📚 Education & Social Services
↑ 8% growth · Faster than average
Mental Health Technician (MHT) / Psychiatric Technician
MHTs (also called psych techs or behavioral health techs) work directly with psychiatric patients in inpatient units, residential facilities, and crisis centers. Entry-level, immediate hire, and a meaningful first step into behavioral health.
$37,380
Median Salary
82K
US Jobs
1–6 months
Training
$500–$5,000
Typical Cost
💰 Salary & Earning Potential
Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Figures represent national averages — local wages vary by state, city, and employer.
Want your state's salary? Select a state below to see local wage data, demand, and training programs.
📈 Job Outlook
8%
Projected Growth (10yr)
Faster than average
82K
Total US Jobs
Active positions nationwide
BHT Certification
Required Credential
BHT Certification (BHCOE or state)
🎓 Training & Education
Typical Program
BHT/MHT Certificate or on-the-job training
Program Length
1–6 months
Typical Tuition
$500–$5,000
Work Setting
Psychiatric hospitals, crisis stabilization units, residential treatment
🏆 Credential Required: BHT Certification (BHCOE or state)
☀️ Day in the Life
A typical day as a Mental Health Technician (MHT) / Psychiatric Technician involves working closely with clients and colleagues in a Psychiatric hospitals environment. You'll apply your training daily while building expertise and advancing your career.
⚖️ Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✅ Strong job security
- ✅ Rewarding work
- ✅ Clear career progression
- ✅ Growing demand
Challenges
- ⚠️ Can be physically demanding
- ⚠️ May require ongoing certification
- ⚠️ Entry-level wages vary by region
🗺️ Mental Health Technician (MHT) / Psychiatric Technician by State
See local salary data, licensing requirements, and schools in your state:
FL FloridaGA GeorgiaTX TexasCA CaliforniaNY New YorkNC North CarolinaIL IllinoisOH OhioPA PennsylvaniaAZ ArizonaAL AlabamaAR ArkansasLA LouisianaMS MississippiSC South CarolinaTN TennesseeVA VirginiaWV West VirginiaKY KentuckyMD MarylandDE DelawareNJ New JerseyCT ConnecticutMA MassachusettsRI Rhode IslandNH New HampshireVT VermontME MaineMI MichiganIN IndianaWI WisconsinMN MinnesotaIA IowaMO MissouriND North DakotaSD South DakotaNE NebraskaKS KansasOK OklahomaCO ColoradoMT MontanaWY WyomingID IdahoUT UtahNV NevadaNM New MexicoWA WashingtonOR OregonAK AlaskaHI HawaiiDC Washington DC
🏫 Schools and programs related to Mental Health Technician (MHT) / Psychiatric Technician
USA Career Finder combines federal education datasets, state-approved training lists, workforce training provider lists, and licensing-board sources where available. Always confirm program availability, cost, admissions requirements, and licensing eligibility directly with the school.
Federal dataset match
Community College
CUNY Kingsborough Community College
📍 Brooklyn, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Oakland Community College
📍 Auburn Hills, MI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
CUNY LaGuardia Community College
📍 Long Island City, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
📍 Granite Falls, MN
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College
📍 Chicago, IL
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Northwood Technical College
📍 Rice Lake, WI
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Anne Arundel Community College
📍 Arnold, MD
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Baltimore City Community College
📍 Baltimore, MD
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Milwaukee Area Technical College
📍 Milwaukee, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Community College of Baltimore County
📍 Baltimore, MD
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Forsyth Technical Community College
📍 Winston-Salem, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Wake Technical Community College
📍 Raleigh, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
📍 Asheville, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
📍 Hampton, VA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
📍 Perkinston, MS
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Virginia Western Community College
📍 Roanoke, VA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Waukesha County Technical College
📍 Pewaukee, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Brightpoint Community College
📍 Chester, VA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Guilford Technical Community College
📍 Jamestown, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Columbus State Community College
📍 Columbus, OH
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Tarrant County College District
📍 Fort Worth, TX
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Northern Essex Community College
📍 Haverhill, MA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Montgomery County Community College
📍 Blue Bell, PA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Northcentral Technical College
📍 Wausau, WI
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Tohono O'odham Community College
📍 Sells, AZ
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Connecticut State Community College
📍 Hartford, CT
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Cuyahoga Community College District
📍 Cleveland, OH
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Carteret Community College
📍 Morehead City, NC
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
📍 Annandale, VA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Chippewa Valley Technical College
📍 Eau Claire, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Suffolk County Community College
📍 Selden, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
California Nurses Educational Institute
📍 Palm Springs, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College
📍 Chicago, IL
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Kennebec Valley Community College
📍 Fairfield, ME
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
📍 Minneapolis, MN
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Central Community College
📍 Grand Island, NE
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Blue Ridge Community College
📍 Weyers Cave, VA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
📍 Green Bay, WI
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
📍 Fennimore, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
East Los Angeles College
📍 Monterey Park, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Beaufort County Community College
📍 Washington, NC
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Central Piedmont Community College
📍 Charlotte, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Blackhawk Technical College
📍 Janesville, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
📍 Johnstown, PA
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Los Angeles Pierce College
📍 Woodland Hills, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Niagara County Community College
📍 Sanborn, NY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College
📍 Rockford, IL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
📍 Richmond, VA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
NHTI-Concord's Community College
📍 Concord, NH
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Central Carolina Community College
📍 Sanford, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Nicolet Area Technical College
📍 Rhinelander, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southern University at Shreveport
📍 Shreveport, LA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Wayne County Community College District
📍 Detroit, MI
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
📍 Hudson, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Fox Valley Technical College
📍 Appleton, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
📍 Chandler, AZ
