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Psychiatric Technicians in West Virginia

Psychiatric Technicians in West Virginia

Want to work as a Psychiatric Technicians in West Virginia? Here’s what you need to know. 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.

What do Psychiatric Technicians Make in West Virginia?

For psychiatric technicians working in West Virginia, wages run about $30,890 per year (or about $14.85/hour).Earnings range from $27,470 at the 10th percentile to $39,100 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $27,470 $13.21
25th percentile $30,310 $14.57
Median (50th) $30,890 $14.85
75th percentile $35,700 $17.16
90th percentile $39,100 $18.80
Salary ranges for Psychiatric Technicians in West Virginia

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in West Virginia nationwide is 1.13, suggesting that psychiatric technicians are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, psychiatric technicians earn a median of $52,472 per year ($25.23/hour), below the West Virginia median.

Psychiatric Technicians earnings in West Virginia vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 450,959 psychiatric technicians in the U.S.. In West Virginia alone, about 700 people work in this role. That’s below the typical state, which employs around 1,630 psychiatric technicians.

Psychiatric Technicians in West Virginia vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Psychiatric Technicians

Top West Virginia Metros for Psychiatric Technicians

The largest metro-area employers of psychiatric technicians in West Virginia.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH 190 $34,770
Charleston, WV 100 $34,440

Top States for Psychiatric Technicians Employment

The table below shows the states where the most psychiatric technicians work.

State Number Employed
Florida 14,080
Texas 11,530
California 8,830
Pennsylvania 7,790
Arizona 7,510
Illinois 6,770
Indiana 6,630
Michigan 5,060
North Carolina 4,940
Missouri 4,650
Wisconsin 4,360
Virginia 4,350
Georgia 3,920
Massachusetts 3,600
Tennessee 3,490
Alabama 2,860
Ohio 2,590
Minnesota 2,080
New Jersey 2,010
Kansas 1,990

Highest-Paying States for Psychiatric Technicians

Where psychiatric technicians earn the most: psychiatric technicians.

State Annual Median Salary
District of Columbia $65,060
California $61,620
New Jersey $58,000
New York $57,630
Massachusetts $52,290
Hawaii $52,180
Oregon $51,640
Washington $51,000
Connecticut $50,170
Alaska $49,340

Skills

Key psychiatric technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Social Perceptiveness  4.1 / 5
0
5
Monitoring  4.0 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  4.0 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Coordination  3.9 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  3.8 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Psychology  4.2 / 5
0
5
Therapy and Counseling  4.1 / 5
0
5
English Language  4.1 / 5
0
5
Customer and Personal Service  4.0 / 5
0
5
Medicine and Dentistry  3.7 / 5
0
5
Education and Training  3.5 / 5
0
5

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for psychiatric technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Oral Expression  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Problem Sensitivity  4.0 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  3.8 / 5
0
5
Written Comprehension  3.6 / 5
0
5
Inductive Reasoning  3.6 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, psychiatric technicians typically:

  • 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.
  • Take and record measures of patients' physical condition, using devices such as thermometers or blood pressure gauges.
  • Observe and influence patients' behavior, communicating and interacting with them and teaching, counseling, or befriending them.
  • Aid patients in performing tasks, such as bathing or keeping beds, clothing, or living areas clean.
  • 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.
  • Develop or teach strategies to promote client wellness and independence.
  • Train or instruct new employees on procedures to follow with psychiatric patients.
  • Escort patients to medical appointments.

Work Activities

  • Assisting and Caring for Others
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Getting Information
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Developing and Building Teams
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

  • Mental & Social Health Services

Other careers like psychiatric technicians include:

Also Known As

Autism Behavior Technician (Autism Behavior Tech), BHT (Behavioral Health Technician), Behavior Technician (Behavior Tech), Behavioral Health Associate, Behavioral Technician (Behavioral Tech), Counselor, Health Care Technician (Health Care Tech), LPT (Licensed Psychiatric Technician), MHA (Mental Health Assistant), MHW (Mental Health Worker), Mental Health Associate, Mental Health Specialist, Mental Health Technician (MHT), Milieu Therapist, Patient Care Specialist.

References

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