Psychiatric Technicians
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Gives nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to people with mental, emotional, cognitive, or developmental conditions, following physicians and other practitioners. Watches physical and emotional state, records temperature and blood pressure, may give oral or injectable medicines, and reports unusual behavior or illness to medical staff. Helps with bathing, clothing, and keeping living areas clean; encourages work skills and social or therapeutic activities; and leads prescribed individual or group sessions. Uses verbal or physical restraint when a patient is violent or at risk of suicide. Suits people who like close, steady patient contact, careful observation, and work that can include restraining someone in crisis.
Typical education: Some College Courses
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$45'130
Median Wage Market Position
$45'130
What you might do
- Care for people with mental or developmental conditions
- Watch mood and health and report changes
- Take temperature and blood pressure readings
- Help patients bathe and keep living areas clean
- Lead prescribed individual or group therapy sessions
- Restrain patients who become violent or suicidal
Skills that matter
- Noticing mood and behavior changes
- Temperature and blood pressure readings
- Prescribed individual or group therapy
- Help with bathing and personal care
- Restraint when a patient is violent
- Encouraging work and social skills
AI & the future of this role
In-person monitoring, de-escalation, and trust-based support for people in distress are hard to automate safely. Charting aids may streamline paperwork, but licensed oversight and human judgment around treatment assistance likely keep demand for this work solid.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details