Psychiatric Technician salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Psychiatric Technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $48,120 a year ($23.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 900 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,120 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $45,130. Pay here is 2% lower than the California statewide median of $49,140. There are 0.58 psychiatric technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $53,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for psychiatric technicians in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| 25th percentile | $43,780 | $21.05 |
| Median | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| 75th percentile | $59,970 | $28.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,120 | $37.08 |
| Average (mean) | $53,350 | $25.65 |
Half of psychiatric technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,010 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,005 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,850.77 |
| Weekly | $925.38 |
| Hourly | $23.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,120 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Psychiatric Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $95,580 | 330 |
| Napa, CA | $83,960 | 320 |
| Visalia, CA | $76,700 | 200 |
| Vallejo, CA | $76,120 | 260 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $63,510 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $55,550 | 260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $54,640 | 1,020 |
| Fresno, CA | $53,680 | 620 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $51,370 | 80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $48,470 | 1,390 |
| Modesto, CA | $48,390 | 160 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,040 | 4,770 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,810 | 910 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $43,710 | n/a |
| El Centro, CA | $37,820 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for psychiatric technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $67,430 |
| Oregon | $59,820 |
| New York | $58,080 |
| Nebraska | $57,370 |
| Connecticut | $55,500 |
| Hawaii | $55,150 |
| New Jersey | $54,040 |
| Washington | $52,470 |
| Massachusetts | $52,000 |
| Alaska | $51,650 |
See Psychiatric Technician pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $79,720 | $38.33 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $54,500 | $26.20 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $63,770 | $30.66 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $60,280 | $28.98 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $113,480 | $54.56 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $43,620 | $20.97 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $61,480 | $29.56 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $60,280 | $28.98 |
| Surgical Technologist | $82,260 | $39.55 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $129,630 | $62.32 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $58,240 | $28.00 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $74,830 | $35.98 |
| Dietetic Technician | $39,630 | $19.05 |
| Paramedic | $70,630 | $33.96 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2053. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a psychiatric technician make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for psychiatric technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $48,120 a year, or $23.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid psychiatric technicians make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of psychiatric technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $77,120 a year. The top 25% earn $59,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for psychiatric technicians in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,080 a year, and a quarter of psychiatric technicians earn $43,780 or less.
How many psychiatric technicians work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 900 psychiatric technicians are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.