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The differences between psychiatric technicians and licensed practical nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a licensed practical nurse has an average salary of $52,912, which is higher than the $39,662 average annual salary of a psychiatric technician.
The top three skills for a psychiatric technician include patients, mental health and social work. The most important skills for a licensed practical nurse are patients, CPR, and home health.
| Psychiatric Technician | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $39,662 | $52,912 |
| Hourly rate | $19.07 | $25.44 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 64,888 | 614,369 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 33% |
| Average age | 34 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A psychiatric technician is responsible for supporting patients with mental issues and disabilities by administering treatment plans and quality therapeutic care. Psychiatric technicians assist the patients through counseling, observing their mental and social behaviors, and suggesting recreational activities to help them interact with others. They also work with other medical professionals to seek advice, especially when performing medical procedures and suggesting medications. A psychiatric technician must have excellent communication and time-management skills, especially when responding to the patients' concerns and looking after them during daily activities.
Licensed practical nurses are considered leading front liners in the clinic or hospital setting. They assist nurses and doctors in conducting various activities related to sick or injured patients. Licensed practical nurses are primarily expected to provide routine care for patients and assist registered nurses in creating care plans. They maintain and update medical records, prepare patients for medical examinations, help patients dress, bath, or eat, take vital signs, administer and monitor medicine intake, monitor patients and update nurses and doctors on patient status, and assist during medical examinations.
Psychiatric technicians and licensed practical nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Psychiatric Technician | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
| Average salary | $39,662 | $52,912 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $61,000 | Between $37,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Barbara, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | St. Tammany Health System | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a psychiatric technician and a licensed practical nurse in terms of educational background:
| Psychiatric Technician | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Nursing |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Emory University |
Here are the differences between psychiatric technicians' and licensed practical nurses' demographics:
| Psychiatric Technician | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
| Average age | 34 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.1% Female, 59.9% | Male, 11.3% Female, 88.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.5% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 7% |