.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Mental Health Technician job market given the pandemic?
Joan Cranford: -Increase in hiring
-More internshipsprograms to prepare new nurses
-More across state line licensin
-Increased telehealth training to care for non-COVID patients
-Unemployed and retired nurses returning to work
-Ability to cope in stressful situations
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Technician?
Chris Noone: The need for dedicated, compassionate social work and mental health professionals has never been greater. There is a significant increase in mental health problems worldwide, including PTSD, due to the pandemic. Social work and mental health staff have stepped up and are making a difference with sophisticated, evidence-based approaches, such as providing trauma-informed care. They quickly adapted to doing virtual teletherapy sessions and outdoor/walking visits with social distancing. The good news is they have more tools available in their toolkits, such as apps they can use with clients to help coach: meditation, breathing exercises, goal visualization, etc. Their work is more than essential right now and in the long-term.
Janice Nash
Professor, Director of the Undergraduate Nursing ProgramCarlow University
College of Health and Wellness
What skills stand out on Mental Health Technician resumes?
Janice Nash: Graduates who had internships or experience working in healthcare in addition to the required clinical courses are at an advantage. An applicant who highlights their ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and problem-solve will be noticed.
Lynette Bartucci
Lynette Bartucci, M.S., CRC, APCC#7835 Clinics Director / Adjunct FacultyCalifornia State University - Fresno
Clinical Rehab Mental Health Counseling Program: CSU, Fresno Foundation- Ticket to Work Employment Network
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Mental Health Technician job market given the pandemic?
Lynette Bartucci: In my opinion, the most significant trends we will see in the job market, given the pandemic, are more mental health counseling positions, associates, and licensed professionals. This pandemic was abrupt and unexpected, it leads to job loss. If still working, the concept of working from home, while caregivers also take on educators' role. Within this change includes parental stress, increased conflict, and possibly divorce. The suicide rate has also increased. The emotional and mental health recovery of COVID-19 essentially seeks mental health professionals' assistance shortly, if not right now.
What Mental Health Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lynette Bartucci: I would recommend they try to enhance/include computer skills, such as Microsoft programs, including Excel and PowerPoint, and programs such as Zoom. Due to the pandemic, we continue to see a trend of "work from home" options needing essential computer and technology skills. Also, to polish up on grammar and appropriate English vocabulary. Again, a lot of communication needs to be done professionally through emails, texts, memos, and documents.
Logan Lamprecht Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Counseling Clinic DirectorIdaho State University
Counseling Department (ISU Meridian Campus)
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Mental Health Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Logan Lamprecht Ph.D.: Continued training for working in tele-counseling settings and confidential software for tele-counseling sessions seems more and more likely, as the field of counseling continues to adjust to providing care in virtual environments.
Camille Skubik-Peplaski Ph.D.
Professor and Occupational TherapistEastern Kentucky University
Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
How do you envision technology impacting Mental Health Technicians in the next 5 years?
Camille Skubik-Peplaski Ph.D.: I think wearable technology used by fitness and health care professionals to observe, monitor, and encourage behavior change among clients will become a more everyday practice. Learn how to use the data provided by wearable technology to teach about personal behavioral patterns and opportunities to improve health and quality of life.
What general advice would you give to a Mental Health Technician?
Ron Precht: Generally, metropolitan areas have had more openings for massage therapists. This is a report from the end of 2019 that has the most recent data we have available. Report
What type of skills will young Mental Health Technicians need?
Lyndal Khaw Ph.D.: Most of our graduates in the field of Family Science and Human Development are in this field because they want to help professions that work with children, individuals, and families. Thus, there are several skills they should have when they graduate and enter the workforce. First, they need to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. If you want to work with people, that is an absolute given.
Second, students should demonstrate their ability to adapt to new challenges and changes, including technology skills. When working with children and families, the natural ebbs and flows of family life, across the life course, necessitate flexible professionals and who can still be useful under changing circumstances. Third, skills make you stand out in working with people, like conflict management and leadership skills. Employers want to see that graduates are not only "book smart" but have the experience to use these skills when needed on the job.
What experience really stands out on Mental Health Technician resumes?
Dr. Brenda Cross: Volunteering and job shadowing are often seen as a positive on a resume. We are also always looking for students who have experience working with children or adults, as they tend to have developed skills that are useful in the clinic.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Mental Health Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Debra Persinger Ph.D.: -Simplified technology for the not-so-tech-savvy employees will be necessary to accommodate the span of generational employee demographics engaging in remote work.
