Psychiatric Technicians and Aides

What Psychiatric Technicians and Aides Do

Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21e2Kv9qzGU

Work Environment

Psychiatric technicians and aides work in psychiatric hospitals, residential mental health facilities, and related healthcare settings. They may spend much of their shift on their feet.

How to Become a Psychiatric Technician or Aide

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.

Pay

The median annual wage for psychiatric aides was $31,110 in May 2019.

The median annual wage for psychiatric technicians was $33,780 in May 2019.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of psychiatric technicians and aides is projected to grow 12 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for this occupation will be affected by the growth of the older population. Older people typically experience higher rates of cognitive illnesses than younger people do.

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.

Psychiatric technicians and aides work as part of a medical team under the direction of physicians and with other team members, who may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, counselors, and therapists. For more information on the counselors and therapists they may work with, see the profiles on substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, rehabilitation counselors, and marriage and family therapists.

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 aides held about 59,500 jobs in 2019. The largest employers of psychiatric aides were as follows:

Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals; state, local, and private	39%
State government, excluding education and hospitals	23
Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities	7

Psychiatric technicians held about 82,800 jobs in 2019. The largest employers of psychiatric technicians were as follows:

Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals; state, local, and private	40%
General medical and surgical hospitals; private	13
State government, excluding education and hospitals	8
Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities	7
Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers	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

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of psychiatric technicians and aides.

	Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2019
	Childcare Workers	Childcare workers attend to the basic needs of children, such as dressing, feeding, and overseeing play.	High school diploma or equivalent	$24,230
	Home Health Aides and Personal Care Aides	Home health aides and personal care aides help people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or cognitive impairment by assisting in their daily living activities.	High school diploma or equivalent	$25,280
	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) provide basic nursing care.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$47,480
	Medical Assistants	Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in hospitals, offices of physicians, and other healthcare facilities.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$34,800
	Nursing Assistants and Orderlies	Nursing assistants provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas.	See How to Become One	$29,640
	Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides	Occupational therapy assistants and aides help patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.	See How to Become One	$59,200
	Registered Nurses	Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions.	Bachelor’s degree	$73,300
	Social and Human Service Assistants	Social and human service assistants provide client services in a variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work.	High school diploma or equivalent	$35,060

For more information about psychiatric technicians and aides, visit

American Association of Psychiatric Technicians

O*NET

Psychiatric Aides

Psychiatric Technicians