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The average salary for a Psychiatric Technician is approximately $39,662 per year, translating to around $19 per hour. Salaries can fluctuate based on various factors including location, years of experience, and the specific healthcare setting. For example, psychiatric technicians in metropolitan areas often earn more than those in rural locations.
In states like California and New York, psychiatric technicians earn some of the highest salaries, with averages exceeding $50,000 annually. In contrast, states with a lower cost of living tend to offer salaries closer to the national average. For instance, technicians in Texas may earn around $35,000 per year.
Experience plays a significant role in salary determination. Entry-level positions typically start at a lower pay scale, while those with several years in the field can command significantly higher salaries. Additionally, certifications and specializations can enhance earning potential.
As mental health awareness grows, the demand for psychiatric technicians continues to rise, promising ample job opportunities in various facilities including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and outpatient programs.
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The highest-paying states for psychiatric technicians are California, New York, and Vermont. The lowest average psychiatric technician salary states are South Dakota, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $54,793 | $26.34 |
| 2 | New York | $60,922 | $29.29 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $49,703 | $23.90 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $48,434 | $23.29 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $50,067 | $24.07 |
| 6 | Maine | $40,121 | $19.29 |
| 7 | California | $65,017 | $31.26 |
| 8 | Montana | $42,271 | $20.32 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $48,881 | $23.50 |
| 10 | Indiana | $35,623 | $17.13 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $41,866 | $20.13 |
| 12 | Arkansas | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| 13 | Illinois | $35,930 | $17.27 |
| 14 | Delaware | $38,825 | $18.67 |
| 15 | Oregon | $43,491 | $20.91 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $37,291 | $17.93 |
| 17 | Maryland | $43,201 | $20.77 |
| 18 | Arizona | $37,796 | $18.17 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $34,313 | $16.50 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $34,751 | $16.71 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $36,087 | $17.35 |
| 22 | Nevada | $36,818 | $17.70 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $36,681 | $17.64 |
| 24 | Iowa | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $41,063 | $19.74 |
| 26 | Colorado | $36,577 | $17.59 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $32,887 | $15.81 |
| 28 | Washington | $38,622 | $18.57 |
| 29 | Alabama | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| 30 | Alaska | $31,938 | $15.35 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $33,166 | $15.95 |
| 32 | Michigan | $33,510 | $16.11 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $33,023 | $15.88 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $30,289 | $14.56 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $40,026 | $19.24 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $34,674 | $16.67 |
| 37 | Georgia | $33,111 | $15.92 |
| 38 | Florida | $30,889 | $14.85 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $33,359 | $16.04 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $30,172 | $14.51 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $32,466 | $15.61 |
| 42 | Texas | $31,276 | $15.04 |
| 43 | Virginia | $32,871 | $15.80 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $31,372 | $15.08 |
| 45 | Kansas | $30,778 | $14.80 |
| 46 | Missouri | $27,842 | $13.39 |
| 47 | Ohio | $30,315 | $14.57 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $29,831 | $14.34 |
| 49 | Utah | $29,077 | $13.98 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $29,411 | $14.14 |
| 51 | Idaho | $26,156 | $12.57 |
The highest-paying cities for psychiatric technicians are Santa Barbara, CA, Rochester, NY, and Baltimore, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Barbara, CA | $67,858 | $32.62 |
| 2 | Rochester, NY | $54,557 | $26.23 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $43,790 | $21.05 |
| 4 | Billings, MT | $42,203 | $20.29 |
| 5 | Bangor, ME | $36,989 | $17.78 |
| 6 | West Lafayette, IN | $35,470 | $17.05 |
| 7 | Flint, MI | $33,592 | $16.15 |
| 8 | Manassas, VA | $33,390 | $16.05 |
| 9 | Brooklyn Park, MN | $33,359 | $16.04 |
