Psychiatric Technician salary in the U.S.
Psychiatric Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $45,130 a year ($21.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 156,960 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,750 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $46,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for psychiatric technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| 25th percentile | $38,430 | $18.48 |
| Median | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| 75th percentile | $50,160 | $24.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,750 | $29.21 |
| Average (mean) | $46,610 | $22.41 |
Half of psychiatric technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,760.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,880.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,735.77 |
| Weekly | $867.88 |
| Hourly | $21.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Psychiatric Technician salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $67,430 | 380 |
| Oregon | $59,820 | 1,250 |
| New York | $58,080 | 2,040 |
| Nebraska | $57,370 | 1,390 |
| Connecticut | $55,500 | 1,040 |
| Hawaii | $55,150 | 2,060 |
| New Jersey | $54,040 | 2,520 |
| Washington | $52,470 | 1,920 |
| Massachusetts | $52,000 | 5,340 |
| Alaska | $51,650 | 340 |
| California | $49,140 | 14,100 |
| Rhode Island | $48,520 | 990 |
| Virginia | $48,320 | 3,950 |
| Vermont | $47,560 | 600 |
| Colorado | $47,430 | 1,740 |
| Nevada | $46,450 | 2,060 |
| Georgia | $46,250 | 5,560 |
| Illinois | $46,200 | 9,410 |
| Missouri | $45,840 | 4,450 |
| Arizona | $45,640 | 8,160 |
| Maryland | $45,520 | 680 |
| Maine | $45,320 | 620 |
| New Hampshire | $44,660 | 260 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,930 | 10,340 |
| Kansas | $43,780 | 1,670 |
| Florida | $43,570 | 12,710 |
| Michigan | $43,140 | 4,850 |
| Iowa | $42,910 | 690 |
| Idaho | $41,490 | 780 |
| South Carolina | $40,970 | 560 |
| Indiana | $40,910 | 6,790 |
| Utah | $40,770 | 1,940 |
| North Carolina | $40,630 | 5,950 |
| Kentucky | $40,370 | 910 |
| Minnesota | $40,300 | 3,550 |
| Wisconsin | $40,290 | 4,430 |
| Texas | $39,970 | 11,350 |
| North Dakota | $39,960 | 270 |
| Tennessee | $39,800 | 3,810 |
| Montana | $39,190 | 310 |
| Ohio | $39,140 | 3,950 |
| Oklahoma | $39,060 | 820 |
| New Mexico | $39,020 | 660 |
| Delaware | $38,410 | 350 |
| Alabama | $36,680 | 3,290 |
| Arkansas | $35,930 | 1,900 |
| Mississippi | $35,320 | 930 |
| West Virginia | $34,100 | 770 |
| Louisiana | $31,440 | 2,420 |
Best-paying metro areas for psychiatric technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $95,580 | 330 |
| Napa, CA | $83,960 | 320 |
| Visalia, CA | $76,700 | 200 |
| Vallejo, CA | $76,120 | 260 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $72,550 | 580 |
| Salem, OR | $66,840 | n/a |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $65,500 | 50 |
| Madison, WI | $64,380 | 1,030 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $63,510 | 70 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $62,590 | 130 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $62,400 | 200 |
| New Haven, CT | $59,930 | 80 |
| Lincoln, NE | $59,570 | 340 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $58,610 | 2,980 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $58,500 | 250 |
Metro areas with the most psychiatric technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 6,730 | $46,060 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 6,630 | $46,550 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,770 | $48,040 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,560 | $46,920 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 4,230 | $47,650 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,890 | $44,500 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,460 | $57,610 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 3,300 | $43,320 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,020 | $41,940 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,980 | $58,610 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 2,440 | $44,710 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,280 | $39,530 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2,230 | $41,890 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,680 | $47,970 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,640 | $55,150 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,110 | $38.52 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $51,140 | $24.59 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,290 | $24.18 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Paramedic | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 | $46.44 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $74,310 | $35.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2053. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a psychiatric technician make in the U.S.?
The median salary for psychiatric technicians in the U.S. is $45,130 a year, or $21.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid psychiatric technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of psychiatric technicians in the U.S. earn at least $60,750 a year. The top 25% earn $50,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for psychiatric technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,090 a year, and a quarter of psychiatric technicians earn $38,430 or less.
How many psychiatric technicians work in the U.S.?
About 156,960 psychiatric technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.