Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Psychiatric technicians (SOC 29-2053) employed 156,960 people in May 2025. The median pay is $45,130 a year ($21.70 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,090 and the highest-paid 10% more than $60,750. BLS projects its employment to change by +22.3% between 2025 and 2035 (about 17,000 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Postsecondary nondegree award, with less than 5 years experience in a related occupation.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($67,430), Oregon ($59,820), New York ($58,080). Most jobs: California (14,100), Florida (12,710), Texas (11,350).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| 25th percentile | $38,430 | $18.48 |
| Median | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Mean | $46,610 | $22.41 |
| 75th percentile | $50,160 | $24.12 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $60,750 | $29.21 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 161,500 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 197,500 |
| Change in jobs | 36,000 |
| Percent change | +22.3% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 17,000 |
| Self-employed share | n/a |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Work experience in a related occupation | Less than 5 years |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3,290 | 1.54 | $36,680 | $23,330 | $45,870 | -19% | 35% |
| Alaska | 340 | 1.03 | $51,650 | $40,270 | $77,830 | +14% | 34% |
| Arizona | 8,160 | 2.49 | $45,640 | $36,240 | $56,420 | +1% | 44% |
| Arkansas | 1,900 | 1.45 | $35,930 | $29,790 | $44,130 | -20% | 33% |
| California | 14,100 | 0.77 | $49,140 | $40,880 | $88,090 | +9% | 51% |
| Colorado | 1,740 | 0.60 | $47,430 | $40,940 | $59,810 | +5% | 46% |
| Connecticut | 1,040 | 0.61 | $55,500 | $41,250 | $77,540 | +23% | 34% |
| Delaware | 350 | 0.71 | $38,410 | $32,100 | $47,320 | -15% | 48% |
| District of Columbia | 380 | 0.53 | $67,430 | $42,440 | $78,460 | +49% | 34% |
| Florida | 12,710 | 1.27 | $43,570 | $35,280 | $57,290 | -3% | 50% |
| Georgia | 5,560 | 1.13 | $46,250 | $37,530 | $58,130 | +2% | 39% |
| Hawaii | 2,060 | 3.25 | $55,150 | $45,830 | $63,720 | +22% | 42% |
| Idaho | 780 | 0.90 | $41,490 | $37,980 | $48,180 | -8% | 40% |
| Illinois | 9,410 | 1.53 | $46,200 | $36,820 | $53,620 | +2% | 34% |
| Indiana | 6,790 | 2.10 | $40,910 | $36,010 | $50,190 | -9% | 32% |
| Iowa | 690 | 0.44 | $42,910 | $36,370 | $46,310 | -5% | 27% |
| Kansas | 1,670 | 1.15 | $43,780 | $36,710 | $49,300 | -3% | 30% |
| Kentucky | 910 | 0.45 | $40,370 | $31,300 | $54,750 | -11% | 30% |
| Louisiana | 2,420 | 1.24 | $31,440 | $28,400 | $36,830 | -30% | 41% |
| Maine | 620 | 0.95 | $45,320 | $39,320 | $51,740 | +0% | 32% |
| Maryland | 680 | 0.24 | $45,520 | $34,500 | $61,190 | +1% | 45% |
| Massachusetts | 5,340 | 1.45 | $52,000 | $40,140 | $66,330 | +15% | 43% |
| Michigan | 4,850 | 1.09 | $43,140 | $36,630 | $72,550 | -4% | 32% |
| Minnesota | 3,550 | 1.19 | $40,300 | $36,830 | $58,490 | -11% | 38% |
| Mississippi | 930 | 0.79 | $35,320 | $27,540 | $49,770 | -22% | 34% |
| Missouri | 4,450 | 1.50 | $45,840 | $34,870 | $55,530 | +2% | 28% |
| Montana | 310 | 0.60 | $39,190 | $35,030 | $54,350 | -13% | 36% |
| Nebraska | 1,390 | 1.35 | $57,370 | $39,490 | $62,000 | +27% | 23% |
| Nevada | 2,060 | 1.31 | $46,450 | $38,480 | $56,250 | +3% | 44% |
| New Hampshire | 260 | 0.38 | $44,660 | $44,180 | $60,530 | -1% | 42% |
| New Jersey | 2,520 | 0.58 | $54,040 | $45,770 | $64,620 | +20% | 40% |
| New Mexico | 660 | 0.76 | $39,020 | $31,390 | $49,760 | -14% | 34% |
| New York | 2,040 | 0.21 | $58,080 | $41,650 | $85,920 | +29% | 34% |
| North Carolina | 5,950 | 1.19 | $40,630 | $33,900 | $50,530 | -10% | 40% |
| North Dakota | 270 | 0.62 | $39,960 | $38,350 | $55,760 | -11% | 29% |
| Ohio | 3,950 | 0.70 | $39,140 | $31,550 | $48,840 | -13% | 33% |
| Oklahoma | 820 | 0.48 | $39,060 | $34,080 | $62,400 | -13% | 32% |
| Oregon | 1,250 | 0.63 | $59,820 | $44,570 | $73,530 | +33% | 32% |
| Pennsylvania | 10,340 | 1.69 | $43,930 | $36,920 | $54,000 | -3% | 34% |
| Rhode Island | 990 | 1.95 | $48,520 | $43,450 | $62,490 | +8% | 35% |
| South Carolina | 560 | 0.24 | $40,970 | $35,390 | $53,170 | -9% | 37% |
| Tennessee | 3,810 | 1.15 | $39,800 | $31,370 | $53,940 | -12% | 39% |
| Texas | 11,350 | 0.80 | $39,970 | $33,240 | $49,250 | -11% | 44% |
| Utah | 1,940 | 1.11 | $40,770 | $34,760 | $47,870 | -10% | 47% |
| Vermont | 600 | 1.96 | $47,560 | $40,630 | $58,360 | +5% | 33% |
| Virginia | 3,950 | 0.95 | $48,320 | $38,580 | $58,530 | +7% | 41% |
| Washington | 1,920 | 0.54 | $52,470 | $44,030 | $76,730 | +16% | 42% |
| West Virginia | 770 | 1.08 | $34,100 | $30,130 | $44,270 | -24% | 31% |
| Wisconsin | 4,430 | 1.49 | $40,290 | $32,560 | $84,760 | -11% | 34% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 330 | $95,580 | $66,130 | $105,080 | 1.12 |
| Napa, CA | 320 | $83,960 | $52,230 | $93,180 | 4.05 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 580 | $72,550 | $53,780 | $72,680 | 2.63 |
| Madison, WI | 1,030 | $64,380 | $36,690 | $86,490 | 2.51 |
