Psychiatric Care Technician Salary in the United States

How much does a Psychiatric Care Technician make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Psychiatric Care Technician in the United States is $41,868 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

However, a Psychiatric Care Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $49,896
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $37,719 to $46,070
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,942
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
Smart Recruiting
View as table View as graph 25% $37,719 10% $33,942 90% $49,896 75% $46,070 $41,868 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Psychiatric Care Technician Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $46,070 $3,839 $886 $22
Average $41,868 $3,489 $805 $20
25th Percentile $37,719 $3,143 $725 $18
Check out Psychiatric Care Technician Job Openings in the United States
Patient Care Technician

Innovative Renal Care - Columbus, OH

Patient Care Technician

COA ASC of Franklin County Limited - Columbus, OH

Patient Care Technician

Davita - Columbus, OH

Veterinary Care Technician

Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

Search More Psychiatric Care Technician Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Psychiatric Care Technician Salaries

A Psychiatric Care Technician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Psychiatric Care Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Psychiatric Care Technician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $42,732
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $92,594
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $107,253
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $142,350
  • Expert (over 8 years): $176,183
Levels Salary
Psychiatr... Level Psychiatric Care Technician$42,732
Behaviora... Level Psychiatric Care Technician$92,594
Behaviora... Level Psychiatric Care Technician$107,253
Behaviora... Level Psychiatric Care Technician$142,350
VP of Beh... Level Psychiatric Care Technician$176,183
$42,732 0 yr
$92,594 < 2 yrs
$107,253 2-4 yrs
$142,350 5-8 yrs
$176,183 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Psychiatric Care Technician Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Psychiatric Care Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $46,356.
  • California: $46,180.
  • Massachusetts: $45,565.

Top Paying Cities for Psychiatric Care Technicians

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $52,808
  • San Francisco: $52,230
  • Oakland: $51,129

What Skills Can Increase a Psychiatric Care Technician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 16.68% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Social Work (Mentioned in 3.01% Job Postings): Social work is an academic discipline and profession that concerns itself with individuals, families, groups and communities in an effort to enhance social functioning and overall well-being. Social functioning is the way in which people perform their social roles, and the structural institutions that are provided[by whom?] to sustain them. Social work applies social sciences, such as sociology, psychology, political science, public health, community development, law, and economics, to engage with client systems, conduct assessments, and develop interventions to solve social and personal problems; and to bring about social change. Social work practice is often divided[by whom?] into micro-work, which involves working directly with individuals or small groups; and macro-work, which involves working with communities, and - within social policy - fostering change on a larger scale.
  • First Aid (Mentioned in 2.61% Job Postings): First aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 16.68%
Social Work 3.01%
First Aid 2.61%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Psychiatric Care Technician's salary.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Child Development: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Applied Behavior Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment
$51,498
23%
Child Development
$44,799
7%
Applied Behavior Analysis
$43,543
4%
Social Work
$43,543
4%
Products and Services
$43,124
3%
Organizational Skills
$42,705
2%
Get Latest Data

Psychiatric Care Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Psychiatric Care Technician roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Insurance, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Psychiatric Care Technician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Psychiatric Care Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Psychiatric Care Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$50,242$24.020%

How Education impacts a Psychiatric Care Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Psychiatric Care Technicians enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Psychiatric Care Technician with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $38,567 and $40,902).

Psychiatric Care Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Psychiatric Care Technician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 17.7%
Associates 12.6%
Bachelors 53.0%
Masters 16.4%
Doctorate 0.0%
view as graph

Psychiatric Care Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Psychiatric Care Technician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Psychiatric Care Technician

Salaries for a Psychiatric Care Technician can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $39,067 in 2023 to around $38,404 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Psychiatric Care Technician salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Psychiatric Care Technician Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$39,067
2024
$38,698
2025
$38,404
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $39,067
2024 $38,698
2025 $38,404
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Psychiatric Care Technician

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Psychiatric Care Technician

Here are companies hiring for Psychiatric Care Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Psychiatric Care Technician Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Psychiatric Care Technician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Concerto Renal Services

    Columbus, OH

    Concerto Renal Services | Columbus, OH

    Dialysis Patient Care Technician. Stellar Care Group Scioto - Columbus, OH 43207. Job Description. Why Work at Concerto. What is in it for you. Three (3) d... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Mission Pet Health

    Columbus, OH

    Mission Pet Health | Columbus, OH

    Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT). Now Hiring: Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) Livewell Urgent Care of Worthington | Worthington, OH. Do you th... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Fresenius Medical Care

    Columbus, OH

    Fresenius Medical Care | Columbus, OH

    Fresenius Medical Care - 5100 West Broad Street - Responsibilities: Provides patient care under the supervision of the FMCNA RN in the acute setting. Set u... more

    5 Days Ago

  • InnoSource

    Columbus, OH

    InnoSource | Columbus, OH

    Certified Pharmacy Technician / Patient Care Representative. Columbus, Ohio Hybrid Benefits offered. Description. Are you looking to get your foot in the d... more

    4 Days Ago

  • giftHEALTH Inc

    Columbus, OH

    giftHEALTH Inc | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Description. About Us. At Gifthealth, we're revolutionizing the way people experience healthcare by simplifying the proce... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Ohio State University

    Columbus, OH

    Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

    Veterinary Care Technician 3 (RVT) 3rd Shift Equine/Farm Animal Anesthesia, Pain Management, Critical Care - New Hire Signing Bonus. The Veterinary Medical... more

    5 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Psychiatric Care Technician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Psychiatric Care Technician?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Psychiatric Care Technician roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst