California Median
$49,140
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.63
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+9% vs US median
US median $45,130
State Rank
#11 of 49
14,100 employed here
How much does a Psychiatric Technician make in California?
Psychiatric Technicians in California take home a median of $49,140 annually — roughly $23.63 an hour — which runs 9% above the national median of $45,130.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $40,880 while the top 10% make $88,090 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $46,620 and $74,390 a year.
Psychiatric Technician salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,880 | $19.65 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $46,620 | $22.41 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $49,140 | $23.63 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $74,390 | $35.76 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,090 | $42.35 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 11th out of 49 states and territories for Psychiatric Technician pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Psychiatric Technician salary in other states
District of Columbia $67,430Oregon $59,820New York $58,080Nebraska $57,370Connecticut $55,500Hawaii $55,150New Jersey $54,040Washington $52,470Massachusetts $52,000Alaska $51,650Rhode Island $48,520Virginia $48,320Vermont $47,560Colorado $47,430Nevada $46,450Georgia $46,250Illinois $46,200Missouri $45,840Arizona $45,640Maryland $45,520Maine $45,320New Hampshire $44,660Pennsylvania $43,930Kansas $43,780Florida $43,570Michigan $43,140Iowa $42,910Idaho $41,490South Carolina $40,970Indiana $40,910Utah $40,770North Carolina $40,630Kentucky $40,370Minnesota $40,300Wisconsin $40,290Texas $39,970North Dakota $39,960Tennessee $39,800Montana $39,190Ohio $39,140Oklahoma $39,060New Mexico $39,020Delaware $38,410Alabama $36,680Arkansas $35,930Mississippi $35,320West Virginia $34,100Louisiana $31,440
Working as a Psychiatric Technician in California
Nationally, about 157,000 people work as Psychiatric Technicians in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($49,140) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Psychiatric Technician make in California?
The median Psychiatric Technician salary in California is $49,140 per year, or about $23.63 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $40,880 at the entry level to $88,090 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Psychiatric Technicians about 9% more than the national median of $45,130. California ranks 11th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Psychiatric Technicians?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $49,140 a year. About 14,100 Psychiatric Technicians are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Psychiatric Technician salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.