-Employees will need to be adaptable - to learn and accommodate the rapid introduction of new and better technological efficiency tools.
-Controls will increase. Much like parental controls to monitor online activity, company restrictions will be implemented to prevent inappropriate online behaviors, accidental sharing, and training on basic etiquette and interpersonal communications.
-Technology that supports work and life activities - order groceries online, stress reduction apps - will demand.
-Time away from the screen will be necessary. Seems counterintuitive for a technology question. For example, I'm predicting that paper books will make a comeback - nobody wants to look at another screen for pleasure reading after working online all day.
What Mental Health Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Amy Bruce: If a gap year is taken in nursing school, the student should try to work as a Certified Nurse Assistant or Nurse Extern. This will keep them in the field and keep their experiences and current knowledge fresh until he or she can return to school.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Mental Health Technicians to find work opportunities?
Dr. Eva Moya Ph.D.: Absolutely. Social Workers are well-positioned to work in multiple sectors at the local, state, national, and international levels. From health care, gerontology, safety net, mental health and substance abuse, child and family, education, immigration, and criminal justice sectors.
Employment is usually based on the market, economics, needs, and value of social work. The place does matter.
Social workers are in schools, courts, hospitals, community-based organizations, federally qualified health centers, mental health clinics, shelters, transitional living facilities, detention facilities, academic settings, prisons, industry, political arena, palliative care, hospice, research, international organizations, immigrant and migrant centers, elderly care facilities, protective services, the child welfare system, counseling centers, health and human service organizations, environmental and public health venues.
How do you envision technology impacting Mental Health Technicians in the next 5 years?
Dr. Eva Moya Ph.D.: Technology is, and will continue to be, a meaningful source of connection, networking, online education, and service delivery. Technology will continue to facilitate individual, group, and organizational capacities to mine data. Geographic information systems will continue to be used to track issues, inequalities, special needs, and assets.
The risks of technology are that it may be a substitute for on-the-ground assessment of real people. Social media and technology will continue to enrich social work practice and challenge the profession as never before. We have seen this with the COVID-19 pandemic. GIS, maps, petition ages, mutual support, webpages, chat rooms, tee social work, and Skype/Zoom to help practitioners conduct transcontinental therapy, will most likely continue to be prevalent. The agency, practitioner, social work professional that does not take advantage of these changes may find themselves at their professional perils.
Kevin Bennett Ph.D.
Professor of PsychologyPennsylvania State University - Beaver
Psychology
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Mental Health Technicians to find work opportunities?
Kevin Bennett Ph.D.: While the current job market for entry-level positions is competitive across all majors, I think the news looks good for psychology majors. Right now, there is a growing demand for psychologists across several categories. According to the American Psychology Association (APA), the most common employment areas of psychology graduates include health care and social service, education, management and business, and government. In addition, psychology graduates often possess skill sets that make them ideal candidates for many untraditional positions.
Although psychology jobs are growing at a healthy pace, that growth is not distributed evenly across all geographic regions. It is not surprising that the cities with the highest number of job ads were large metropolitan areas, including New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles. However, once the population is included as a factor in the data, the highest number of job ads are found in less populated areas, many located in the central states in the U.S. So there may actually be greater opportunities in small communities.
Another metric used to understand economic conditions is the location quotient, or LQ, score. This metric can tell us the concentration of job ads relative to the employed population of an area. A high LQ score means better job prospects. The states with the highest LQ values, according to a recent study, are Alaska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Washington, and Colorado.
Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Psychology Associate Editor, Psi Chi Journal of Psychological ResearchAgnes Scott College
Department of Psychology
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Mental Health Technicians to find work opportunities?
Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.: Many of our psychology graduates go to graduate school, but those that do not, work for mental health facilities, not-for-profits, education, business consulting, etc. The pandemic is producing a mental health crisis in the United States, and those with psychology backgrounds will be needed more than ever.
How do you envision technology impacting Mental Health Technicians in the next 5 years?
Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.: Technology is going to make many offices obsolete. I suspect many people will be working from home in the future.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Mental Health Technicians?
Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.: I think many will be impacted because of the economic recession. They will end up taking jobs with lower salaries, if they cannot get jobs that pay more, and that will mean that they will be paid less throughout their careers.