Psychiatric Technicians

Bright outlookJob zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 29-2053.00

Pay and outlook shown for

median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

$32k10th$38kMedian$49k90th

New workers start near $31,770; experienced workers reach $49,250. About 1,160 people do this job in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX.

Job outlook

Alamo region (San Antonio and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034; U.S. figures from the BLS.

Employment change: +28.3%; Alamo region, 1,099 to 1,410 jobs · U.S. +20%
Openings a year: 134; in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 15,900
Employed in 2024: 1,099; in the Alamo region · U.S. 144,500

Typical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award · Experience: Less than 5 years · Training: Short-term on-the-job training

Alamo Colleges programs that lead here

No program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.

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Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

Social Perceptiveness4.3
Active Listening4.0
Monitoring4.0
Speaking3.9
Coordination3.3
Reading Comprehension3.9
Critical Thinking3.8
Service Orientation3.5

What the work is

Care for individuals with mental or emotional conditions or disabilities, following the instructions of physicians or other health practitioners. Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report to medical staff. May participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs, help with personal hygiene, and administer oral or injectable medications.

Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.
Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.
Observe and influence patients' behavior, communicating and interacting with them and teaching, counseling, or befriending them.
Take and record measures of patients' physical condition, using devices such as thermometers or blood pressure gauges.
Encourage patients to develop work skills and to participate in social, recreational, or other therapeutic activities that enhance interpersonal skills or develop social relationships.
Collaborate with or assist doctors, psychologists, or rehabilitation therapists in working with patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities to treat, rehabilitate, and return patients to the community.

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

High school or less20%
Certificate5%
Some college40%
Associate degree3%
Bachelor's degree30%
Master's degree2%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

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