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
BridgeValley Community & Technical College
📍 South Charleston, WV
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Metropolitan Community College Area
📍 Omaha, NE
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Rowan College at Burlington County
📍 Mount Laurel, NJ
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Tompkins Cortland Community College
📍 Dryden, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Community College of Rhode Island
📍 Warwick, RI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Lamar State College-Port Arthur
📍 Port Arthur, TX
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Moraine Park Technical College
📍 Fond du Lac, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Northern Wyoming Community College District
📍 Sheridan, WY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
North Shore Community College
📍 Danvers, MA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
📍 Fergus Falls, MN
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mohawk Valley Community College
📍 Utica, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southern State Community College
📍 Hillsboro, OH
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southside Virginia Community College
📍 Alberta, VA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
📍 Martinsburg, WV
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Santa Barbara City College
📍 Santa Barbara, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
📍 Chicago, IL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College
📍 Chicago, IL
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Allegany College of Maryland
📍 Cumberland, MD
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Hagerstown Community College
📍 Hagerstown, MD
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Rochester Community and Technical College
📍 Rochester, MN
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Atlantic Cape Community College
📍 Mays Landing, NJ
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Blue Ridge Community College
📍 Flat Rock, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mitchell Community College
📍 Statesville, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Reading Area Community College
📍 Reading, PA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Gadsden State Community College
📍 Gadsden, AL
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Waubonsee Community College
📍 Sugar Grove, IL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Grand Rapids Community College
📍 Grand Rapids, MI
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
South Piedmont Community College
📍 Polkton, NC
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Cape Fear Community College
📍 Wilmington, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Catawba Valley Community College
📍 Hickory, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Isothermal Community College
📍 Spindale, NC
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Vance-Granville Community College
📍 Henderson, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
West Virginia Northern Community College
📍 Wheeling, WV
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Klamath Community College
📍 Klamath Falls, OR
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Career College
Stautzenberger College-Brecksville
📍 Brecksville, OH
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
North Central Missouri College
📍 Trenton, MO
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Clinton Community College
📍 Plattsburgh, NY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
North Country Community College
📍 Saranac Lake, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
SUNY Westchester Community College
📍 Valhalla, NY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
College of the Albemarle
📍 Elizabeth City, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mayland Community College
📍 Spruce Pine, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Western Piedmont Community College
📍 Morganton, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College
📍 Cedar Bluff, VA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Estrella Mountain Community College
📍 Avondale, AZ
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Los Angeles Southwest College
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Los Angeles City College
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Frederick Community College
📍 Frederick, MD
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
📍 Coon Rapids, MN
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Flathead Valley Community College
📍 Kalispell, MT
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
SUNY Broome Community College
📍 Binghamton, NY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
SUNY Corning Community College
📍 Corning, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Finger Lakes Community College
📍 Canandaigua, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Schenectady County Community College
📍 Schenectady, NY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Lake Area Technical College
📍 Watertown, SD
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Community College of Vermont
📍 Montpelier, VT
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Technical College
Hacienda La Puente Adult Education
📍 La Puente, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Scottsdale Community College
📍 Scottsdale, AZ
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Lake Tahoe Community College
📍 South Lake Tahoe, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Eastern Maine Community College
📍 Bangor, ME
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
River Valley Community College
📍 Claremont, NH
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus
📍 Vineland, NJ
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus
📍 Sewell, NJ
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Raritan Valley Community College
📍 Branchburg, NJ
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus
📍 Roswell, NM
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Dutchess Community College
📍 Poughkeepsie, NY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Jefferson Community College
📍 Watertown, NY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College
📍 Abingdon, VA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Trade School
InterCoast Colleges-Rancho Cordova
📍 Rancho Cordova, CA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
📍 Chicago, IL
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Moraine Valley Community College
📍 Palos Hills, IL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Washington County Community College
📍 Calais, ME
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
White Mountains Community College
📍 Berlin, NH
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Lakes Region Community College
📍 Laconia, NH
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Hudson County Community College
📍 Jersey City, NJ
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Fulton-Montgomery Community College
📍 Johnstown, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Jamestown Community College
📍 Jamestown, NY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Roanoke-Chowan Community College
📍 Ahoskie, NC
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Central Oregon Community College
📍 Bend, OR
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Delaware County Community College
📍 Media, PA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Wharton County Junior College
📍 Wharton, TX
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
📍 Logan, WV
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Warren County Community College
📍 Washington, NJ
Certificate 2-4yr
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