| 10 | Harrisburg, PA | $33,204 | $15.96 |
| 11 | Winston-Salem, NC | $32,951 | $15.84 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $31,730 | $15.25 |
| 13 | Chattanooga, TN | $30,336 | $14.58 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $29,999 | $14.42 |
| 15 | Salt Lake City, UT | $28,856 | $13.87 |
| 16 | Springfield, MO | $28,090 | $13.50 |
| 17 | Nampa, ID | $26,421 | $12.70 |
A psychiatric technician's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $61,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 75th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| Average | $39,662 | $3,305 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
The highest paying types of psychiatric technicians are mental health nurse, counselor/art therapist, and outpatient physical therapist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Nurse | $106,812 | $8,901 | $51.35 | 86,884 |
| Therapist | $55,943 | $4,662 | $26.90 | 159,770 |
| Mental Health Worker | $41,081 | $3,423 | $19.75 | 144,879 |
| In Home Therapist | $51,706 | $4,309 | $24.86 | 113,993 |
| Counselor/Art Therapist | $79,417 | $6,618 | $38.18 | 80,647 |
| Outpatient Physical Therapist | $66,359 | $5,530 | $31.90 | 119,973 |
Top companies hiring psychiatric technicians now:
Psychiatric technician salaries at St. Tammany Health System and Regional Medical Center- Orangeburg are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average psychiatric technician salary at companies like University of California, Berkeley and Kern Community College District are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Tammany Health System | $61,647 | $29.64 |
| 2 | Regional Medical Center- Orangeburg | $50,130 | $24.10 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| 4 | Kern Community College District | $49,232 | $23.67 |
| 5 | Careerstaff Unlimited - A Genesis Healthcare Company | $47,498 | $22.84 |
| 6 | UC Merced | $46,619 | $22.41 |
| 7 | Great Plains Regional Medical Center | $45,905 | $22.07 |
| 8 | UC Santa Barbara | $45,502 | $21.88 |
| 9 | New York State Restaurant Association | $43,290 | $20.81 |
| 10 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $41,488 | $19.95 |
| 11 | Archbold Medical Center | $40,879 | $19.65 |
| 12 | The Arora Group | $40,743 | $19.59 |
| 13 | Lifespan | $40,066 | $19.26 |
| 14 | South Coast Community Services | $39,141 | $18.82 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $39,141 | $18.82 |
| 16 | Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas | $39,023 | $18.76 |
| 17 | Kings County Education Office | $38,881 | $18.69 |
| 18 | Luke & Associates | $38,657 | $18.59 |
| 19 | Kaiser Permanente | $37,992 | $18.27 |
| 20 | Rutland Regional Medical Center | $37,585 | $18.07 |
The average psychiatric technician salary has risen by $7,428 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average psychiatric technician earned $32,234 annually, but today, they earn $39,662 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for psychiatric technicians over the last decade.
Compare psychiatric technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare psychiatric technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,700 | $19.07 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $38,200 | $18.39 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $37,200 | $17.89 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $35,900 | $17.24 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $35,100 | $16.86 | -0.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutland Regional Medical Center | Psychiatric Technician I | Rutland, VT | 06/28/2025 | $40,258 |
| City and County of San Francisco | Psychiatric Technician (2305)-SAN Francisco Dept. of Public Health | San Francisco, CA | 06/28/2025 | $90,740 |
| Thus Far of Intensive Review | Senior Psychiatric Technician | Rochester, NY | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board | Psychiatric Technician | Hampton, VA | 06/27/2025 | $39,305 |
| Albertina Kerr Centers | Psychiatric Technician (Non-Qmha) | Portland, OR | 06/26/2025 | $39,653 |
| State of California | Psychiatric Technician Trainee (Safety) | Atascadero, CA | 06/25/2025 | $36,288 |
| New Mexico Corrections Department | Direct Care II Psychiatric Technician (Nmcd/Pnm #37854) | Santa Fe, NM | 06/22/2025 | $36,179 |
| Waukesha County (Wi | Psychiatric Technician (Inpatient)-LTE | Waukesha, WI | 06/22/2025 | $40,592 |
| Cenexel | Psychiatric Technician I, PRN PM PM) | Gaithersburg, MD | 06/14/2025 | $37,566 |
| Liberty Healthcare Corporation | Psychiatric Technician-Per Diem | Banning, CA | 06/11/2025 | $62,610 |
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