Jobs Similar to Psychiatric Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to psychiatric technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Psychiatric Aides, Recreational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants.
Psychiatric Technicians: $45,130 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Psychiatric Technicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychiatric Aides | 83% | $44,9100% | High school |
| 2 | Recreational Therapists | 83% | $61,960+37% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | 82% | $72,300+60% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Nurse Midwives | 82% | $134,040+197% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Midwives | 82% | $65,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 81% | $80,250+78% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 81% | $60,280+34% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Healthcare Social Workers | 81% | $67,880+50% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Occupational Therapists | 80% | $100,330+122% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Occupational Therapy Aides | 80% | $39,160−13% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesSame group | 80% | $64,400+43% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Acute Care Nurses | 80% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Registered Nurses | 80% | $97,550+116% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Community Health Workers | 80% | $51,850+15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists | 80% | $100,330Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Physical Therapists | 79% | $102,760+128% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 79% | $59,550+32% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 79% | $64,830+44% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Hospitalists | 79% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | 79% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
- 1Psychiatric Aides
83% similar · $44,910 (0%) · High school
- 2Recreational Therapists
83% similar · $61,960 (+37%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Occupational Therapy Assistants
82% similar · $72,300 (+60%) · Training or associate
- 4Nurse Midwives
82% similar · $134,040 (+197%) · Graduate degree
- 5Midwives
82% similar · $65,790 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 6Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
81% similar · $80,250 (+78%) · Graduate degree
- 7Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
81% similar · $60,280 (+34%) · Graduate degree
- 8Healthcare Social Workers
81% similar · $67,880 (+50%) · Graduate degree
- 9Occupational Therapists
80% similar · $100,330 (+122%) · Graduate degree
- 10Occupational Therapy Aides
80% similar · $39,160 (−13%) · Training or associate
- 11Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
80% similar · $64,400 (+43%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 12Acute Care Nurses
80% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Registered Nurses
80% similar · $97,550 (+116%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Community Health Workers
80% similar · $51,850 (+15%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
80% similar · $100,330 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 16Physical Therapists
79% similar · $102,760 (+128%) · Graduate degree
- 17Child, Family, and School Social Workers
79% similar · $59,550 (+32%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Special Education Teachers, Preschool
79% similar · $64,830 (+44%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Hospitalists
79% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 20Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
79% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than psychiatric technicians.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for psychiatric technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where psychiatric technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Occupational Therapy Aides (90)
- Psychiatric Aides (88)
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (87)
- Nursing Assistants (82)
- Physical Therapist Aides (82)
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (81)
- Community Health Workers (79)
- Recreational Therapists (79)
- Acute Care Nurses (77)
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (77)
Questions about jobs like psychiatric technicians
What jobs are most similar to psychiatric technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Psychiatric Aides (83% similar), Recreational Therapists (83% similar), Occupational Therapy Assistants (82% similar), Nurse Midwives (82% similar) and Midwives (82% similar).
Which jobs like psychiatric technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Nurse Midwives ($134,040, +197%; usually a graduate degree), Physical Therapists ($102,760, +128%; usually a graduate degree) and Occupational Therapists ($100,330, +122%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with psychiatric technicians ($45,130). Without more preparation than psychiatric technicians usually need: Occupational Therapy Assistants and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.