Psychiatric Technicians

Definition | Significant Points | Quick Stats | Earnings Graph | Area and Industry Statistics

Definition

Care for mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed individuals, following physician instructions and hospital procedures. Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report to medical staff. May participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs, help with personal hygiene, and administer oral medications and hypodermic injections.

source: OOH; about this section

Significant Points

2004 employment: 61,000
Projected 2004-14 employment change: More slowly than average
Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

source: OOH; about this section

Quick Stats

Psychiatric technicians

2004 employment: 61,000
2014 projected employment: 63,000
Change — numeric: 2,000; percent: 3.2%
2004 median annual earnings: $25,540; earnings group: low
2004 self-employed: 0.4%
2004 part-time employment: high
2004 unemployment: very low
Typical education and training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Educational attainment — high school: 32.1%; some college: 53.3%; bachelor's degree: 14.7%

source: Employment Matrix; about this section

Earnings Graph

National Average and Percentile Annual Earnings, May 2005

Metropolitan area and State estimates.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Area and Industry Statistics

May 2005 Mean Annual Earnings and Employment, wage and salary workers

Psychiatric technicians
— National
U.S.:	$29,210
— by State
AL:	$22,280
AZ:	$29,870
AR:	$20,100
CA:	$42,320
CO:	$31,790
CT:	$44,340
DC:	$34,610
FL:	$22,750
GA:	$29,650
ID:	$26,370
IL:	$30,030
IN:	$25,010
IA:	$26,730
KS:	$27,090
KY:	$22,490
LA:	$19,470
ME:	$24,630
MD:	$29,470
MA:	$33,960
MI:	$29,010
MN:	$28,380
MS:	$20,440
MO:	$21,320
MT:	$23,140
NH:	$32,870
NJ:	$36,850
NM:	$25,310
NY:	$32,030
NC:	$25,320
ND:	$22,780
OH:	$29,210
OK:	$23,840
OR:	$37,000
PA:	$28,200
RI:	$33,810
SC:	$22,320
TN:	$21,330
TX:	$23,850
UT:	$21,600
VT:	$32,180
VA:	$23,100
WA:	$32,030
WI:	$30,240
— by NAICS Industry Sector
54	$28,570
56	$32,630
61	$31,420
62	$29,610
92	$27,440
Also see State and Metropolitan Area and industry estimates of employment and percentile earnings for psychiatric technicians.

Width of bars indicates mean annual wages; color of bars indicates employment.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Also see Psychiatric technicians in the 2004-05 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook
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See the Occupational Outlook Handbook in print.