Psychiatric aides and technicians work as part of a medical team, under the direction of physicians.
Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities. Technicians typically provide therapeutic care and monitor their patients’ conditions. Aides help patients in their daily activities and ensure a safe and clean environment.
Duties
Psychiatric technicians, sometimes called mental health technicians, typically do the following:
Observe patients’ behavior, listen to their concerns, and record their condition
Lead patients in therapeutic and recreational activities
Give medications and other treatments to patients, following instructions from doctors and other medical professionals
Help with admitting and discharging patients
Monitor patients’ vital signs, such as their blood pressure
Help patients with activities of daily living, including eating and bathing
Restrain patients who may become physically violent
Psychiatric aides typically do the following:
Monitor patients’ behavior and location in a mental healthcare facility
Help patients with their daily living activities, such as bathing and dressing
Serve meals and help patients eat
Keep facilities clean by doing tasks such as changing bed linens
Participate in group activities, such as playing sports and going on field trips
Help transport patients within a hospital or residential care facility
Restrain patients who may become physically violent
Many psychiatric technicians and aides work with patients who are severely developmentally disabled and need intensive care. Others work with patients undergoing rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction. The work of psychiatric technicians and aides varies with the types of patients they work with.
Because they have such close contact with patients, psychiatric technicians and aides can have a great deal of influence on patients’ outlook and treatment.
Psychiatric technicians may monitor patients’ vital signs, such as taking their blood pressure.
Psychiatric aides held about 41,000 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of psychiatric aides were as follows:
Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals; state, local, and private
42%
State government, excluding education and hospitals
19
Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities
7
Psychiatric technicians held about 98,000 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of psychiatric technicians were as follows:
Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals; state, local, and private
32%
General medical and surgical hospitals; private
12
Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities
9
Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers
6
State government, excluding education and hospitals
5
Psychiatric technicians and aides may spend much of their shift on their feet. Some of the work that psychiatric aides do may be unpleasant. They may care for patients whose illnesses make them disoriented, uncooperative, or violent.
Injuries and Illnesses
Psychiatric technicians and aides have some of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Their work requires many physically demanding tasks, such as lifting patients. They also work with patients who may be physically uncooperative, which can cause injuries.
Work Schedule
Psychiatric technicians and aides may work full time or part time. Because hospitals and residential facilities operate 24 hours a day, many psychiatric technicians and aides work nights, weekends, and holidays
Psychiatric technicians observe patients’ behavior and listen to their concerns.
Psychiatric technicians typically need a postsecondary certificate, and aides need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Both technicians and aides get on-the-job training.
Education
Psychiatric technicians typically have a postsecondary certificate. Often, they have experience as a nursing assistant or a licensed practical nurse and have completed postsecondary education in nursing.
Other psychiatric technicians may have a postsecondary certificate or associate’s degree in psychiatric or mental health technology. These programs are offered by community colleges and technical schools and include courses in biology, psychology, and counseling. Psychiatric technician programs may include supervised work experience or cooperative programs, in which students gain academic credit for structured work experience.
Psychiatric aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent.
Training
Psychiatric technicians and aides usually have a short period of on-the-job training before they can work without direct supervision.
Training may include working with patients while under the close supervision of an experienced technician or aide. Technicians and aides may also attend workshops, lectures, or in-service training.
Compassion. Because psychiatric technicians and aides spend much of their time interacting with patients, they should be caring and want to help people.
Interpersonal skills. Psychiatric technicians and aides often provide ongoing care for patients, so they should develop a rapport with them. Gaining such rapport makes psychiatric technicians and aides better able to treat their patients and evaluate their condition.
Observational skills. Technicians must watch patients closely and be sensitive to any changes in behavior. For their safety and that of their patients, they must recognize signs of discomfort or trouble among patients.
Patience. Working with the mentally ill can be emotionally challenging. Psychiatric technicians and aides must stay calm in stressful situations.
Physical stamina. Psychiatric technicians and aides must lift, move, and sometimes restrain patients. They must also spend much of their time on their feet.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Most states do not require psychiatric technicians to have a license. California is one of the larger states that requires a license. In those states which license them, technicians usually are required to complete an accredited education program, pass an exam, and pay a fee to be licensed.
The American Association of Psychiatric Technicians offers four levels of certification for psychiatric technicians. The certifications allow technicians to show a high level of professional competency. Requirements vary by certification.
Psychiatric aides are not required to be licensed.
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
The median annual wage for psychiatric aides was $30,260 in May 2021.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,120, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $48,140.
The median annual wage for psychiatric technicians was $36,570 in May 2021.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,980, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $56,380.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for psychiatric aides in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals; state, local, and private
$37,050
State government, excluding education and hospitals
29,590
Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities
28,250
In May 2021, the median annual wages for psychiatric technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
State government, excluding education and hospitals
$49,660
General medical and surgical hospitals; private
36,630
Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals; state, local, and private
36,030
Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers
29,870
Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities
29,340
Psychiatric technicians and aides may work full time or part time. Because hospitals and residential facilities operate 24 hours a day, many psychiatric technicians and aides work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Overall employment of psychiatric technicians and aides is projected to grow 9 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 16,500 openings for psychiatric technicians and aides are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Projected employment of psychiatric technicians and aides varies by occupation (see table). Cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, are more likely to occur in older people. As the nation’s population of older people grows, demand is expected to increase for psychiatric technicians and aides who care for patients affected by such disorders.
Psychiatric technicians and aides also will be needed to care for people who have mental health and substance abuse issues.
Employment projections data for psychiatric technicians and aides, 2021-31
Occupational Title
SOC Code
Employment, 2021
Projected Employment, 2031
Change, 2021-31
Employment by Industry
Percent
Numeric
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program