Psychiatric technicians and aides
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Psychiatric technicians and aides in the United States earn a median salary of $45,130 per year — about $22 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 183K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +16%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core of this occupation involves physical tasks such as bathing, feeding, and physically restraining patients, which AI cannot perform. While AI can assist with monitoring patient behavior and automating documentation or reporting, the high requirement for real-time human presence, physical stamina, and interpersonal compassion creates a significant barrier to automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CABEST VALUE | $95,580 | Above avg (105.1) | $90,951 |
| Visalia, CA | $76,700 | Average (99.8) | $76,834 |
| Napa, CA | $83,960 | Above avg (112.6) | $74,595 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $72,550 | Average (100.9) | $71,917 |
| Vallejo, CA | $76,120 | Above avg (108.5) | $70,170 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $65,500 | Below avg (95.8) | $68,340 |
| Madison, WI | $64,380 | Average (97.3) | $66,175 |
| Lincoln, NE | $59,570 | Below avg (91.6) | $65,046 |
| Salem, OR | $66,840 | Above avg (103.6) | $64,487 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $62,400 | Average (100.3) | $62,185 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $63,510 | Above avg (108.8) | $58,374 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $58,500 | Average (101.6) | $57,597 |
| New Haven, CT | $59,930 | Above avg (104.6) | $57,317 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $62,590 | Above avg (109.4) | $57,216 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $57,360 | Average (100.4) | $57,106 |