Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Massachusetts
$55,500 / year
≈ $4,650 per month · $26.68 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Massachusetts · median $54,000
25th percentile
$48,500Average
$55,50075th percentile
$61,500
$48,500Average
$55,50075th percentile
$61,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Psychiatric Technician salary by state
Alabama$37,000
Alaska$59,500
Arizona$47,000
Arkansas$37,000
California$61,000
Colorado$50,500
Connecticut$59,500
Delaware$41,000
District of Columbia$65,500
Florida$46,500
Georgia$49,000
Hawaii$56,500
Idaho$44,500
Illinois$47,500
Indiana$44,000
Iowa$43,000
Kansas$44,000
Kentucky$43,500
Louisiana$33,500
Maine$48,000
Maryland$47,500
Massachusetts$55,500
Michigan$48,000
Minnesota$46,500
Mississippi$37,500
Missouri$46,000
Montana$43,000
Nebraska$55,500
Nevada$49,000
New Hampshire$52,500
New Jersey$58,500
New Mexico$43,000
New York$62,000
North Carolina$43,500
North Dakota$45,000
Ohio$42,500
Oklahoma$43,500
Oregon$60,000
Pennsylvania$46,500
Rhode Island$52,000
South Carolina$45,500
Tennessee$43,500
Texas$43,000
Utah$43,500
Vermont$50,500
Virginia$50,000
Washington$57,000
West Virginia$36,000
Wisconsin$50,000
About this role
Psychiatric Technician is a professional role within the function in the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Psychiatric Technicians do
Typical education: Some College Courses
- Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.
- Encourage patients to develop work skills and to participate in social, recreational, or other therapeutic activities that enhance interpersonal skills or develop social relationships.
- Restrain violent, potentially violent, or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required.
- Lead prescribed individual or group therapy sessions as part of specific therapeutic procedures.
- Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.
Top skills: Social Perceptiveness Monitoring Active Listening Speaking Coordination Reading Comprehension
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Psychiatric Technician pay by experience level
Entry level$36,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$40,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$46,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$52,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$63,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+20%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
15,900
projected openings per year
Growing faster than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Psychiatric Technician salary by industry
Ambulatory Health Care Services
56,540 workers
$48,000Hospitals
49,620 workers
$48,500Offices of Other Health Practitioners
36,400 workers
$48,000Hospitals, Privately Owned
33,760 workers
$45,000Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals
33,100 workers
$48,500Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
18,560 workers
$42,500Social Assistance
18,450 workers
$48,000Individual and Family Services
17,660 workers
$48,500Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities
16,060 workers
$42,000Outpatient Care Centers
16,030 workers
$48,500National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Psychiatric Technician pays 70% below the average across 91 roles in the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical job family (family average $162,000).
Similar-paying roles in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Pharmacy Technician$48,000
Emergency Medical Technician$48,500
Opticians, Dispensing$53,500
Dietetic Technician$42,000
Medical Records Specialist$59,000
Exercise Physiologist$63,000
Paramedic$65,500
Hearing Aid Specialist$68,500
Careers related to Psychiatric Technician
Psychiatric Aide$47,500
Occupational Therapy Aide$45,500
Physical Therapist Aide$37,500
Physical Therapist Assistant$71,000
Recreational Therapist$70,000
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Psychiatric Technician make?
The average base salary for a Psychiatric Technician in the United States is $48,000 per year, or about $23.08 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $39,500 and $52,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical roles?
The Healthcare Practitioners and Technical job family averages $162,000 across 91 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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