Psychiatric technicians
SOC Code: 29-2053
Psychiatric technicians carries a 23% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $42,590 and +20.0% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 144,500 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Psychiatric technicians (SOC 29-2053) carries an AI exposure score of 23%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 144,500 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +20.0% change through 2034 — a strong growth outlook that compensates meaningfully for automation risk. Median annual compensation stands at $42,590, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Postsecondary nondegree award, plus Less than 5 years of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Psychiatric technicians. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.
- 2. Administer oral medications or hypodermic injections, following physician's prescriptions and hospital procedures.
- 3. Encourage patients to develop work skills and to participate in social, recreational, or other therapeutic activities that enhance interpersonal skills or develop social relationships.
- 4. Restrain violent, potentially violent, or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required.
- 5. Lead prescribed individual or group therapy sessions as part of specific therapeutic procedures.
- 6. Issue medications from dispensary and maintain records in accordance with specified procedures.
- 7. Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.
- 8. Take and record measures of patients' physical condition, using devices such as thermometers or blood pressure gauges.
- 9. Observe and influence patients' behavior, communicating and interacting with them and teaching, counseling, or befriending them.
- 10. Aid patients in performing tasks, such as bathing or keeping beds, clothing, or living areas clean.
Key Skills Required
- Social Perceptiveness
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Coordination
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Service Orientation
- Writing
- Instructing
Knowledge Areas
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Education and Training
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics
- Sociology and Anthropology
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Psychiatric technicians?
Psychiatric technicians has an AI exposure score of 23%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Psychiatric technicians?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Psychiatric technicians is projected to grow by 20.0% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 144,500 workers.
What skills are needed for Psychiatric technicians?
Key skills for Psychiatric technicians include Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Monitoring, and others. Typical entry-level education is Postsecondary nondegree award.
How much do Psychiatric technicians earn?
The median annual wage for Psychiatric technicians is $42,590, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Psychiatric technicians?
The typical entry-level education for Psychiatric technicians is Postsecondary nondegree award. Employers generally expect Less than 5 years of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Psychiatric technicians?
Psychiatric technicians roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
Explore More on PlainWorkforce
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).