| Lincoln, NE | 340 | $59,570 | $46,770 | $61,650 | 1.83 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,980 | $58,610 | $44,530 | $85,910 | 0.31 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,460 | $57,610 | $42,770 | $72,520 | 1.27 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,640 | $55,150 | $45,830 | $63,720 | 3.64 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,020 | $54,640 | $44,340 | $97,570 | 0.43 |
| Fresno, CA | 620 | $53,680 | $34,910 | $87,850 | 1.29 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,330 | $52,490 | $45,810 | $78,280 | 0.63 |
| Anchorage, AK | 300 | $51,670 | $40,270 | $77,830 | 1.69 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,450 | $50,840 | $42,440 | $77,000 | 0.46 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 300 | $50,140 | $43,140 | $50,140 | 1.37 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,040 | $50,100 | $42,940 | $59,810 | 0.64 |
| Worcester, MA | 960 | $49,890 | $39,720 | $63,030 | 2.72 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,390 | $48,470 | $41,840 | $83,110 | 0.80 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 520 | $48,370 | $41,250 | $74,200 | 0.86 |
| Richmond, VA | 610 | $48,320 | $39,720 | $60,260 | 0.91 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 720 | $48,310 | $39,490 | $60,060 | 1.42 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 900 | $48,120 | $37,080 | $77,120 | 0.58 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,770 | $48,040 | $40,750 | $74,400 | 0.75 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,420 | $47,980 | $40,930 | $62,490 | 1.97 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,680 | $47,970 | $36,820 | $61,430 | 1.24 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 320 | $47,860 | $34,810 | $61,060 | 0.23 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 910 | $47,810 | $40,880 | $86,980 | 0.83 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 4,230 | $47,650 | $38,490 | $60,820 | 1.45 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 1,150 | $47,420 | $38,210 | $56,020 | 1.49 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,560 | $46,920 | $38,500 | $58,240 | 1.56 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 1,590 | $46,550 | $38,480 | $57,920 | 1.39 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 6,630 | $46,550 | $37,000 | $59,020 | 2.77 |
| Springfield, MA | 350 | $46,540 | $38,180 | $55,720 | 1.70 |
| Reno, NV | 380 | $46,390 | $37,390 | $56,250 | 1.35 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 430 | $46,290 | $39,080 | $64,780 | 0.36 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 370 | $46,200 | $33,610 | $61,270 | 1.20 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 6,730 | $46,060 | $38,420 | $51,450 | 1.48 |
| Springfield, MO | 1,230 | $45,840 | $35,280 | $45,840 | 5.46 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,550 | $45,440 | $36,160 | $59,560 | 1.09 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | 980 | $45,360 | $36,780 | $54,000 | 3.79 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 2,440 | $44,710 | $37,630 | $50,750 | 2.18 |
| Cleveland, OH | 830 | $44,690 | $33,540 | $47,550 | 0.80 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,890 | $44,500 | $34,700 | $58,590 | 1.37 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,380 | $44,450 | $34,180 | $59,480 | 1.24 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,590 | $44,110 | $36,440 | $48,110 | 1.16 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 430 | $44,100 | $36,580 | $51,490 | 1.23 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 950 | $44,000 | $37,120 | $50,190 | 1.26 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 1,500 | $43,780 | $37,810 | $51,560 | 1.36 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 3,300 | $43,320 | $35,600 | $49,870 | 0.99 |
| Knoxville, TN | 360 | $43,190 | $30,960 | $55,610 | 0.85 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 370 | $42,590 | $34,930 | $47,830 | 1.10 |
| Akron, OH | 440 | $42,510 | $36,980 | $56,620 | 1.36 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 900 | $41,970 | $38,280 | $52,260 | 2.35 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,020 | $41,940 | $36,570 | $48,240 | 0.74 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2,230 | $41,890 | $36,630 | $52,060 | 1.16 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 690 | $41,570 | $36,530 | $48,670 | 0.82 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,150 | $41,460 | $37,490 | $49,470 | 1.02 |
| Tucson, AZ | 810 | $41,140 | $34,270 | $51,650 | 2.07 |
| Boise City, ID | 380 | $41,090 | $40,040 | $50,760 | 0.96 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 530 | $40,910 | $36,780 | $47,110 | 3.98 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,590 | $40,610 | $36,600 | $47,560 | 1.22 |
The median is $45,130 a year ($21.70 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $35,090 and the highest-paid tenth over $60,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
156,960 in May 2025, and BLS projects +22.3% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $67,430 (among states with published figures).